Is Intermittent Fasting good or bad?

Okay I realize IF (skipping breakfast) works extremely well (at least for me and many others). It's actually the ONLY WAY for me to easily and effectively LOSE WEIGHT. If I eat breakfast, I always become super hungry throughout the entire day and it makes mainting calories extremely difficult. (i do notice that if I only have 2 pieces of fruit for breakfast that it becomes perhaps a little easier). Now, I've heard things such as IF being detrimental to organ health and also potentially causing pre diabetes. I understand that most research is still in its infancy and that we simply have to way for more to be published. So as of now, what is the consensus? Like I said, I 100% agree that it's amazing and the best tool for weight loss but are there actual side effects? Is it bad or good? 2023. Been doing it for a while actually but I want answers lol

Answer

It’s great you are asking these questions because I think IF is not a weight loss tool, but it’s a lifestyle and long term investment (in yourself).

I think the best resources to answer your questions would be checking up Dr. Jason Fung’s body of work and that would definitely answer, with science, the questions you have.

From everything I have experienced, over the past 7 to 8 years of IF, when I’m on it I’m definitely healthier physically (medical check ups) and mentally. Before and after (I did a test 2 years apart), all the indexes were better without a doubt.

Good luck on your quest for IF knowledge!

Answer

Summary: There are a lot of benefits to IF beyond weight loss overall to the majority of people who consistently do IF.

I am usually not keen on short articles on IF as they tend to gloss over important details, but here’s a simple, surface level reading at a very, very generic level.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

Answer

I think the organ health issues are often related to dehydration. Staying hydrated with good ol’ water during a fast is imperative for function. Same goes with extended fasts. A long fast (24 hours or more) can be detrimental if not done correctly. But getting proper nutrition during your eating windows and consistently drinking water helps stave off negative effects.