What Is The 5:2 Diet?

Health Benefits Of The 5:2 Diet

Studies show intermittent fasting methods like the 5:2 diet are often associated with significant weight loss and improved metabolic health. A review of several studies conducted in animals concluded that intermittent fasting reduced both fat tissue and fat-storing cells, and a 2018 meta-analysis found this type of fasting is just as effective as traditional calorie restriction for weight loss and health improvements. Research suggests intermittent fasting approaches like the 5:2 plan are ideal for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. In clinical studies, participants who follow intermittent fasting programs have been able to reduce their blood glucose readings and insulin resistance. When insulin resistance is reduced, the body is more sensitive to insulin and can use it more effectively. A three-month study of normal-weight and overweight individuals found that intermittent fasting reduced triglycerides by twenty percent, and levels of an inflammatory marker called CRP were reduced as well. Notably, the study concluded participants who fasted were able to decrease their levels of leptin (a hormone produced by fat cells) by forty percent. Additional research suggests intermittent fasting may reduce symptoms associated with asthma, seasonal allergies, menopause, and irregular heart rhythms.

Read about the risk associated with the 5:2 diet next.