Health Update: Intermittent Fasting Once Again Proven Helpful

Mark Smith • October 9, 2023

Hello everyone:

 

Continuing on the theme of TRF (Time Restricted Feeding), or TRE (Time Restricted Eating), also known as Intermittent Fasting, here a study revealed that whether you choose to lose weight by counting calories or by intermittent fasting (IF), you get about the same results with weight loss. However, as I discuss below, TRF is superior in creating overall health by restoration of circadian rhythms and potential reductions in inflammation.

  • In a new study, researchers say intermittent fasting and calorie counting were both effective in helping people lose weight.
  • They added that fasting did seem to produce better results for insulin sensitivity.
  • Experts say diets affect each person differently, so it’s important to figure out which method works best for you.

“This novel research is immensely encouraging,” said Kelsey Costa, a registered dietitian and health research specialist with the National Coalition on Healthcare, who was not involved in the study. “It highlights that comparable results could be achieved with intermittent fasting or caloric restriction, improving adherence and long-term outcomes. This information is empowering and transformative for those seeking to improve their health and wellness.”


https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/intermittent-fasting-and-traditional-calorie-counting-about-equal-for-weight-loss?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=dedicated&utm_content=2023-07-02&apid=32362300&rvid=24561ae4b347411c6ae1874dad579a0aedec4a5e471e9b3b5a21dc0826faa6b9

 

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-0052



Bottom Line:

 

With 74% of the population being overweight or obese, research like this is very important. With just a few tweaks, you could upgrade the IF protocol and considerably increase the benefits. Simply get 80% of your calories in by 2 pm, with dinner the lightest meal of the day with a small protein portion and consume all of your calories within a 10-to-12-hour window. It turns out that breakfast is very important to normalize circadian rhythms to improve sleep, blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, digestion, hormones, and metabolism…so do not skip breakfast even if it is pretty light or consider having dinner leftovers for breakfast! On top of that, if you choose better, cleaner foods the results could even be better. Once again, I recommend the book ‘What to Eat When’ by. Dr. Roizen and the companion cookbook.

Go for it!


https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22922-6


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483233/

 


By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
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