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Naturopathic Medicine
Learn about the inherent wisdom of your body and how you can support your mental, emotional, and physical health naturally.
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More on Naturopathic Medicine
How I Teach My Patients to Do Intermittent Fasting
This blog is a follow up to The Truth about Intermittent Fasting which is an in-depth look at my personal experience with intermittent fasting and how it impacted my struggle with anorexia and binge eating.
It’s a great blog for anyone who has disordered eating, body image issues, and those who are tired of generalized nutrition advice that’s so hyped up it’s hard to tell what’s a money making trend and what’s actually helpful for your health.
So we’re on the same page, let’s define intermittent fasting.
With intermittent fasting, you’re choosing a period of time to eat and a period of time to not eat, or fast, each day.
The Truth About Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting has taken the nutrition world by storm over the last few years.
Like any craze, there’s bound to be legions of enthusiastic followers who have tried it out for 2 weeks then start proclaiming that it’s the best thing in the world and EVERYONE SHOULD DO IT.
The truth is much more nuanced, as you might have guessed.
I want to lay it all out for you, from the benefits to the subversive, hidden messaging that comes with any nutritional fad.
I’ve included my own experience with intermittent fasting and my clinical experience working with patients who are interested in it.
A Lesson in Softness and Strength
I spent most of my teens and 20s trying to close off my heart.
I wanted to become impervious to the pain of the world and to my own.
Hard, impenetrable, and strong. Not soft, weak, and tender like I’d felt my whole life.
I fantasized about what a welcome relief it would be to feel less.
I was “too sensitive” for most people and was encouraged to push my feelings away, pull myself up by my bootstraps and soldier through, like anyone else with common sense. I’m sure I’m not alone in this life experience.