Benefits of an Alternate Day Diet

The study showed patients had less inflammation in their lungs, making it easier for them to breathe. This evidence goes some way to backing up the claim that one of the specific health benefits of an Alternate Day diet, is relieving the symptoms of asthma - and not just because the patients have lost weight.

The subjects also had lower levels of damaging free radicals - the substances we produce simply by eating and breathing - which have been linked with heart disease and cancer.

Dr Johnson went on to state, ‘The level of inflammation was down by 70 per cent and the level of free radicals by 90 per cent. No other dietary approach to asthma has recorded anything like that benefit.'

About two weeks after coming off the diet the patients' symptoms began to return.

The emergence of the ‘skinny’ gene – SIRT1

When Dr Matteson made his discovery, it had not been clear why very low calorie diets had such an effect on health and lifespan. However, in the past few years it's emerged that the SIRT1 gene might explain the diet's success.

The sudden, sharp stress of a large drop in food intake seems to trigger this 'skinny' gene.

According to Dr Johnson, 'This then blocks another gene involved in storing fat. The body starts using up more of the fat stores. As a result you lose more weight than you would from just eating fewer calories.'

Tricking the body’s metabolism

The problem with many diets is that after 48-to-72 hours the metabolism slows to compensate for the recent reduction in food intake. This means that when you stop the diet and begin to eat as before, the weight goes back on more rapidly, because you're eating more food than your body thinks it requires for its normal functioning.

So, the weight-loss benefit of the Alternate Day diet may also be due to the way the diet tricks your body's metabolism. Because it allows normal eating as well, the Alternate Day diet appears to get round the problem of post-diet weight gain.

What do the professional say?

The Food Standards Agency has shown some concern and apprehension over this style of dieting. They follow their usual sensible guidelines and advice that the best approach to weight loss is to follow a healthy balanced diet and state that this may not be possible with a very low-calorie diet.

The British Dietetic Association however, is more enthusiastic about the diet. Their only concern is that anyone following this diet plan should make sure they get enough fibre and protein. Another worry was the possibility of starving and bingeing in a fanatical way. Overall, they thought the weight loss benefits were good and that this style of diet would make it easier to stick to a weight loss programme.

What’s the future for Alternate Day diets?

At the moment, those involved are trying to discover the most prudent regime the eating and fasting method – the one that will not only include the benefits, but will also make the diet easier to adhere to.

Doctors are looking into the possibility of different ratios of fasting and eating – such as having two very low-calorie fasting days, then eating normally for the other days of the week.

Alternate-day dieting has made the breakthrough, but it is only one option. From recent evidence it seems that some form of fasting regime could be the way to go to get big health benefits. More research is definitely needed before any positive conclusion can be made and whilst the outlook is bright, it is always best practice to keep an open mind.

Not that that matters to some people - the internet is already alive with those who claim dieting on alternate days has made weight loss easier.

 Find out the rules and guidelines for an Alternate Day Diet:

Rules of the Alternate Day Diet

Or, why not try The Every Other Day Diet for yourself? Just click the link below:

Every Other Day Diet