I dont get it. i spent some time learning about intermittent fasting and it seems to have only positive aspects (blood sugar reduces, you loose old fat after 14 or 15h of fasting, no risks at all… (source is the yazio app) but then why is it way more common to eat 3 meals plus a snack during the whole day? why is this what we learn growing up? can someone explain to me please?
Figure out what works for you. Everyone is different.
For me, I started IF well before it was even a thing (coming up on 20-years soon).
It involves 2-meals per day and never, ever a snack.
Lunch between 11-12 (usually eat at 11:30) and then dinner is over by 5:30pm.
It helped me lose 70+ pounds and keep it off (of course, exercise is also key in this for me, along with healthier eating habits with those meals)
Lots of the guidelines comes from as far back as WW2 era science, nutrition science is fairly new and is making new observations every year.
The “main stream” diet is largely out of necessity because most of us didn’t have access to nutrient dense foods year round, so to feel fulfilled on a nutrient poor diet you had to fill your stomach with affordable (often cheap) foods. And you will never be actually nourished like you need on a diet like that so the simplest fix to your discontented feelings is to never be hungry (stomach full), which obviously doesn’t equate with nourishment. Also in its current form is HEAVILY curated by the industry, not the individuals needs.
And prolonged (more than 6 months) 16:8 isn’t optimal for longevity, 12:12 with a couple weeks or months a year on a stricter fast is more sustainable.