Australian nutritionist Hayley O’Neill said Talk that intermittent fasting (short-term caloric restriction) can improve cognitive performance, strengthen blood vessels, and improve circadian rhythms.
Intermittent fasting is any of several eating programs that alternate between voluntary fasting (or reducing calorie intake) and periods of staying full for a period of time. The nutritionist explained that the daily fasting period usually lasts 12 to 16 hours. The rest of the time is spent eating.
The expert said that the person may experience fatigue, nausea, mood disorder, irritability, headache and weakness due to the slowdown of the metabolic process for energy production and the decrease in blood sugar levels at the beginning of the various stages of fasting. These symptoms weaken as the body gets used to the new diet as the body switches to the energy of ketones, which are chemicals released as a result of carbohydrate starvation.
Increasing the amount of ketones in the body may improve cognitive performance in adults, according to a nutritionist. Additionally, calorie restriction reduces oxidative stress. This term refers to the process of cell damage as a result of the oxidation of specific forms of oxygen that accumulate in the body.
Reducing oxidative stress helps strengthen blood vessels, including those in the brain area. Their tone reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Eating on a strict schedule also helps restore circadian rhythms (natural cyclical fluctuations in the intensity of various biological processes associated with the alternation of day and night), O’Neill added. Most likely, eating at a certain time allows the digestive system to “rest” more in the evening and at night.
Former nutritionist removed Popular myths about healthy eating.