Fasting For Heart Health

Author

Physicians Regional Healthcare System

For more information about the author, click to view their website: Physicians Regional

Posted on

Jul 18, 2023

Book/Edition

Florida - Southwest

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Cultures worldwide engage in periodic fasting for religious reasons and health benefits. In a recent analysis published in Circulation, the American Heart Association (AHA) found evidence to suggest that intermittent fasting may help adults lose weight and lower triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, at least in the short term.

In addition to short-term weight loss and lower triglyceride levels, the report’s authors found that intermittent fasting might also help lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Still, they cautioned that those studies were small and that reductions were associated with the participants’ weight. The American Journal of Medicine reports the same findings and adds that caloric restriction improves insulin sensitivity.

Of course, fasting diets can be a bit extreme. They usually follow one of these patterns:

  • Cutting calories by 75 percent on alternating days
  • Eating only certain hours of the day
  • Fasting a few days a week
  • Skipping one meal each day

Before starting any diet plan, talk with your doctor. Fasting isn’t for everyone and is discouraged if you:

  • Have a history of eating disorders
  • Are underweight
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Are diabetic
  • Have liver disease
  • Have a pre-existing heart issue

While fasting diets are becoming increasingly popular, you may not think you’re disciplined enough to give up a meal or cut calories so significantly. That’s okay— you might get similar benefits just from being more mindful. So, no matter what diet you choose, don’t forget to exercise. According to the American Heart Association, people with heart disease who exercise can reduce medical costs by more than $2,500 a year.

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Local Services By This Author

Physicians Regional Healthcare System

Hospitals 6101 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples, Florida, 34119

Physicians Regional Healthcare System's two Naples hospitals provide quality care to the Naples and the greater Southwest Florida community with the objective of offering more options and improved access to healthcare for all citizens and visitors. Our two Naples hospitals and more than 300 physicians are recognized within their fields, offering advanced medical care in more than 45 specialties and subspecialties, including programs in 24-hour emergency care, cardiology, vascular disease, digestive diseases, research, orthopedic care, spine care, neurosurgery, and women's services.Physicians Regional - Collier Boulevard and Physicians Regional - Pine Ridge are conveniently located near where you live and work.Service Offerings Include:(Click a service to learn more)Bariatric Weight Loss ServicesCancer CareColorectal CareCritical Care MedicineDermatology ServicesDigestive HealthEmergency ServicesEndocrinologyGastroenterologyHeart CareInfectious Disease CareKidney DisordersLaboratory ServicesNeurologyOrthopedic ServicesPain ManagementPrimary CarePulmonology CareRadiologyRehabilitation ServicesRheumatologyStroke CareSurgical ServicesUrologyVein Care CenterWomen's HealthWound CareTo see which medical center or hospital is closest to you, CLICK HERE, to view all locations!

Physicians Regional Healthcare System

Physicians 6101 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples, Florida, 34119

Physicians Regional Healthcare System's two Naples hospitals provide quality care to the Naples and the greater Southwest Florida community with the objective of offering more options and improved access to healthcare for all citizens and visitors. Our two Naples hospitals and more than 300 physicians are recognized within their fields, offering advanced medical care in more than 45 specialties and subspecialties, including programs in 24-hour emergency care, cardiology, vascular disease, digestive diseases, research, orthopedic care, spine care, neurosurgery, and women's services.Physicians Regional - Collier Boulevard and Physicians Regional - Pine Ridge are conveniently located near where you live and work.Service Offerings Include:(Click a service to learn more)Bariatric Weight Loss ServicesCancer CareColorectal CareCritical Care MedicineDermatology ServicesDigestive HealthEmergency ServicesEndocrinologyGastroenterologyHeart CareInfectious Disease CareKidney DisordersLaboratory ServicesNeurologyOrthopedic ServicesPain ManagementPrimary CarePulmonology CareRadiologyRehabilitation ServicesRheumatologyStroke CareSurgical ServicesUrologyVein Care CenterWomen's HealthWound CareTo see which medical center or hospital is closest to you, CLICK HERE, to view all locations!