December 28, 2020

Vegan Intermittent Fasting? 8 Basic Things To Know

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Vegan Intermittent fasting has become quite popular in recent years. It comes with a lot in numerous amount of health benefits. Help out in losing belly fat, strengthen and intensify muscle strength and boost your stamina.

Intermittent fasting is an easy weight loss technique that everybody should apply whether you are vegan or a meat lover.

Here, we will discuss vegan intermittent fasting; its health benefits, side effects, and certain things to avoid.

Vegan breakfast — Photo by Ella Olsson on Unsplash

Intermittent fasting has deep historical and spiritual significance. It is quite effective and proves to be very productive. It helps to lose belly fat and also build lean muscle.

Below are answers to eight basic questions that every beginner should be aware of before digging into it.

1. What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting and non-fasting. It is not a diet in the traditional sense, but rather a pattern of eating that can be combined with any type of diet, including a vegan diet.

There are several different methods of intermittent fasting, but some of the most popular include:

The 16/8 method: This involves fasting for 16 hours and then eating within an 8-hour window. For example, you might eat all your meals between noon and 8 pm.
The 5:2 diet: This involves eating normally for five days a week and restricting calories to 500-600 for the other two days.
Alternate-day fasting: This involves alternating between days of eating normally and days of eating very little or nothing at all.

The idea behind intermittent fasting is that it can improve overall health, help with weight loss and reduce the risk of certain diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

2. What is a Vegan Diet?

A vegan diet is a type of plant-based diet that excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and any other animal-derived ingredients. Instead, a vegan diet is centered around plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

A vegan diet can provide a wide range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It is also associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and a lower body mass index (BMI).

A vegan diet can be a healthy and balanced way of eating, but it requires a little more planning and attention to ensure that all the necessary nutrients are obtained. For example, vegans may need to supplement their diet with vitamin B12, which is found primarily in animal products, and also pay attention to their intake of iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

It is important to consult a registered dietitian or a nutritionist to help you design a diet plan that will meet your specific nutritional needs, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical conditions.

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3. How Does Vegan Intermittent Fasting Work?

Vegan intermittent fasting is a type of intermittent fasting diet that follows a vegan diet during both the eating and fasting periods. A vegan diet does not include any animal products, such as meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. Instead, a vegan diet is plant-based, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

During the fasting period, a person following a vegan intermittent fasting diet would consume only water, tea, coffee, or other non-caloric beverages, and avoid all animal products and any foods that are not plant-based. And during the feeding window, the person would eat a vegan diet consisting of whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in nutrients and low in calories.

3.1 Are you planning to go vegan?

Going vegan can prove to be a crucial and substantial change in your lifestyle. Vegan Intermittent fasting is all about 16 hours fast and 8 hours of your eating period. In a fast state, you don’t eat anything except drink water.

You need to understand your body’s requirements and make a diet plan accordingly.

It would be a great help if you had a slight idea about your calorie level. Besides making it easy for you to decide what and which type of food to eat to maintain your calorie intake. In general, an ideal intake of calories for women should be 2,000 calories a day. For men, it is 2,500 calories a day.

The last meal could be around 9 to 10 pm, and afterward, you need to stop eating or drinking anything.

The first meal should be at around 2 pm. You and can break your fast with a cup of green tea or black coffee.

Doctors highly recommend drinking lukewarm water with one teaspoon of lemon and honey added to it. Eat foods plant-based diet comprising strawberries, bananas, cherries, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, seasonal fruits, vegetable salad, and many more.

These food items are easily available in malls and grocery stores.

4. What are the Advantages of Intermittent Fasting?

Vegan intermittent fasting comes with a whole bunch of health benefits.

It burns fat, especially around the stomach area. It saves you time in the morning.

A person can easily shed some pounds because plant-based proteins are generally lower in calories than egg or chicken. Thus, it will be slightly easy for you to lose some weight.

Intermittent fasting develops and improves the growth of muscles in your body. It is anti-aging, detoxes your mind and body spiritually, and makes you feel more powerful. It improves your brainpower, and reflexes, and also lessens the chances of Cancer.

But vegan intermittent fasting is not always effective on all body types.

5. How Does Your Body Burn Fat Much Faster in Intermittent Fasting?

Insulin manages the amount of glucose in the blood. It helps to develop and put on muscle through plant-based proteins and nutrients and also helps out to lose fat. It helps in preventing and reducing blood sugar levels.

Younger generations are more insulin sensitive. They lose belly fat much faster.

Maintaining proper insulin levels in your body is of utmost importance. High insulin sensitivity makes your body more efficient and systematic.

