The 5:2 intermittent fasting diet is gaining in popularity because of the way it works. Not only is it a simple program to follow, if followed correctly it will actually help you to lose weight.
The simplicity comes from the cycle it works on. In a seven-day stretch, you eat normally for five days and fast on two non-consecutive days. On your fasting days, you reduce your calorie consumption to 25-percent of your normal level.
This eliminates the need to follow a strict diet plan, which may require you to purchase pre-packaged meals and careful measuring and calculating each and everything you intend to consume. The program is successful because it is flexible and can be used any time.
An Easy Diet Plan to Follow for Diabetes
Provided you are already eating a relatively well-balanced diet, fasting for two out of seven days is not as difficult as it may sound. In fact, the meals you prepare for fasting days will be nutritious, delicious, and satisfying.
The 5:2 fasting diet plan is not a starvation diet – it is an eating program that promotes healthy eating and this is what leads to weight loss. The 5:2 fasting diet is also beneficial to individuals who have diabetes.
How the 5:2 Fasting Diet Benefits Diabetics
In addition to assisting with weight loss, the intermittent 5:2 diet plan has been proven through various studies to reduce the body’s resistance to insulin. For borderline diabetics or individuals with Type 2 diabetes, this is an interesting discovery.
Because insulin sensitivity is increased by this fasting diet, individuals not using blood sugar-reducing medications will benefit most from this program. The fasting diet is, therefore, a good choice for people with a Body Mass Index of over 25 or who are diagnosed as being borderline diabetics or with Type 2 diabetes.
The Proof is in the Results
Of particular interest to diabetics is the mechanics behind the way the body reacts on fasting days. As the body is forced to burn energy stored in the body (fat and glycogen sugars) it improves the levels of cholesterol and blood glucose while burning away excess weight. Additional benefits found in studies on the fasting diet show it will decrease triglyceride and blood pressure levels.
There Are More Benefits to This Diet
Intermittent fasting has been examined under a microscope frequently and more studies verify that it has many benefits including weight loss, insulin sensitivity, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Recent research has shown that fasting diets increase life expectancy and lower the risk of certain diseases including possible cancer. However long-term research is still required to link cancer risk reduction to the 5:2 diabetes diet plan.
Precautions to Keep In Mind With This Diabetes Diet Plan
As is the case with any kind of weight loss program, you are advised to seek the approval of a medical professional before starting this eating plan.
This is to determine whether or not you may experience complications from a pre-existing condition. Once your doctor gives you the okay, the plan is simple to start and will produce results.
When you are ready to get started, make sure you check out this guide for some great tips and advice on the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet.
How to Succeed with a Fasting Program
The most successful diet programs are the ones that are easy to understand and simple to follow. This also means that once you commit to this program, you will be required to stick to it in order to see results. Based on the number of people who have lost weight and kept it off by fasting, you are guaranteed to see a change if you are committed and stick to this fasting diet eating plan.
