Intermittent fasting is a popular eating pattern that may help you maintain a calorie deficit by alternating between periods of eating and fasting.
Do you need special foods or detox drinks to break a fast?
Understanding the nutritional needs of your body can help you make the most of your fasting routine, as poor food choices and excess calorie intake during your eating window may undermine your efforts. Renu Puri, co-founder and head dietician at Niwi.ai, shared the essentials you need to know, addressing common doubts about what to eat after a fast. Some of the principles may also apply to those observing religious fasts, depending on the duration and dietary restrictions involved. You can have water, plain tea, or black coffee before breakfast or your first meal after the fast, depending on your fasting routine. Renu ruled out the need for any special food or detox drink, unless there is a specific dietary need for someone with a health problem. Regular food works fine.
Much of the focus is on the eating and fasting windows: when should you begin fasting, and for how long? But when it is time to break your fast, what should you eat to support your efforts? Your regular diet also matters when it comes to fasting. Much of the focus is on the first meal after a fast, but you should also be thinking about how you eat throughout the day. A balanced diet can help manage hunger, control appetite, and keep you feeling fuller for longer, making your fasting routine easier to follow.
Common schedules include 16:8 and 14:10, where you go without food for 16 or 14 hours, respectively.
