Books on intermittent fasting: Top 7 recommendations

In a nutshell

If you’re new to intermittent fasting, reading a book written by a professional can really help you get on this journey easier and achieve greater results. Different books on intermittent fasting will help you understand the core principles of this dietary approach, delve into common mistakes and pitfalls, and make your path more straightforward.

Currently, some of the best fasting books out there include:

• Fast. Feast. Repeat
• The Obesity Code
• Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To
• The Complete Guide to Fasting
• Delay, Don’t Deny
• Eat Stop Eat
• Fast Like a Girl

Intermittent fasting is a trending dietary approach that keeps expanding. Surveys show that over 80% of people around the world have heard of it and around 10% of Americans are already following its principles. If you’re also looking to get into intermittent fasting, continue reading and we'll tell you about the top books on intermittent fasting that should get you on the right track.

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Understanding the Concept of Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a dietary approach that involves switching between fasting and eating windows according to a fixed schedule. The primary idea of this approach is to prolong the period from your last meal to encourage your body to start burning fat after it burns the calories you've consumed. As a result, it can trigger weight loss and provide a variety of benefits, such as a metabolic reset, improved sleep, and others.

Intermittent fasting isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It can come in a variety of forms (aka schedules) that should be adjusted according to your body type and goals. Namely, some of the popular fasting schedules include:

• 12:12 (12 hours of fasting followed by 12 hours when you can eat)
• 16:8
• 18:6

The reason why the schedule should be adjusted to your individual specs, such as body composition, energy expenditure, and others, is that different people may have different metabolisms and thus, differently respond to fasting. That’s why it always takes an individual approach to get the most benefits.

How Intermittent Fasting Books Can Help You in Your Journey?

Though it may seem incredibly straightforward and easy to implement at first glance, intermittent fasting has many peculiarities. It’s not just about not eating food for a certain amount of hours and then consuming foods during your eating window.

In reality, there are many other important things to consider in the process, such as:

• What specific types of food you can and should consume in your eating windows.
• Which foods are the safest and most beneficial when you have your first meal after a fasting window.
• What happens to your body’s electrolytes during fasting and what you can do about it.

Additionally, you may have specific medical conditions that impact your metabolism, insulin, and blood sugar and thus, affect the fasting process and results. All these considerations are crucial to keep in mind if you want to make your fasting journey seamless. Yet, many beginners choose to jump right into it, without considering the specs. And that’s where books on intermittent fasting can really come in handy.

Good books written by nutritionists and dietitians can help you figure out the science and mechanism behind intermittent fasting. Simply put, they can become your roadmaps to success, helping you find the right approach and gain the most benefits.

Best Fasting Books: Top Picks for Different Levels and Goals

As you now know, reading books on intermittent fasting can just make your path toward your goals more straightforward and protect you from making common mistakes. The question is–which books should you opt for to streamline your journey?

To help you get started, we’ve selected the best books meant for people of all levels and with diverse goals:

Best Fasting Books for Beginners

Fast. Feast. Repeat.

The first book we can suggest to you is deservedly called the best intermittent fasting book 2022-2023. It’s the work of Gin Stephens, a New York Times bestselling author and a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition’s Health Coach Training Program.

Gin Stephens is an old-timer of intermittent fasting, who has gone through all its exploration and stages on her own before helping others attain their goals. In her book Fast. Feast. Repeat. Gin provides you with a beginner-friendly and practical guide to intermittent fasting. The book breaks down the basic concepts of fasting into easy-to-understand, digestible chunks. It also provides step-by-step instructions on how to get started and gain the most benefits, with an outlook on turning intermittent fasting into a sustainable lifestyle rather than a short-term diet that doesn't bring any results.

The Obesity Code

The next recommendation for beginners is a book by Dr. Jason Fung. Dr. Jason Fung is a nephrologist and functional medicine advocate. At the same time, he’s a New York Times bestselling author whose books help people adopt low-carbohydrate high-fat diets and improve their well-being.

Unlike the previous recommendation, The Obesity Code is a more science-heavy book. Yet, it’s still very beginner-friendly. It focuses on intermittent fasting as a tool to address such issues as insulin resistance and promote healthy weight loss. The book will guide you to reducing sugars and processed foods and switching to healthier meals under an intermittent fasting schedule step by step.

