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 Intermittent fasting is a diet plan that switches between fasting and eating on a regular schedule. With intermittent fasting, you only eat during a specific time followed by a period of fasting. It is not about what you eat so long as they are not harmful, but rather when you eat. Ayurveda considers intermittent fasting an important practice that can help maintain and regain health. 

Some of the popular methods of intermittent fasting include the 16:8 method, the eat-stop-eat method and the 5:2 diet. The 16:8 method involves fasting for 16 hours and eating food in the 8-hour window. In the eat-stop-eat method, you will fast every other day. This type of fasting is recommended once or twice a week. The 5:2 diet involves restricting calories to 500-600 for two nonconsecutive days and eating normally for the rest of the days of the week. 

Intermittent fasting varies with the type of dosha types. For Vata types, shorter fasting periods like 12-hour overnight ones are recommended to maintain the air balance in their body. For the fiery Pitta types with their strong digestive system, longer fasting periods of 14-16 hours are recommended. The longest fasting periods are recommended for the watery Kapha types. They can benefit from fasts of up to 16-18 hours to manage weight and boost energy levels.

According to Ayurveda, the time when winter transforms into spring is the best time for intermittent fasting. To get the right results it is very important to be cautious of what you eat during the period when food is consumed. Deep-fried food and other junk food should be avoided. Ideally, meals should be restricted to two a day. One should not eat between meals. Be respectful towards food while you are eating. Do not eat hastily or while distracted in other activities like watching TV. 

Ayurvedic intermittent fasting induces various health benefits including weight loss, reduced blood pressure, increased metabolism, better sleep and improved immunity. Intermittent fasting helps keep lifestyle diseases in check and also decreases the ageing process. It also improves your focus and leads to better emotional and spiritual health. 

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