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Is Fasting a Valid Lifestyle Choice or Just Another Fad?

Fasting has become one of the most talked-about health trends in recent years. 

From intermittent fasting apps to celebrity endorsements, it’s hard to avoid the conversation. 

But is fasting genuinely beneficial, or is it simply another passing fad in the wellness world? 

Let’s take a closer look at both sides of the debate.

The Case For Fasting

Many people who practise fasting describe it as a life-changing approach to health. There’s more than one way to do it, from intermittent fasting (16:8), where you eat during an eight-hour window and fast for sixteen, to alternate-day fasting, or even more extended fasts under medical supervision.

1. Improved Metabolic Health

Supporters argue that fasting helps regulate blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and encourage fat loss without necessarily reducing calorie intake. Some studies suggest it may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both key factors in long-term health.

2. Simplicity and Mindful Eating

Unlike complicated diets requiring strict meal plans or expensive supplements, fasting can simplify life. You eat less often, which may encourage more mindful food choices and less impulsive snacking.

3. Potential Longevity Benefits

Animal research and limited human trials suggest fasting could activate processes like autophagy, where the body clears out damaged cells. This has been linked to slowing aspects of ageing and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

The Case Against Fasting

Of course, fasting isn’t for everyone, and critics warn that it can carry risks and reinforce unhealthy attitudes toward food.

1. Not Suitable for All Lifestyles

Those with physically demanding jobs, chronic conditions, or certain medications may find fasting difficult or even unsafe. It can cause fatigue, dizziness, and poor concentration, especially when combined with caffeine or strenuous activity.

2. Risk of Disordered Eating

Some nutritionists caution that fasting can blur the line between structured eating and restrictive behaviour, potentially triggering disordered eating patterns. This is particularly concerning among young people or anyone with a history of body image issues.

3. Limited Long-Term Data

While short-term studies on intermittent fasting look promising, long-term research is still limited. We don’t yet know whether the metabolic benefits seen early on persist after years of following a fasting routine.

Finding a Balanced Approach

For many people, fasting works best when it’s flexible and personal. You might find that delaying breakfast, avoiding late-night snacking, or having an occasional light day can deliver the benefits without full-on restriction.

Health professionals generally agree that fasting should never replace a balanced, nutrient-rich diet — nor should it become an excuse to overeat during eating windows.

The Verdict

So, is fasting a valid lifestyle choice or a fad? The answer depends on how it’s approached.

Used thoughtfully and under proper guidance, fasting can be a sustainable way to manage weight, improve metabolic health, and reconnect with hunger cues. However, when used as a quick-fix or pushed to extremes, it risks becoming yet another wellness trend that fades as quickly as it arrived.

If you’re considering fasting, it’s wise to consult a GP or registered dietitian first — especially if you have underlying health conditions.

In summary: fasting can be both valuable and valid, but only when applied responsibly. Like many things in life, balance is key.

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Cooking with Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables – Fresh, Flavourful, and Budget-Friendly

Discover how cooking with seasonal fruits and vegetables brings flavour, freshness, and savings. Explore what’s in season in the UK and try easy recipes from That’s Food and Drink.

Intro: Taste the Seasons in Every Bite

Cooking with seasonal fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest ways to make your meals more flavourful, sustainable, and affordable. 

Whether you’re shopping at your local greengrocer, a farm shop, or even growing your own, seasonal produce captures the true taste of Britain’s natural rhythm, and it can make a huge difference to your health and your wallet.

Why Cooking Seasonally Makes Sense

1. Superior Flavour:

Seasonal produce is harvested at its peak ripeness. A June strawberry from a Shropshire farm tastes far sweeter than an imported one in December. Likewise, a locally grown carrot in winter bursts with earthy sweetness that storage-heavy imports can’t match.

2. Better for Your Budget:

When crops are in abundance, prices naturally drop. That means a basket full of British apples or cabbages will cost far less than exotic imports, perfect for family meals or batch cooking.

3. Good for the Planet:

Eating what’s in season helps cut food miles and reduce carbon emissions. Plus, less refrigeration and packaging means a smaller environmental footprint.

What’s in Season in the UK?

Spring:

Enjoy tender asparagus, radishes, new potatoes, spinach, rhubarb, and early strawberries. Fresh, bright, and full of life.

Summer:

A feast of courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, soft berries, cherries, and stone fruits. Ideal for barbecues, salads, and desserts.

Autumn:

Cosy up with apples, pears, pumpkins, butternut squash, and root vegetables. Roast, bake, or stew for comforting warmth.

Winter:

Celebrate the sturdy greens, kale, cabbage, leeks, parsnips, and swedes. Perfect for soups, casseroles, and hearty Sunday roasts.

