5 wacky foods trends from 2018 (so far)
Intermittent fasting
Proponents of intermittent fasting believe that regular bouts of short fasts, such as withholding food 16 hours between 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. the following day, or eating few or no calories for an entire 24 hours a few days per week, can help lead to weight loss and possibly improved biomarkers for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Pioneering research supports these findings (although many studies are conducted on rats).
But while a vocal online community touts fasting as the best diet method to follow, registered dietitians generally disagree with this practice because it disrupts regular eating patterns. Plus, fasting may foster an “all you can eat” mentality on your off days, which does not necessarily promote a healthy lifestyle. Also important to note: research suggests that intermittent fasting can trigger eating disorders for those who have struggled with them in the past.