Window of time
In time-restricted eating (which is one type of intermittent fasting), the daily intake of food is limited to a window of time, usually 6-12 hours each day, the authors explained.
When done regularly, this type of eating has been shown to both decrease intra-abdominal adipose tissue and reduce free-radical production. Additionally, it “elicits powerful cellular responses” that may reduce risks for systemic inflammation, diabetes, CVD, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.
However, the authors warned, the evidence supporting time-restricted eating is still preliminary.
‘Let food be thy medicine’
Andrew Freeman, MD, cochair of the ACC’s nutrition & lifestyle work group, cautioned that many American plant-based Mediterranean diets often include large amount of feta cheese and lamb and foods are often “heavily doused” in olive oil, while the traditional Mediterranean diet consists primarily of greens and lentils and is plant based.
“The goal would be to have a whole grain and leafy vegetables as the center of the meal, and – if an animal product such as fish is included – it should be limited to as little as possible and used as the garnish rather than the main dish,” he stated.
Moreover, fish are often exposed to large amount of toxins, heavy metals, and microplastics, so “don’t overdo eating fish,” he advised.
Dr. Freeman said that intermittent fasting “has a lot of promise and no harm” and concentrating food consumption during a shorter period in the day instead of “grazing throughout the day” will reduce constant snacking. “But don’t gorge yourself during those hours,” he warned.
Dr. Freeman concluded by citing the guidance of Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine.
“There’s some real truth to that,” he added.
No source of funding was listed. Dr. Smith and Dr. Freeman disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Dr. O’Keefe has a major ownership interest in CardioTabs, a supplement company that sells some products containing omega-3 fatty acids.
A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.