Have you ever noticed that those that preach, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” are usually trying to sell you breakfast? Not that breakfast is bad, but research has shown that skipping a few meals now and again could actually benefit your health. This practice is known as “Intermittent Fasting.” Not to be confused with “starve dieting,” intermittent fasting (IF) has shown to be in line with how our ancestors ate.

Unlike our traditional standard of eating three square meals a day, plus snacks, our forefathers and foremothers from long ago tended to consume foods intermittently, while still maintaining the ability to function mentally and physically at a high level.

Research in animals suggest that (IF) can keep at bay, and at times, reverse cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders. It’s believed that by fasting, certain tumors will starve due to the reduced inflammation and removal of damaged molecules.

"Fasting alone is more powerful in preventing and reversing some diseases than drugs," said Satchidananda Panda, an associate professor of regulatory biology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California. Panda also added, “"Intermittent fasting helps the body to rejuvenate and repair, thereby promoting overall health."

A person’s circadian rhythms also have a lot to do with the wrong and right times to eat. The body has been known to respond differently, depending on the time of day it’s consumed. Research shows that in the years before artificial light, humans were more dependent on the natural patterns of day and night, causing more consumption in the earlier parts of the day. A study done in 2013 suggested that people who eat earlier in the day had improved results when it came to weight loss in overweight and obese people.

Panda said that it may be challenging for people to fast intermittently, instead of eating three meals every day. Eating breakfast is often promoted as a weight-control aid, but recent evidence has suggested it might not be, the researchers said.

Working closely with a Santa Monica personal trainer is a great way to stay on top of any dietary changes you might make. Setting up a meal plan, will help you get the most out of your workout routine. When searching for Santa Monica gyms, there really is no better place for personal training in Santa Monica than 34 North.