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5 Things To Consider Before Starting Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a term used to describe a wide range of eating styles that restrict calories or abide by a specific eating window. There are many different types of IF, but one of the more popular ones is to stick to only eating during an 8- to 10-hour window each day. No matter which kind you choose, here are some things to consider before starting intermittent fasting.

Drink Water, Herbal Tea, or Black Coffee

Often, what we perceive to be hunger is just thirst. Staying hydrated while fasting can help alleviate our desire to eat (to a certain degree). Also, drinking unsweetened and creamer-free tea or coffee won’t “break” your fast. It can be helpful to sip on these during the food-free part of the day because caffeine also acts as an appetite suppressant.

Track Your Time & Calories

Many apps help you track your fasting time and calorie intact. In addition, there are ones built into smartwatches that can monitor health as well.

Since your meals are closer together in the day, you might feel like you’re overeating. However, this could lead to a tricky roller-coaster of fasting and then overeating if you aren’t aware of how much you are truly eating.

Eat Meals With Higher Fat & Protein

Dietary fat and protein both help keep you full for longer. They also alleviate the sugar crash symptoms that can happen with high-carb diets. When adjusting to a new eating pattern, trying to stabilize hunger will help you stick to it.

Experiment With Different Eating Windows

One thing to consider before starting intermittent fasting is that you might have to try out different patterns before finding one that fits you. A smaller eating window doesn’t always mean more benefits for you.

If your body expects to eat most of the day, it may have difficulty adapting to a 6-hour window. So, instead, start bigger and slowly make it smaller over time as your body adjusts.

Consider Your Health & Body

Finally, everyone has their own individual health needs. Specific populations might not do as well with the more strict windows, like those with thyroid issues or women, as this could mess with healthy hormone functioning. Intermittent fasting can be a tool for some people, but it might not be the best for everyone.

As with all health changes, check with a dietician or nutritionist to make sure these changes are for the better.

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