Anant Ambani and Nita Ambani’s fitness trainer Vinod Channa has once shared his opinion about rising trend of intermittent fasting and it various side effects and health benefits.

Intermittent fasting has become a go-to diet trend. Several celebrities like Nagarjuna, Katrina Kaif, Ram Kapoor, amongst others. Different people have different opinions on the same. Anant Ambani and Nita Ambani’s fitness trainer, Vinod Channa once opened up about this diet pattern. In his earlier blog, he wrote, “Concept of fasting here in India have been followed for religious reasons since centuries. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting.”

While most commonly followed intermittent fasting rule is the 16/8, other ratio are:

• 16/8 – where a person fasts for 16 hours and eat during 8-hour window.
• 20/4 – where a fast for 20 hours and eat during 4 hours window.
• 24 hours fasting `once in a week or 2 to 3 times in a week.

Why is intermittent fasting getting the rising popularity? Channa, says, “Like other fad diets, this is also a kind of fad diet the main difference is that it does not tell you what exactly to be eaten.

• People love shortcuts: It is the human tendency that we all love shortcuts and especially when it comes to lose fat. In my experience of being a fat loss expert, everyone wants to lose as fast as possible.
• Calorie deficit: By eliminating meal or meals in the fasting window, a person tends to eat less calories in a day thereby creating calorie deficit which helps in losing weight.
• A belief that stored fat is used as energy: Some people think that by fasting for that amount of time, you then force your body to use stored fat and not your food as energy which burns the fat.

It does help reduce weight, control appetite and help with a fit lifestyle. On the other hand, it may risk overeating, lack of nutrition, mood swings as well.

Channa further wrote, “Intermittent fasting is good if followed for a short span of time like a month or few months or your when your physical movement is absolutely limited.” In longer run here’s what I suggest for people to stay healthy and burn fat:

• Eat a healthy diet of sensibly portioned meals comprised of a quality protein, carbohydrate, healthy fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Include the following
• Fresh fruits and vegetables,
• Whole grains, including quinoa, brown rice, oats, millets and barley
• Lean protein sources, such as poultry, fish, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, low fat cottage cheese, and eggs
• Healthful fats from fatty fish, olives, olive oil, coconuts, avocados, nuts, and seeds
• Incorporate both cardio and strength training into your workout routine. Strength training builds muscle, and muscle is a more metabolic tissue than body fat. This means that the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn daily, even at rest.