I’m mainly asking because there seems to be contradicting information out there. I see a few articles mentioning IF helps mental capacities, whereas others mentioning ‘breakfast’ boosts cognitive/memory function. Is it possible that technically both provide benefits just using different physiological mechanisms?
Breakfast articles:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241917/
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2016/09/21/healthy-buffs-ask-expert-eating-breakfast-energize-your-mind
IF Articles:
https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/blog/brain-health/is-intermittent-fasting-a-good-idea/
You’re posting articles done by doctors and scientists and then asking Reddit. You’re also asking on a sub of people that prescribe to (and are sometimes wildly passionate about) IF.
This is akin to asking a bunch of vegans if plant protein is enough or animal protein is required and posting conflicting studies.
I found fasting has only ever improved my cognitive abilities. Even my brain fog improved drastically. I also attribute some of these effects/benefits with vitamin D supplements, but the fasting certainly boosts these effects further.
Intermittent fasting doesn’t solely mean “skipping breakfast” or skipping a morning meal, although that’s the definition a lot of people are exposed to.
It’s likely due to the Lean Gains method - with it’s noon-8 pm feeding schedule - being an early and popular proponent of time restricted eating. But the founder of the method chose that eating period solely due to social convenience - it says as much on their website.
There is evidence that breaking fast in the morning - after sunrise, before 8:30 am in particular - brings a slew of metabolic benefits. And some people who restrict their eating time, push their eating earlier in the day.
There’s also evidence that delaying eating too late in the day may worsen glycemic control and blood pressure in some people. Anecdotally, there are posts in this sub periodically from confused redditors wondering how/why their blood pressure/glucose numbers worsened once they started their version of IF - which might be starting eating in the late afternoon or evening.
Post with links and more info here.