During a podcast interview, newly-appointed UK PM, Rishi Sunak, revealed his diet and fitness regime, which included intermittent fasting.

The UK PM told Harry Stebbings in a podcast: “In terms of breakfast, I do some intermittent fasting.” Subsequently, searches for “intermittent fasting times” and “intermittent fasting diet” have spiked, seeing an 80% increase throughout October alone.

Also, on a recent episode of I’m a Celebrity, television and former BBC 1 presenter, Chris Moyles voiced his weight loss struggles and how he managed to shred six stones.

When asked what turned it around, Chris Moyles told the I’m A Celebrity camp: “It was a mixture of things. I climbed Kili, Kilimanjaro. I was 17 and a half stone. It was Christmas and we were climbing in March and I thought, ‘Hmm… I better lose a bit of weight.’”

He then expressed he wasn’t fulfilled with his results after climbing Kilimanjaro, claiming he felt it was a waste of time, with his trainer telling him that the issue wasn’t his training, but his diet.

Back in 2020, on Jamie Carrager’s podcast, Chris told viewers that he practises intermittent fasting and that it was a big part of his weight loss journey.

Since October, there has been a 5000% increase in searches for “Chris Moyles weight loss”, as well as a 250% increase for “intermittent fasting times” and a 100% increase for “intermittent fasting for weight loss”.

There are many celebrities that practise intermittent fasting, either as a way to lose weight and keep fit and/or a way to detox their body and clear their mind.

Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Aniston, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Elon Musk are a few celebrities that have been known to practise intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and periods of abstaining from eating (fasting). There are many different ways in which a person can intermittently fast, including the 5:2 (day) and the 16/8 (hour) methods.

The theory behind it is that by having a restrictive diet, our bodies will use up our fat stores for energy quicker and more efficiently. When glucose isn’t available, we burn fat for energy as glucose is our main source of fuel for our cells. Therefore, by restricting our intake, fat is burned quicker than it would be if you are not following an intermittent fasting diet.

Fasting can have powerful benefits for your body and brain, including weight loss, blood pressure and reduced risk of disease and illness.

7 Best foods to break your fast with

• Eggs
• Raw fruit
• Fermented foods, such as unsweetened yoghurt
• Vegetable or bone broth to help replenish electrolytes
• Leafy greens such as kale and spinach
• Fibre-rich vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
• Green juices

A spokesperson from recipe delivery service, Green Chef said: “Breaking your fast with something nutritious and easy to digest is so important, which is why you should stick to the food types listed above.

“If you’re hoping to improve your diet, but don’t want to fully commit to intermittent fasting, following a keto diet is a great alternative. The ketogenic diet includes low-carb meals, while still giving your body all of the nutrients and vitamins it needs to thrive.”

You can read more about the keto diet on Green Chef.