Intermittent Fasting Is Not The Only Way To Burn Fat. Try This Low-Carb Diet Instead
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Intermittent fasting (IF) divides the day into eating and fasting hours.
IF can help in weight loss and boosting metabolism.
A low-carb diet can offer similar health benefits, shown in a new study.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a style of eating where your day is split into eating hours and fasting hours. The fasting period varies depending on how strict the plan is. Some people go all in on fasting a few days a week, while others keep it flexible. IF is popular for weight loss and better metabolism. Experts also say that when done right, it may lower the risk of heart disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Let us be honest. Fasting is not easy, especially the 5:2 plan where you eat very few calories twice a week. If that sounds overwhelming, do not worry. There is a simpler option that may give you similar benefits - a low-carb diet, according to Adam Collins, Associate Professor of Nutrition, University of Surrey.
Even cutting down carbs just twice a week may help your metabolic health, says Collins, based on his new research published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
What Are Low-Carb Diets? What Does A Low-Carb Diet Do To Your Body?
Carbohydrates turn into glucose, and insulin helps move that glucose into cells for energy, says Consultant Nutritionist Rupali Datta. Extra carbs are stored as glycogen and then as fat. A low-carb diet keeps your insulin levels lower, pushing your body to burn fat instead. That is why it often leads to weight loss.
Same Fat-Burning Effect As Fasting, Says Study
To test how intermittent fasting and low-carb diets affect fat-burning, researchers studied 12 overweight and obese adults. On one day, participants followed a very low-carb diet. On another, they tried a calorie-restricted fasting diet. After both, they were served a high-fat, high-sugar meal to see how their bodies responded.
The results were surprising - both diets showed almost the same boost in fat-burning and how the body handled fat. So yes, low-carb eating can give your metabolism the same kick as fasting. Collins adds that more research with larger groups is needed to be sure.
How To Start A Low-Carb Diet: 5 Simple, Tasty Recipes To Try
1. Lauki, Tomato And Capsicum Salad
This easy salad makes a great low-carb meal. In a bowl, mix one cup of boiled lauki, one cup of boiled capsicum, half a cup of chopped tomatoes and one cup of lettuce. Add some pudina chutney, toss it well, and finish with lemon juice and chaat masala.
2. Low-Carb Paneer Kathi Roll
Ditch the usual wrap and try this roll made with besan roti. Make a firm dough, roll into flat discs and cook on a tawa. Spread chutney on the roti, add onions, paneer tikka (recipe here), and a sprinkle of chaat masala. Roll it up and eat.
3. Low-Carb Keto Thepla
These theplas are made with methi and flaxseed. Use dried or fresh methi leaves, steep them in hot water with spices. In another bowl, add this mix to flaxseed meal and knead a dough. Flatten with parchment paper and cook using minimal oil in a non-stick pan.
4. Bharwa Bhindi
A low-carb recipe, Bharwa Bhindi is one of the most common recipes people love to make. Stuff slit bhindi with masala and fry in ghee. Add a spoonful of lemon juice and stir. Cook on medium heat until soft. Check out the full recipe here, and remember to eat in moderation as it can be high in fat.
5. Chicken Ball And Spinach Soup
A light, lemony, low-carb soup packed with vegetables and protein. This recipe uses chicken balls and fresh spinach, making it a filling dish perfect for your weight loss goals. Step-by-step instructions are available here.
