Best Foods to Break Intermittent Fasting
An eating plan in which you switch between fasting and eating regularly is known as intermittent fasting.
You can eat only during a specific time, but water, sugar free black coffee, and tea are permitted during fasting.
Undergoing intermittent fasting can help your body burn fat and have other health benefits. The strategies to undergo intermittent fasting are based on eating on a fixed period and fasting for the remaining time.
There are various intermittent fasting schedule options available. You can pick a daily approach, which restricts daily eating to one six- to eight-hour period each day.
For instance, you may try 16/8 fasting: eating for eight hours and fasting for 16.
Another option is the 5:2 diet, which involves eating for five days a week and limiting yourself to one 500–600 calorie meal for the remaining two days.
Going longer periods, such as 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours without food, may not be good for you and may have negative effects on your health.
Your body might start storing more fat in response to this prolonged fasting period.
The first meal after breaking the fast should be full of nutrients, light, and well-balanced.
It would be best if you tried not to overwork your digestive system while breaking the fast. The best way to break a fast is to introduce meals in small portions that can be easily digested.
Foods rich in fats, fibers, and sugar could be challenging to digest, leading to bloating and discomfort.
It would be best if you considered eating foods rich in nutrients that contain small amounts of healthy fats and proteins and are easily digestible to break your fast.
Here is a list of foods that you should consider breaking your fast with:
1. Bone broth
Foods to break intermittent fasting – Bone broth
Bone broth is considered one of the best foods to consider when considering breaking a fast.
It contains plenty of electrolytes, which will help to replace the ones lost during fasting and it is also rich in other nutrients like magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium.
Furthermore, it also contains protein and does not put stress on the digestive system.
It would be best to add healthy protein and easily digestible carbs such as pasta, lentils, and tofu to the bone broth.
You’ll need to avoid bone broths that contain heavy cream, are fibrous, and have raw vegetables, as this can easily disturb your digestive system.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Drinking apple cider vinegar diluted in water to break your fast will help stimulate the digestive tract. It is believed that it will improve the digestion of your first meal while making you fuller once you begin eating.
3. Spinach Or Kale
Green leafy vegetables like spinach or kale are rich in nutrients and minerals and also help in digestion and preventing constipation.
Furthermore, they also help maintain your blood sugar level, which decreases during fasting.
You should cook greens and eat them if they are your first meal after a fast to make them easier to digest.
4. Eggs
Eggs are rich in protein and low in calories, and the fact that they are easily digestible and so filling reduces appetite.
The protein found in eggs helps prevent the loss of muscle. So, if you want to lose fat and gain muscle, you should eat some eggs when breaking your fast.
5. Nuts
Foods to break intermittent fasting – Nuts
Nuts are rich in vitamins and restore nutrient balance in the body after a fast.
6. Watermelon
Watermelons are made up of more than 90% water. This fruit is easy to digest and hydrates you, so it is a great choice to break your fast.
7. Fermented Foods
Fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut contain good gut bacteria that aid in the entire digestive process making the digestion of food easy.
8. Smoothies
If you are breaking fast, you should try smoothies rather than whole fruits and vegetables, as they are less fibrous and less stressful on the digestive system.
If you are a person who exercises heavily, then a high-calorie smoothie might be a good idea to break your fasting
9. Avocado
Despite being the fattiest fruit, avocado could be the best choice for breaking a fast. The fruit is low in calories and rich in healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
However, sometimes it can be hard to digest for some right after a fast, causing stomach aches and bloating.
10. Broccoli or Cauliflower
Cooked broccoli and cauliflower can be considered for breaking a fast as they contain multiple vitamins, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
11. Fish
Fish can provide you with proteins, vitamin D, and healthy omega fats. So you should consider eating fish while breaking a fast.
If you’re worried that eating fish right away might be hard on your digestive system, you should start with fish broth first.
12. Banana
Foods to break intermittent fasting – Banana
Bananas are known to have high sugar and carbs, but these nutrient-packed fruits can be considered the best foods to break a fast with.
Apart from healthy carbohydrates, it also contains fiber, vitamins, and various minerals that will quickly recharge your body.
If you do decide to break your fast with a banana, you should eat it along with something that has healthy fat and is rich in protein, like nut butter, as this will slow down digestion and absorption of the entire meal.
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