When you start researching intermittent fasting, you might notice that it is often mentioned or recommended to people who are practicing low-carb eating lifestyles like Keto or Atkins. While intermittent fasting can definitely be done for anyone, regardless of your way of eating, it is very popular in low-carb communities. Here is more information about the link between intermittent fasting and being on a low-carb eating lifestyle.
Why Low-Carbers Like Intermittent Fasting
There are many reasons people following a low-carb eating lifestyle will go for intermittent fasting, but a lot of this depends on the type you are doing. With low-carb, you are consuming fewer carbohydrates and either moderate or high protein. If you are on keto, you have moderate protein, high fat, and low carbohydrates. Atkins prefers higher protein and slightly more carbohydrates than the ketogenic.
For someone on low-carb, you are often adjusting to your varying sugar levels, attempting to stay full in between meals. With intermittent fasting added in, you learn to stabilize those sugar levels, so you aren’t craving sugar and carbs, which you can’t have during the low-carb eating lifestyle.
Intermittent Fasting and Keto
If you are following the ketogenic eating lifestyle or keto, you have probably come across intermittent fasting. It is particularly popular for keto followers due to the unique benefits it provides you. With keto, you enter a state of ketosis. This is when your body begins burning fat for fuel, instead of carbohydrates. You can really increase the fat-burning potential if you are also doing intermittent fasting, burning nearly twice as much fat as you normally would. Plus, intermittent fasting allows you to more easily control the number of carbs you consume.
Try Low-Carb First
It is really important that you not start intermittent fasting on the same day that you start low-carb eating. These should be spread apart so that you adjust to one thing before the next. It is ideal that you start low-carb first, then remain on it for at least 2-3 weeks. Once your body has adjusted and adapted to the lower amount of carbs, you can then start transitioning into your preferred method of intermittent fasting. This gives you enough time to adjust to one big change before making another big change. It is also good to try it after you have become fat-adapted on keto, which takes a few weeks.
[RECIPE] Savory Butternut Squash “Noodles”
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
- 12T. extra virgin olive oil
- 4c. pre-packaged butternut squash “noodles”
- 3T. unsalted butter
- 1½T. fresh sage, chopped
- 2t. ground cinnamon
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
Directions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add butternut squash noodles and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning frequently to ensure they cook evenly. When noodles are slightly softened, remove from pan and set aside. Keep warm.
- Add butter to pan and heat until melted. Stir in chopped sage and cinnamon and cook until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Return butternut squash noodles to pan and toss to coat in sage butter mixture. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately with your favorite entrée or as a light main course. Enjoy!
To Your Health,
Patti
