Have you ever gone for hours without eating? I'm sure most of us have tried intermittent fasting, knowingly or unknowingly, at some point in our lives. For instance, when you get a good eight-hour sleep and go on a little longer without food after waking up, you actually end up doing intermittent fasting.

So What Exactly is Intermittent Fasting?

[Intermittent fasting](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/intermittent-fasting-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work#:~:text=Intermittent fasting is an eating,reverse — some forms of disease.) is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and fasting. Unlike other diet plans that focus on restricting your calorie intake or suggest you eat only specific kinds of foods, intermittent fasting focuses on when to eat and how long to fast. During your fast, you're allowed to drink water, coffee or other non-calorie-containing drinks but refrain from consuming anything that has more than five calories in them.

In this write-up, we will discuss about intermittent fasting and how it can affect your sleep

The Various Types of Intermittent Fasting

There are various methods of intermittent fasting. Some of the most popular ones are:

How to Start Your Journey Toward Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is an excellent way to curb midnight cravings and get in shape. It also has several cardiometabolic benefits that can be beneficial in the long run. As such, there are no specific risks of intermittent fasting, but it should be avoided if you're pregnant, nursing a baby, or are at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) since it might cause some adverse effects.

If you're new to intermittent fasting, you can start your journey by taking baby steps. The best way to do intermittent fasting is to incorporate your sleep hours into the fasting period.

Some Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting