Is intermittent fasting truly for everyone?

For probably the first time in the history of diets — from the vinegar and biscuits ‘bamming’ of the Regency era to the modern paleo and keto diets — one diet type has got an overwhelmingly positive nod from nutritionists and doctors. A 2020 review conducted by the US National Institute on Ageing and published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that “evidence from decades of animal and human research points to wide-ranging health benefits of intermittent fasting. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can change the makeup of the gut microbiome, encouraging the growth of good bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila associated with decreased intestinal inflammation and a healthier gut. Lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho, founder of Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems, says IF is probably not a good choice for the following groups of people: extremely weak and fragile individuals, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, those who need to have multiple medications several times a day, highly diabetic individuals who need to eat every 2-3 hours, and those on water restrictions, such as those suffering from kidney disease. “Eat sensibly” during the eating window is what most nutritionists and doctors will advise—so more plant-based foods than animal protein, more whole grains with high fibre content, less sugar and fewer processed foods.