If you’ve paid attention to the health and wellness industries over the past couple years, chances are that you’ve heard someone talk about intermittent fasting.

So what exactly is it?

Basically, intermittent fasting refers to any diet that cycles between periods of fasting and eating for a predetermined period.

Many fast as part of their diet because it offers flexibility. It is an effective way to reduce total caloric consumption and can be much easier than trying to stick to a traditional reduced calorie diet.

Instead of strictly counting calories every day, intermittent fasting is all about when and how much you should eat.

And with benefits ranging from fat loss to improved focus, it’s a wonder that’s its become so popular in recent years?

Reason #1 Enhanced weight loss

The main reason intermittent fasting help you lose weight is because it is restricting the amount of calories your take in during a day.

Unless you're going to be gorging during the period yo...

When you are trying to lose weight, there are certain things you know you should do.

You give up sugar and junk foods in favour of eating more vegetables, lean protein and complex carbs.

You hit the gym regularly and try to move as much as possible throughout the day.

What you may not realize, though, is that getting enough sleep is a very important part of losing weight.

The amount of sleep you get directly affects your diet.

People who are sleep deprived tend to weigh more and have more trouble losing weight than those who get adequate rest, even when following the same diet.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body over produces the hunger causing hormones lepton and ghrelin.

You could be more susceptible to overeating, while at the same time being less satisfied afterward.

People who get less than 6 hours of sleep consistently also show glucose and insulin levels and characteristics similar to diabetics, even if they are otherwise very healthy.