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Vaani Kapoor is a self-proclaimed fan of intermittent fasting, saying that it has helped her fix her diet and health in general. The 37-year-old actor, who focuses totally on a protein and mindful diet, says fasting has worked for her body. ,“I start my first meal around 10 a.m. and finish dinner by 6:30 or 7 p.m.,” she shares. “I usually do 14 hours of fasting; it keeps me light and energetic,” Kapoor said in an interview with Free Press Journal. “Everyone’s body reacts differently. You need to know your metabolism and understand what works for you,” she added. ,Rejecting fad diets like keto and paleo, Vaani said she always looks for sustainable ways to keep fit, and that is where intermittent fasting has done wonders for her. “I can’t do fad diets like keto or paleo; I want something sustainable,” she said. Eating simple, home-cooked, and nutritious foods like chicken, veggies, almond flour parathas, and gluten-free rotis, Vaani says she completely avoids sugar, dairy, and processed foods, but does follow a few occasional cheat meal days as well. “I also live that life,” she states, continuing, “I love my fries and burgers! Cheat meals are a must at least once a week,” she said. ,,What is intermittent fasting? , Intermittent fasting is at present one of the world’s most popular health and fitness trends. Apart from helping you lose weight, it also improves health and simplifies lifestyles. According to experts, intermittent fasting is linked to better cognitive function, heart health, and digestion. ,While IF does not specify which foods you should eat, it rather focuses on when you should eat them. This means it is not just a diet, but more of an eating pattern. ,Common IF methods involve fasting for 16 hours and having an 8-hour eating window. Some people do 24-hour fasts twice per week. Since fasting has been a practice throughout human evolution, humans have evolved to be able to function without food for extended periods of time. ,,How does intermittent fasting help your body? , According to experts, when you fast, many things happen in your body on the cellular and molecular level. At first, the levels of human growth hormone, or HGH, go up, while insulin goes down. Doctors say your body’s cells also change the expression of genes and initiate important cellular repair processes. ,A few changes that occur in your body when you fast include: ,,HGH , Your levels of HGH increase – helping you with both fat loss and muscle growth. ,,Insulin , Intermittent fasting helps improve insulin sensitivity. ,,Cellular repair , When you fast, your body cells initiate the process of cellular repair, which includes autophagy – meaning that cells digest and remove old and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside them. ,,Gene expression , Fasting leads to changes in the function of genes related to longevity and disease prevention. ,,Does intermittent fasting help in weight loss? , According to experts, weight loss is among the most common reasons why people try intermittent fasting. By reducing the amount of time you spend eating, you are more likely to consume fewer calories without realizing it. Also, it affects hormone levels and aids in weight loss. ,Apart from helping you lower insulin and spike HGH levels, fasting also increases the release of the fat-burning hormone norepinephrine – thereby increasing your metabolic rate.