Best Fasting Books for Science-Backed Approach

Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To

The next recommendation is truly one of the best intermittent fasting books if you’re interested in the impact of this diet on longevity. The book’s author, Dr. David Sinclair, is a worldwide-recognized biologist known for his research on epigenetics and aging. The author also teaches genetics at Harvard Medical School and is the founding director of the school’s Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging at Harvard.

In his book, Dr. David Sinclair shares the findings of his research on aging. He explores intermittent fasting as a tool to slow, stop, and even reverse aging and shares practical tips on how to step on this journey.

The Complete Guide to Fasting

The Complete Guide to Fasting is another book worth checking out if you’re interested in the science behind intermittent fasting. This book is created by the nephrologist who created another best-seller, The Obesity Code, Dr. Jason Fung in co-authorship with Jimmy Moore–the world’s phenomenon who has lost 180-pound on his own and combated high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems.

The book is quite beginner-friendly. Yet, it addresses the scientific impact of intermittent fasting on various bodily functions and medical conditions. It gives you a deep dive into all popular fasting protocols, shares practical tips, and discusses common challenges and mistakes, as well as how to overcome them.

Best Fasting Books to Personalize Your Diet

Delay, Don’t Deny

The next top pick on our list is another best-seller by the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat. Gin Stephens. The book also explores the basic concepts of intermittent fasting and helps beginners step on this path without a hassle. At the same time, the biggest focus here is on mindfulness and flexibility.

The book helps you explore various approaches to intermittent fasting and personalize your diet so that it brings you the most benefits. Additionally, Gin Stephens teaches you how to incorporate mindful eating habits to create a healthier lifestyle.

Eat Stop Eat

Our next recommendation is a book that advocates for periodic, short-term fasting approaches. The book’s author, Brad Pilon, is a graduate of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. He is broadly known in the industry as one of the world’s leading advocates of intermittent fasting who uses a combined approach for improving health, losing fat, and building muscle.

Eat Stop Eat is somewhat different compared to other intermittent fasting books we shared on this list. Instead of explaining the basics of daily fasting schedules, it advocates for periodic 24-hour fasting periods and explains how to adhere to them correctly. It might be a good choice if you’re looking for a less traditional approach to your diet.

Best Fasting Books for Improving Female Health

Fast Like a Girl

The last recommendation on our list is another work that’s frequently called the best intermittent fasting book 2022-2023 for women, in particular. The book is written by Dr. Mindy Pelz–a professional in the fields of exercise physiology and nutritional sciences, and a faculty member at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. The author’s main mission is to empower women to embrace their body’s natural healing processes and address hormonal and overall wellness through lifestyle adjustments.

The primary highlight of Fast Like a Girl is that it’s a book written by a woman for other women. It focuses on fasting approaches and protocols tailored specifically to females. Most importantly, Mindy Pelz focuses not solely on weight loss purposes but also on promoting gut health, mental well-being, hormonal balance, and other elements of female health through fasting.

FAQ

What is intermittent fasting?

It’s a trending approach to everyday diet, which implies switching between fasting and eating schedules. The schedules can vary depending on individual goals and body composition. Some common patterns include 12:12,16:8, 18:6, etc.

Do I really need intermittent fasting books to get started?

Generally, it’s possible to get on this journey on your own. After all, there are quite a few sources dedicated to intermittent fasting on the web. Nevertheless, reading one of the recommended books can help make your start smoother and help avoid common mistakes. The books we recommended to you here are all written by doctors, nutritionists, and other experts who can help you delve into the concept of intermittent fasting and get started with it.

How do I choose the best fasting book for me?

All the books we shared with you here have been recognized as valuable and helpful. Nevertheless, your choice should always come down to your specific needs. When choosing the right book, we recommend paying attention to factors like:

• Author credibility
• Scientific vs. practical value
• Target audience
• Your current expertise level
• Your health or body goals

Conclusion

While it’s possible to get started with intermittent fasting on your own. Books written by proven experts in the field can help you understand the baseline concepts better, save you time, and avoid common mistakes. All in all, books can help you streamline your journey and make the most out of it.

After reading this guide, you already have a list of good books on intermittent fasting that can help. Compare them and pick an option that aligns with your goals and needs best to get started with intermittent fasting easily.

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