Is Intermittent Fasting A Heart Risk?
It’s the hottest diet fad outside of Ozempic and all the new drugs that are sweeping the nation and even got the great Oprah on it. Before all that it…
It’s the hottest diet fad outside of Ozempic and all the new drugs that are sweeping the nation and even got the great Oprah on it. Before all that it was all about Intermittent Fasting or as the people in the know call it, I.F.
When did Intermittent Fasting become popular?
The Intermittent Fasting fad started getting popular around 2013 when a British Doctor and BBC television presenter filmed a documentary on it. Dr. Michael Mosley needed to lose weight after learning that he was what is called a T.O.F.I, an acronym for Thin On The Outside, Fat on The Inside.
He understood that the concept of intermittent fasting was showing great results for people that found it difficult to stick to a diet that included counting calories and restricting certain foods.
The idea was you could eat what you wanted if it was limited to a certain window of eating. For Dr Mosley that meant eat normally for 5 days and restricting calories to 800 on the 2 other days. It was called the 5:2 Diet.
if you ever tried that diet, you will know it is pretty difficult to adhere to it. Mainly because people confuse the idea of eating whatever they want it on the five days. Which lead to excessive calories. The two restricted days were very difficult to maintain because you were only about 800 calorie a day. If you’ve ever counted calories, you know how difficult that would be.
Intermittent fasting became more of a daily approach, where if you limited your eating to an eight hour period and eat healthy you would lose the weight.
People that stuck to the diet lost a lot of weight quickly. There are Facebook groups dedicated to the concept of Intermittent Fasting. You can fin plenty of books on the subject as well.
But now, the question is intermittent fasting a heart risk?
Intermittent fasting has become a popular way to lose weight the last few years. But a new study found it could end up giving you a HEART ATTACK.
Researchers looked at the health records of more than 20,000 adults over 15 years, and found a 91% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
That's the number for people who followed a 16:8 eating schedule. That means all your meals are in an eight-hour window, and you fast for 16 hours.
It's not clear why that would be the case, since other research has found intermittent fasting can lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
They noted that the study didn't prove anything. They just found an "association" between an eight-hour eating window and cardiovascular death. So maybe take all this with a grain of salt. (AHA / Study Finds)
America’s Most Obese States: Where Does Massachusetts Rank?
A new ranking of America's most obese states has been released. And for once, Massachusetts doesn't top a dubious list.
I can't tell you how many of these lists that pop up in my feed usually put our beloved state of Massachusetts in a bad light. From dangerous driving to road rage to bad local sports fans, it seems like too many of these studies that are circulating have the Commonwealth on the losing end. So it's nice for once to see we're getting something right. It's healthy, actually. And literally!
The team at WalletHub recently released a piece titled Most Overweight & Obese States in America (2023). They open with a phrase we've heard before, and all too often: "Being overweight is becoming the new normal in America." They continue with recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that puts 7 in 10 adults in the United States in either the overweight or obese range.
America's Most Obese States: Where Does Massachusetts Rank?
The study continues with this explanation and methodology: "The problem is bigger in some states than in others, though. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of obese and overweight population to sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents to obesity-related health care costs." So there's lots to consider.
You can dig into the full study here, and it's robust. They share the most and least obese states, experts weigh in, and they even serve up the most popular comfort foods, state by state. So let's take a look at where Massachusetts and the rest of the New England states ranked below. And why not have a bit of comfort food while we're at it? Sure, health is important. But I'd rather be heavier and happier than skinnier, starving, and miserable.
Connecticut
Overall Rank: 36
Most Popular Comfort Food: New Haven Style White Clam Pizza
I can relate. True story: I one time took down almost an entire white clam pie at Frank Pepe's in New Haven.
Maine
Overall Rank: 20
Most Popular Comfort Food: Lobster Rolls
I mean, is there any question? There'd be anarchy if any other comfort food was chosen!
Massachusetts
Overall Rank: 49
Most Popular Comfort Food: Clam Chowder
My Nana Jeanie made the best homemade clam chowder I've ever tasted. Better than Legal's, even.
New Hampshire
Overall Rank: 31
Most Popular Comfort Food: Apple Deserts
Apple pies, apple fritters, apple turnovers apple cider donuts...give me all the apple goodies from those great New Hampshire orchards. And I'll wash 'em down with a Tuckerman's apple cider.
Rhode Island
Overall Rank: 29
Most Popular Comfort Food: Clam Cakes
Clam cakes, clam fritters. Call 'em what you want. When you're in the Ocean State, you're nibblin' on 'em.
Vermont
Overall Rank: 42
Most Popular Comfort Food: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
Three words, Vermonters: Chocolate Fudge Brownie.
