For years, intermittent fasting has been celebrated as the ultimate strategy for weight loss and enhancing metabolic health. The concept seemed attractive: It was easy to implement, sensible, and appealing. It had all the characteristics of becoming just another fad diet. Indeed, it turned out to be just that.
The first long-term studies are starting to shed light on intermittent fasting’s pros and cons. One of the most notable issues revealed is related to hair health.
What exactly is intermittent fasting? Broadly speaking, intermittent fasting refers to a dietary pattern that alternates between periods of unrestricted eating and shorter periods of fasting. The term “fasting” can be somewhat flexible. It may mean consuming absolutely nothing or significantly reducing caloric intake.
The underlying idea is sound. When you impose a long-term calorie restriction, the body enters “saver mode,” which can slow down weight loss (or at least slow it down). Intermittent fasting aims to trick the body into not adapting to the new caloric restrictions, allowing it to continue burning calories at a normal rate.
Does it really work? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as positive as some might hope. According to the most comprehensive analysis on the subject, which reviewed nearly fifty studies, research doesn’t consistently show that intermittent fasting is superior to continuous low-calorie diets for weight loss.
Subsequent clinical trials have reinforced this conclusion. The results are generally similar to those of traditional diets, both in terms of dropout rates and the amount of weight lost or improvements in health markers.
In the end, the choice of dieting method often depends on personal preferences rather than additional scientific support. Everyone has a unique relationship with food, which means that some strategies resonate better with individuals than others.
Do people really practice intermittent fasting? Sure, and they usually do so without any adverse effects. Researchers are gradually uncovering its benefits, like the potential regeneration of intestinal cells. They’re also pointing to its drawbacks, such as the possibility of promoting precancerous polyps. This ongoing research is helping scientists better understand the effects, limitations, and underlying mechanisms of intermittent fasting.
Unexpected findings. A clinical trial involving mice discovered that intermittent fasting actually slows down hair growth. Researchers at Westlake University in Zhejiang in China shaved about 50 mice and separated them into three groups with different food restrictions (eating every 8, 16, or 48 hours). There was also one group without food restrictions as a control.
After one month, mice allowed to eat freely had fully regrown their hair. In contrast, those who underwent intermittent fasting only partially recovered their hair after 96 days.
How, why, and what is going on here? First, it’s important to clarify that researchers don’t want to scare people away from intermittent fasting but rather emphasize the importance of “understanding the root cause of intermittent fasting’s effects on tissue health.”
With this in mind, and considering that the study was conducted on mice, the situation is both straightforward and complex. Hair growth is a process that requires consistent and balanced nutrition.
Researchers also believe that the issue may extend beyond nutrition. For example, the body might utilize fat reserves instead of glucose, which could trigger the release of chemicals that damage hair cells. However, it’s important to note that research is still in its early stages, and much more investigation is required.
Image | Sholto Ramsay
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