Every body is different. What works for one person may not suit another. Always speak to a qualified nutritionist before changing your diet for weight loss or health reasons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Humans are just slightly better than a coin toss at spotting AI pics
As AI-generated images continue to improve every year, one of the key questions is how human beings can distinguish between real and generated images. And while many of us may think that it's fairly easy to spot images generated by AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, researchers think otherwise. According to researchers from the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, the chances of being able to identify AI-generated images are ' just slightly better than flipping a coin.' Researchers say they collected data from the online game 'Real or Not Quiz', where participants were asked to distinguish AI-generated images from real ones and identify their authenticity. The study, which involved the analysis of approximately 287,000 images by over 12,500 people from around the world, found that participants had an overall success rate of just 62 per cent, meaning they had a slightly higher chance than a coin flip when it came to detecting these artificially generated photos. For this, researchers say they used some of the best AI image generators available to create the quiz, and that the game was not designed to compare the photorealism of images generated by these models. As it turns out, people who played this online quiz were fairly accurate at differentiating between real and AI-generated human portraits, but struggled when it came to natural and urban landscapes. For those wondering, humans had a success rate of around 65 per cent when it came to identifying people, but could only identify nature photos 59 per cent of the time. Researchers noted that most of the time, people had trouble distinguishing 'images without obvious artifacts or stylistic cues', but when it came to human portraits, the percentage was much higher because of our brain's ability to recognise faces. These findings are in line with a recent study by the University of Surrey, which discussed how our brains are 'drawn to spot faces everywhere.' The study also found that AI detection tools are fairly more reliable than humans at identifying AI-generated images, but they were also prone to mistakes. The team behind the study also emphasised the need for transparency tools like watermarks and robust AI detections to prevent the spread of misinformation and said they were working on a new AI image detection tool, which it claims has a success rate of over 95 per cent when it comes to both real and generated images.
News18
24-07-2025
- News18
Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as ban
Melbourne, Jul 24 (AP) Australia will reduce restrictions on US beef imports after US President Donald Trump criticised what he described as an Australian ban on the meat, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep Australia free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, among its cattle herds would not compromise biosecurity. 'Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this," Collins said in a statement. Australia has allowed imports of beef grown in the United States since 2019. But Australia has not allowed imports from the US of beef sourced from Canada or Mexico because of the disease risk. But the US has recently introduced additional movement controls that identify and trace all cattle from Mexico and Canada to their farms of origin. US cattle import controls satisfy Australian authorities Australian authorities were 'satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks," Collins said. 'Australia bans — and they're wonderful people, and wonderful everything — but they ban American beef," Trump told reporters then. 'Yet we imported USD 3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone. They won't take any of our beef. They don't want it because they don't want it to affect their farmers and, you know, I don't blame them, but we're doing the same thing right now," Trump added. Lawmaker fears appeasing Trump endangers Australian cattle industry Opposition lawmaker David Littleproud suspected the government was endangering Australia's cattle industry to appease Trump. 'I want to see the science and it should be predicated on science. I'm suspicious of the speed at which this has been done," Littleproud told reporters. 'We need to give confidence to the industry, but also to you (the public): this is not just about animal welfare, this is about human welfare, this is about BSE potentially coming into this country and having a human impact, so I think it's important the government's very transparent about the science and I don't think it's even beyond the question to have an independent panel review that science to give confidence to everybody," he added. Around 70 per cent of Australian beef is exported. Producers fear that export market would vanish overnight if diseases including mad cow or foot-and-mouth disease infected Australian cattle. Will Evans, chief executive of Cattle Australia who represents more than 52,000 grass-fed beef producers across the nation, said he was confident the agriculture department had taken a cautious approach toward US imports. 