- Intermittent Fasting
What is it?
Cycles between periods of fasting and unrestricted eating
Alternate-day fasting: alternate eating days and fasting days.
On fasting days, have one meal that provides ~25% of daily caloric needs
Whole-day fasting: 1-2 days per week full fasting
Time-restricted feeding: designated daily time frame for fasting, for example, no food between 8 AM and 3 PM
- Very Low Calorie Diet ( VLCD)
A VLCD is a diet under 800 kcal/day
- Many commercial formulas are available to physicians; usual composition per day :
Protein: 75-105 g
- For men: 1.5 g/kg ideal body weight (IBW)
- For women: 1.2 g/kg IBW to minimize nitrogen losses
Carbohydrates: 50-100 gm; if <50 gm, ketosis likely
Fats: 10-20 g including essential fatty acids
- Can also be done with store bought foods (protein sparing modified fast)
VLCD VLCD Complications
VLCD complications :
GI (nausea, vomiting, change in BMs)
- Constitutional (cold intolerance, dizziness, fatigue)
- Skin, hair, nail changes
- Amenorrhea
- Psych (insomnia, euphoria, apathy, depression, irritability, anxiety)
- Electrolyte imbalances (K+, Na – muscle cramps, arrhythmias)
- Essential fatty acid deficiency
- Gout (pre-treat with allopurinol)
- Gallstones, arrhythmias
- Obesity and sleep disorders
- Obesity and chronic stress
