Fasting-Mimicking Diet: 64% Believe This 5-Day Diet Beats IF for Health

Public interest in dietary approaches for improving health is on the rise, with a recent study showing a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) lowered insulin resistance, liver fat, inflammation, and other markers associated with aging. A survey launched by Real Research, an online survey app, explored public understanding and preferences regarding FMD and other dietary trends.

Key Findings:

• Over two-thirds of respondents have heard about both FMD (68.76%) and IF (69.82%).
• A majority (64.7%) believe FMD is more effective for health and disease prevention than IF (35.3%).
• FMD is seen as more sustainable in the long term compared to IF (59.32% vs. 40.68%).

Fasting-Mimicking Diet vs. Intermittent Fasting

The Fasting-Mimicking Diet is a program that aims to mimic the effects of fasting without fully abstaining from food. It involves eating food with controlled levels of dietary macros for 5 days, followed by normal eating for the rest of the month.

In comparison, Intermittent Fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It doesn’t specify which food you should eat but rather when you should eat them.

Regarding public awareness surrounding dietary strategies, over two-thirds of respondents (68.76% and 69.82%) had heard about FMD and IF, respectively. Furthermore, over 70% were aware of a recent study highlighting FMD’s potential to combat aging and disease.

Read Also: Two-Thirds Recognize Health Risks of Intermittent Fasting Fad

FMD Seen as More Effective and Sustainable

FMD differs from IF as it includes limited food intake rather than complete fasting. When directly comparing FMD and IF, the majority (64.7%) believed FMD to be more effective in improving health markers and reducing disease risk.

Additionally, FMD’s cyclical nature (5 days per month) might be seen as more sustainable in the long term compared to some IF schedules (59.32% vs. 40.68%).

Read Also: Social Media Diet Trends — a Hype or Help?

Diversified Dietary Preferences

Despite the growing interest in Fasting-Mimicking Diet, the survey showcases a varied landscape of dietary preferences. While FMD and IF garnered significant interest (23.54% and 18.84%, respectively), a considerable portion of respondents also expressed interest in established dietary approaches like the Vegan (14.24%) and Low-carb (16.56%) diets.

The final question underscored the public’s growing appreciation for healthy eating. A significant majority (68.7%) indicated that recent research on the Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet’s impact on cognitive health further solidified the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.