'The department's undertaken a technical scientific assessment and we have to put faith in them. They've made this assessment themselves. They've said: 'We've looked at this, we've looked at the best science, this is a decision that we feel comfortable with,'" Evans told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'When you have a 75 billion (Australian dollar, USD 50 billion) industry relying on them not making this mistake, I'm sure they've been very cautious in their decision-making," he added. US beef prices rise because of drought and a domestic cattle shortage Beef prices have been rising in the US due to factors that include drought and shrinking domestic herd numbers. The average price of a pound of ground beef in the US rose to USD 6.12 in June, up nearly 12 per cent from a year ago, according to US government data. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8 per cent to USD 11.49 per pound. Australia's opposition to any US tariffs will be high on the agenda when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secures his first face-to-face meeting with Trump. Albanese and Trump were to hold a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit in Canada last month, but the US president left early. top videos View all Albanese expects the pair will meet this year, although no date has been announced. The two countries have had a bilateral free trade deal for 20 years and the US has maintained a trade surplus with Australia for decades. (AP) GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Time of India
On a weight loss journey? Eating THIS nut can help drop the kilos, naturally
Research indicates that incorporating almonds into your diet may aid in weight management. A study revealed that consuming almonds as snacks can lead to a reduction in daily kilojoule intake, primarily by curbing the consumption of junk food. Almond consumption influences appetite-regulating hormones, potentially contributing to decreased food intake and promoting overall health. Weight loss is a tough nut to crack, but having a handful of a certain nut can really help you with it. Yes, that's right. Obesity rates are on the rise across the world. Being obese or overweight is more than a cosmetic concern; it can raise the risk of many diseases, including diabetes, fatty liver, and even certain cancers. Weight management is crucial for overall wellness. So how exactly do you manage weight or lose those extra pounds? Add a few almonds to your diet. Yes, that's right. A 2022 study led by researchers at the University of South Australia found that almonds may help you cut calories. The findings are published in the European Journal of Nutrition . Almonds Almonds are edible seeds of Prunus dulcis, aka the almond tree. Native to the Middle East, almonds are enjoyed by people across the world. These nuts are high in antioxidants, vitamin E, protein, and fiber. A 1-ounce or 28 g, serving of almonds contains : Fiber: 3.5 g Protein: 6 g Fat: 14 g (9 of which are monounsaturated) Vitamin E: 48% of the daily value (DV) Manganese: 27% of the DV Magnesium: 18% of the DV Copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and phosphorus Can almonds help with weight loss A handful of almonds could keep extra kilos at bay, according to new research. The researchers found that eating almonds can affect appetite. Having 30-50 grams of almonds as snacks could help people cut back on the number of kilojoules they consume each day. They found that people who consumed almonds lowered their energy intake by 300 kilojoules (most of which came from junk food) at the subsequent meal, when compared to an energy-equivalent carbohydrate snack. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo 'Rates of overweight and obesity are a major public health concern, and modulating appetite through better hormonal response may be key to promoting weight management,' Dr. Sharayah Carter from UniSA's Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) said, in a statement. Sharing further about the research, Carter added, 'Our research examined the hormones that regulate appetite, and how nuts – specifically almonds - might contribute to appetite control. We found that people who ate almonds experienced changes in their appetite-regulating hormones, and that these may have contributed to reduced food intake (by 300kJ).' Obesity and almonds Obesity is on the rise across the globe. In 2022, about nine billion adults were overweight, with 650 million of these being obese. According to the data by the World Health Organization ( WHO ), 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity in 2022. To understand the weight loss effects of almonds, the researchers studied some people, and found that the ones who ate almonds had 47% lower C-peptide responses (which can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease); and higher levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (18 per cent higher), glucagon (39 per cent higher), and pancreatic polypeptide responses (44 per cent higher). The glucagon gives a sense of satiety, and the pancreatic polypeptide slows digestion. This reduces the food intake, leading to weight loss. 'Almonds are high in protein, fibre, and unsaturated fatty acids, which may contribute to their satiating properties and help explain why fewer kilojoules were consumed,' Dr. Carter said. Orange for weight loss: How eating oranges everyday can help you lose belly fat The researcher also pointed out that, through the study, they found that almonds produce small changes to people's energy intake. 'Even small, positive lifestyle changes can have an impact over a longer period. When we're making small, sustainable changes, we're more likely to be improving our overall health in the long run. Almonds are a fantastic healthy snack to incorporate into the daily diet. We are now excited to look at how almonds might affect appetite during a weight loss diet and how they might assist with weight management in the long term,' Dr Carter added.
