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Understanding Intermittent Fasting

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Intermittent Fasting

Kayla, Dietetic Intern

For a dietitian (and soon-to-be dietitians) it’s important to stay up to date with nutrition trends to be able to answer client’s questions. It can be quite the race trying to keep up with the latest diet fads. Seems like every week there’s a new strategy for eating, and it feels like you’re running a marathon at the pace of a 50m sprint. You finally figure out one diet, then another pops up and you’re back to the beginning – pretty soon you’re out of breath and need a snack. Maybe a nap, too.

Navigating the pros and cons and separating fact from fiction on the Internet can be difficult. Unfortunately, even articles that provide scientific references many times cherry pick information from research to fit their articles. This makes it that much harder to know what to believe. Lucky for you, dietetics is an evidence-based profession, and we are taught how to read and interpret scientific literature so you don’t have to!

So, let’s get to the scientific facts you need to know about intermittent fasting.

What is it?

Intermittent fasting is the practice of abstaining from food or drink for an extended period of time, whether it be overnight, during the day, or a number of days. It’s a pretty straightforward concept. Essentially, you have a period of time daily or weekly in which you do not consume any caloric intake (water is still allowed during fasting periods). There are different methods to this, so there are different variations of this style of dieting. Fasting has been a religious practice for thousands of years, but as of recently has caught media attention as a diet style for weight loss.

Intermittent fasting has a wonderful eat whatever the heck you want policy, as long as you don’t eat during your fasting period. This freedom to choose the foods you like is enticing, I totally get it.

There are different types of fasting strategies:

  • Based on time – your fasting period is an extended period of time daily, most likely just an extended nightly fast that we all do while we sleep. Just think of it as once you wake up you don’t eat until lunch time.
  • Based on days – your fasting period is a whole day, and you alternate days in which you fast.
  • Based on calories – this type allows you to eat every day, but you have a severe caloric restriction on specific days with no calorie restriction on the others.

These are examples of a few, but there are definitely other variations.

What does Science say?

Science has mixed thoughts and, as with many fad diet trends, a serious lack of long-term trials to fully assess if intermittent fasting is beneficial. As of right now, in healthy persons, there’s no harm physically or mentally to intermittent fasting, and some studies have shown some weight loss in these groups. However, there has been no conclusive evidence showing intermittent fasting provides a superior amount of weight loss when compared to typical calorie restriction1. There is limited research as well on this diet and whether it can help with prevention of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes2. Also, much of the research available to dictate how fasting affects metabolism is done in mice or rats. While the research from these studies shows some promise, it is only a starting point and we cannot base conclusions off animal studies.

Reducing calories is the main driver behind intermittent fasting and how it allows some people to lose weight. Cutting out a meal a day allows some folks to reduce that many more calories. Hello weight loss! The science is inconclusive on how fasting impacts our hunger cues, so it might either make you ravenous or not change your hunger at all. But, if increased hunger happens and you eat more at your other meals, your calorie deficit is gone.

All in all…

We would not recommend intermittent fasting based on the fact that we just don’t know how intermittent fasting truly works on the body. There is no scientific research to support the theory that it’s more beneficial than traditional calorie restriction and there’s just not enough historical research to know how it affects us long term. Maybe when we have more definitive human research we can consider this as a more viable option, but for now, eating a balanced diet and reducing calories is the approach we recommend for weight loss! And of course, include physical activity for a well balanced lifestyle.

Wishing you a happy & healthy new year,
Kayla Wenner

 

This article was written by Kayla Wenner, Dietetics Student from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. This article was reviewed and approved by the team of Coborn’s Registered Dietitians.

 

References:

  1. Patterson RE, Sears DD. Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017; 37: 371-393.
  2. Barnosky AR, Hoddy KK, Unterman TG, Varady KA. Intermittent fasting vs daily calorie restriction for type 2 diabetes prevention: a review of human findings. Transl Res. Oct 2014; 164(4): 302-311.
  3. Ganesan K, Habboush Y, Sultan S. Intermittent Fasting: The Choice for a Healthier Lifestyle. Cureus. July 2018; 10(7): e2947.

So much to learn! – What it’s like interning with our supermarket dietitians

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A New Perspective:
A Unique Shopping Experience In The New Generation Coborn’s Marketplace Stores

Jennie & Emily

Hello all! My name is Jennie Xiong and I am a dietetic intern through the St. Cloud Hospital Dietetic Internship. I have been working with various Coborn’s dietitians (who are all awesome by the way) during my community rotation to learn more about what their roles are as Coborn’s Supermarket Dietitians. Food and health is such a hot topic nowadays and continues to be an important aspect in our everyday life, which is why it is important for us to build a healthy relationship with food!  

Many of us are guilty of running into a grocery store and grabbing only what we need and running back out. We all live such a fast-paced lifestyle that we often forget to appreciate our relationship with food. In today’s world, grocery stores like Coborn’s are reinventing themselves to give customers a better and more interactive experience while they do their shopping.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about grocery shopping until I was given a store tour during my rotation. Yes, a store tour, that’s a thing! I was given a store tour by one of the Coborn’s dietitians, Amy, and believe it or not, my jaw dropped. The last time I was in a Coborn’s grocery store, I was in it for less than 5 minutes, not giving much thought about my grocery shopping experience at all. However, this time around, walking around the store and seeing what they have to offer sparked a lot of excitement within me. I was tempted to go grab a grocery cart and start shopping at that very moment!

Grocery shopping is a great way to build your relationship with food. Now some of you may think that sounds silly but having a positive relationship with where and how you get your food will give you a better outlook on food and your overall health. To sum up my experience, I have some of my biggest “AHA” moments during my tour at Coborn’s listed below, which illustrates the new generation of Coborn’s Marketplace!

Chop Shoppe

On the run? No problem! The Chop Shoppe at Coborn’s provides freshly cut produce just for you! Did you know that you can also choose a whole item in the produce section (such as a mango) and bring it to the Chop Shoppe where they can cut it however you want? The Chop Shoppe also makes their own juices using only their fresh fruits and vegetables. Try the Green Ninja, it’s delicious!

Better for You Check Out Lane

Look out for the “Better For you Check Lane” when checking out at Coborn’s! This checkout lane includes dietitian’s choice products that are beneficial for your health, so skip the sugary candy bars and grab a KIND bar instead! Coborn’s is one of the few grocery stores in the country that has implemented this idea into their grocery stores to make healthy food more accessible to their customers!

The Misfits

Coborn’s partners with Misfits which aims to help shoppers save money and reduce food waste! The Misfits provide Coborn’s with “ugly” fruits and vegetables to be sold at a lower price. Instead of having them thrown away, shoppers can purchase these products. The best part about this? These produce items have the same nutritional benefits as the ones you see on the shelves! Go green!

Flavor Seal Packaging

When cooking, you only want the freshest food for you and your family, is that right? Well look no further. Coborn’s provides flavor seal packaging on select brands of meat which preserves freshness and flavor. Additionally, there are no meat drippings, which is a plus! Doesn’t get better than that!

Free produce for kids

One of the best aspects about Coborn’s is that they offer fresh fruits for the little ones! And guess what? It’s free! This is a great way to get kids to eat their fruits, so take your kids to the produce section at Coborn’s to check it out! 

While I’ve been with Coborn’s, I also had the opportunity to test out recipes with the dietitian team!  We worked together to increase the fiber content in these Zucchini Carrot Mini Muffins by adding in ground flaxseed into the original recipe. This recipe is very easy to follow and perfect for everyone, especially children! Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Jennie Xiong, dietetic intern