QU Book Local community directory /Health | Page 4

He says unsurprisingly, reducing the overall intake of calories, whether
it's every day or on alternate days, will result in weight loss.
"Whilst it may work for some people, they need to ensure their diet on
'non fast' days is packed with fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, lean protein rich foods such as chicken, fish, turkey and low fat dairy products."
Do you live longer fasting?
Studies of fasting in both rodents and humans appear to indicate a connection between calorie restriction and longevity. In one study of overweight men and women, a calorie-restricted diet improved markers of
ageing such as insulin level and body temperature.
Fasting might also improve longevity by delaying the onset of age-related
diseases including Alzheimer's, heart disease and diabetes.
One study showed that missing meals once a month, as members of the
Mormon religious group do, reduces the risk of clogged arteries (the
build-up of plaque that can lead to heart attacks and strokes). However, it
is not clear from this research whether fasting alone or the Mormons'
generally healthier lifestyle (they also abstain from coffee, alcohol and
smoking) is responsible for the improved heart health.
A study which examined 100 overweight women from Greater Manchester found that women who followed a strict 650 calories- a- day diet for
just two days a week (and ate what they wanted on the other days)
lowered their risk of breast cancer by 40%. Researchers found the calorie
-controlled regime almost halved cancer-causing hormones in women at
high risk of the disease.
Researchers do not yet know whether the effects of fasting translate into
an actual increase in lifespan, because t