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Alternate-day fasting beats detox

Marie Claire news: Eating disorders

A new detox plan has been suggested by medical experts: alternate-day fasting (ADF) is branded safer and of course, easier to maintain.

So many of us have struggled to keep up strict regimes and usually fall at the first hurdle. Described as a 'calorie seesaw', harsh diets are difficult to stick to and more often than not, after one day of determination, the next we are starving hungry and cave in at the first sniff of chocolate.

However, some medics say this is no bad thing. Scientists who have studied ADF believe that restricting calories for 24 hours and then reintroducing them the next day will not only get rid of extra pounds and fat cells, but also help us to live longer.

The research for ADF has been dubbed controversial by certain areas of the medical profession. Yet, in America the new detox plan has taken off. Books like The Alternate-Day Diet and The QOD Diet: Eating Well Every Other Day are reportedly flying off the shelves.

Brian Delaney, author of The Longevity Diet comments: 'Alternate-day fasting lets you focus your hunger in manageable periods. You are not a little hungry for a little time, like you are on a normal diet, but you are very hungry for a little time.'

Nutritionists at the University of California discovered that eating half as much as usual every other day could shrink fat cells and boost some of the mechanisms that break down fat.

A further study published three years ago revealed people who followed the ADF diet for three weeks lost an average 2.5% of their body weight and 4% of their body fat.

However, other nutritionists argue that ADF is impossible to adhere to long term. Those who have undergone the regime have often reported feeling tired, crotchety and hungry on their fasting days.

Lisa Miles, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation stated: 'If you have overeaten one day, then it will help to balance out your calorie intake by eating less the next, but it is not something that we would recommend on a long-term basis.'

Monday 11 August 2008


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I am doing JUDD. I have to say that on my down days where I restrict calories I feel really energetic. Yes I am hungry but it is maneagable because it is for one day only. The next day when I can eat I am not binging like before I am not as hungry on those days.
Comment by Jackie on August 22 21:54

I am also doing JUDD and I have to agree with Jackie. Its worth feeling hungry every second day because you know that every OTHER second day you can eat whatever you want. And for me I don't feel I am as hungry as I used to be on the Up days. Give it a try.. I've actually lost 3% of my body fat!! In 3 weeks and I have grown 3/4 of an inch in 1 week.
Comment by Sarah on October 06 14:40

Sarah,
What do you mean you've grown 3/4 of an inch in one week?
Comment by Jen on February 02 06:37

It's actually alot easier to maintain if you completely fast on the "down" days since consuming any calories (especially severely reduces) triggers appetite/hunger. They keep the down days because most people can't mentally conceptualize going without food for 24 hours, but it's actually quite easy and comfortable and many say that it sharpens mental clarity/focus.
Regardless, the total fast gives your system (and insulin response) a complete break for a short period which aids in fat loss. Metabolism doesn't slow so long as you maintain caloric consumption on your feeding days.
Comment by Nancy on February 19 00:37

i too am on the diet following a 35-45 percent reduction on DD. i am a long term tea drinker [with skimmed milk] and would not give that up for the world so the first thing i do is factor in 111 calories for 'milk for tea'. I am 61 and doing this for health in my longevity! I would love to grow another 3/4 inch in a week, HOW did you do THAT sarah?
Comment by jo hardy on April 24 15:49

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