Alternate-Day Fasting

by Lisa P | More from this Blogger

26 Sep 2007 07:30 AM

Researchers at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have reported that fasting or eating half as much as usual every other day may shrink your fat cells and boost mechanisms that break down fats.

After studying the effects of alternate day fasting on mice for four weeks, they determined that alternate day fasting (eating whatever you like on one day and nothing with calories while increasing physical activity the next) helped the mice lose weight as well as subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin that causes things like cellulite in humans). They also found that mice who were on an alternative alternate day fast (eating whatever they liked on one day and then 50% of their usual calorie consumption while increasing physical activity the next) also lost weight but not as much.

So how would this work for human beings? There are many names for this in humans and it is being used by many.

One example is the QOD Diet which recommends that women eat between 1200-1800 calories on their ON day, being sure to stay away from empty calories like cookies, cakes and sweets. A big breakfast on the ON day, with at least 700mg of sodium, is recommended to maintain your mineral balance during this diet. Eggs are fairly high in sodium so this is rather easy to do.

The OFF day on the QOD Diet is the tricky one.

1. You need to take in about 1500 mg of sodium and 2000 mg of potassium while taking in NO MORE THAN 300 (non-protein) calories.

2. You also need to be sure to drink at least 32 ounces/one liter of water.

3. Women also need to take in about 40 grams of protein in the form of high-biologic-value protein powder to control hunger as well as spare their muscle mass. (This can be done by using low/no carb protein drinks like EAS 100% Whey Protein or EAS AdvantEdge ready-to-drink protein drinks).

4. You also need to add about 8 grams of a fiber supplement to keep things regular. (This can be done with three servings of Benefiber added to your water or protein drinks.)

According to the QOD Diet:

If you are careful to keep up your mineral intake during the OFF day, and also take your protein supplements, you will not feel weak or washed out.

Learn more about Lisa P

Lisa used to be a freelance writer and Community Manager for Families.com, but she has finally made the jump to novelist.

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