Easy Seasonal Recipes to Try at Home

Spring Green Risotto:

A creamy mix of peas, asparagus, and lemon zest for a light yet comforting dish.

Summer Berry Crumble:

Combine strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries under an oat crumble topping. Serve with clotted cream or vanilla custard.

Autumn Roast Tray Bake:

Toss chunks of carrot, parsnip, and squash with olive oil, rosemary, and a drizzle of honey.

Winter Vegetable Soup:

Simmer leeks, potatoes, and kale in vegetable stock, then blend smooth for a velvety winter warmer.

Smart Tips for Cooking Seasonally

Shop local: Support your community by buying from farm shops and markets.

Plan meals around availability: Use what’s freshest now, not what’s flown halfway round the world.

Preserve the harvest: Freeze berries, make chutneys, or pickle vegetables to enjoy all year round.

Mix & match: Combine seasonal veg with cupboard staples like grains, pasta, or pulses.

Learn about UK farm shops

https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2024/05/exploring-british-countryside-guide-to.html

Learn about preserving your own foods

https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2024/07/learning-from-our-grandparents-journey.html

Link “budget-friendly meals” to your one-pan meal series.

Budget friendly meals to ensure you use available produce wisely

https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2025/04/budget-one-pan-dinners-that-taste-like.html

Final Thoughts: Eat the Seasons, Live the Flavour

Cooking seasonally helps you reconnect with real food, fresh, local, and full of character. Every season brings something different to the table, so experiment, enjoy, and celebrate the best of British produce one meal at a time.

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UK Craft Distillers Unit in Call for Spirits Inclusion in Small Producer Relief Scheme in Advance of Autumn Budget

In a November blog post, Liam Hirt has explicitly asked the Chancellor to extend Small Producers Relief to alcohol over 8.5%. 

Currently, a lower rate of Alcohol Duty is only permitted on products with an ABV of less than 8.5%.

Hirt is arguing that the current framework unfairly excludes small producers of gin, whisky, rum, and other higher-strength drinks.

Liam Hirt told That's Food and Drink: “Duty relief for beer and cider has proven its value. It has helped small producers compete with global corporations, encouraged hundreds of new entrants, and driven diversity and innovation. 

"Extending the same support to spirits would deliver exactly the same benefits - and strengthen the UK's position as a world leader in craft distilling.”

The Small Producer Relief Scheme was introduced to correct structural disadvantages faced by small drinks producers. However, by restricting eligibility to products below 8.5% ABV, it excludes the vast majority of craft spirits, which typically sit at 37.5% ABV or higher.

“This limitation discriminates against distillers and contradicts the scheme's intended purpose. There's no public health basis for this exclusion,” he added. 

“A unit of alcohol in a gin is no more harmful than a unit in a beer. In fact, many spirits consumed with low or zero-sugar mixers have fewer calories than most beers or ciders. According to recent HMRC data, spirits duty receipts have fallen by up to £700 million over the past two years, despite duty increases. 

"A reformed, inclusive SPR could reverse this decline by encouraging investment, compliance, and sectoral growth - boosting long-term revenues for the Treasury.”

Spirits sales now represent 38% of pub alcohol profits according to The Scotch Whisky Association, despite a smaller share of total serves, and over half of consumers report a preference for spirits when drinking out.

Hirt went on to say: “Premium and locally made spirits are key to pub profitability and consumer engagement. Giving small distilleries access to duty relief would allow more collaboration between pubs and local producers, keeping value in local communities.”

With the UK craft spirits sector continuing to grow in global reputation but facing mounting tax pressures, small producers say reform is long overdue.

“The UK's duty framework should reward innovation, not penalise it. Including spirits in Small Producer Relief would deliver fairness, drive exports, and strengthen the entire drinks ecosystem - from distilleries to pubs to the Treasury.”

The full list of co-signees include:

Liam Hirt - Circumstance Distillery

Richard Foster - Exploring Whisky

Shaun Watts - Ludlow Distillery

Paul Abbott - Grasmere Distillery

Jordan Lunn - West Midlands Distillery

Anthony  - Spirit of Birmingham

Stephen Russel - Copper Rivet

Jordan Morris - Abingdon Distillery

Jared Cave - Integrity Malts

Ben Mordue - Elsham Wold Distillery

Laurence Coinsbee - Wharf Distillery

Matt Kay - London Distilling Co

Karl Bond - Forrest Distillery

Phil McLaughlin - Weetwood

Dan Humphries - Summerton Whisky Club

Amy Seton - Grain and Glass

Tim Ethrington-Judge - Avallen

https://circumstancedistillery.com/content.php?content_id=40