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6. What are the Things to Avoid in Vegan Intermittent Fasting?

When following a vegan intermittent fasting diet, certain foods should be avoided to ensure that the diet is in line with the principles of both veganism and intermittent fasting.

Here are a few things to avoid:

Animal products
Processed foods
Refined carbohydrates
Fried foods
Alcohol
Artificial sweeteners

7. What are the Disadvantages of Intermittent Fasting?

Vegan intermittent fasting comes with a whole lot of drawbacks too.

thumbs down — Photo by Alex Koch on Pexels

It gets a little bit difficult in the initial week to adapt your body and yourself to new changes and lifestyles.

There are a lot of side effects of vegan intermittent fasting.

You will feel low in energy and an increase in the appetite to eat junk food.
Overeating at the time of the 6 – 8 hour eating period.
Certain drop-in blood sugar levels and becoming sleep deprived.

But there is nothing to fear or be alarming about vegan intermittent fasting.

8. Is Vegan Intermittent Fasting Good For Females?

A lot depends on body type. To a great extent, women would easily lose their belly fat and stay in shape. But for a few of them, vegan intermittent fasting may not turn out to be a good option.

Our body needs a proper amount of meals to make and regulate blood in our system. If you are a working woman, you require the right amount of carbs and protein.

Not adhering to a proper diet would result in a hormonal problem. It will greatly affect blood formations in females leading to a delay in the menstruation cycle.

9. Conclusion

Vegan intermittent fasting is a healthy eating lifestyle that everybody should apply. Moreover, it is beneficial for a college-going student and a working professional with a 9 to 5 job. But, it too has indefinite pros and cons. It is highly recommended to ask a doctor or a nutritionist before diving into intermittent fasting.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Do Vegans Lose So Much Weight So Fast?

Vegans tend to lose weight quickly for a few reasons:

A vegan diet is typically low in calories and high in fiber, which can lead to feelings of fullness and reduce overall calorie intake.
Many animal-based foods, such as meat and cheese, are high in fat and calories, so eliminating them from the diet can also lead to weight loss.
Vegan diets tend to be rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains which are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which promote weight loss.
Plant-based foods are less energy-dense than animal-based foods, meaning you can eat more volume of food for fewer calories.
People who follow a vegan diet may be more conscious of the foods they eat and make healthier choices, which can lead to weight loss.

2. Can a Person Exercise During Intermittent Fasting?

Yes, a person can exercise during intermittent fasting. Some people find that exercising during a fast state can improve their performance and burn more fat.

However, it is important to note that if you are new to intermittent fasting or exercise, it may be best to start with shorter fasts and less intense workouts and gradually increase the duration and intensity over time.

Additionally, it is important to listen to your body and make sure you are properly fueled and hydrated before and after exercising. If you are feeling weak or dizzy during a workout, it may be best to break your fast and refuel before continuing.

The type of exercise a person should do during intermittent fasting depends on their fitness level and goals.

However, some types of exercises that can be done during a fasted state include:

Cardio exercises such as running, cycling, or swimming, can help burn fat and improve cardiovascular health.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) which is a great way to burn fat and boost metabolism.
Resistance training such as weightlifting or bodyweight exercises can help build muscle and improve overall fitness.
Yoga or stretching exercises can also be done during intermittent fasting, which can help improve flexibility and reduce stress and tension.

3. How Can I Build Muscles With a Vegetarian Diet By Doing Intermittent Fasting?

Building muscle on a vegetarian diet while doing intermittent fasting is possible, but it may require some extra planning and attention to ensure you are getting enough of the right nutrients.

Here are a few tips to help you build muscle on a vegetarian diet while doing intermittent fasting:

Consume enough protein: Vegetarian sources of protein such as lentils, beans, tofu, tempeh, and seitan can help you meet your protein needs. Also, you can use plant-based protein powders in shakes and smoothies to increase your protein intake.
Consume enough calories: Intermittent fasting can reduce your overall calorie intake, so it’s important to make sure you are consuming enough calories during your eating periods to support muscle growth.
Consume enough carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are an essential source of energy for muscle growth. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes are good sources of carbohydrates.
Consume enough healthy fats: Healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil, are important for overall health and muscle growth.
Resistance training: Incorporating resistance training such as weightlifting or bodyweight exercises into your workout routine is essential for building muscle.
Adequate recovery: Giving your body enough time to recover is important for muscle growth, and intermittent fasting may have positive effects on muscle recovery.

It is important to consult a registered dietitian or a nutritionist to help you design a diet plan that will meet your specific nutritional needs.

Last Updated on October 3, 2023 by Sparsh Sehgal

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