
The Fast Five Diet, also known as the 5:2 diet, is an intermittent fasting regime that involves reducing your food intake on two days of the week. On these two days, calorie intake is limited to 500-600 calories per day. On the other five days, you eat normally and don't have to restrict calories. The diet was popularised by British journalist and former medical doctor Michael Mosley in his 2013 book, *The Fast Diet*.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calorie intake | 500-600 calories per day, two times per week |
| Diet type | Intermittent fasting |
| Food type | Plant-based proteins, nuts, healthy fats, vegetables |
| Preparation | Cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates, and ultra-processed foods for two weeks beforehand |
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What You'll Learn
- The 5:2 diet is an intermittent fasting regime
- It involves limiting calorie intake to 500-600 calories per day, two times per week
- It's a popular diet, but may not be suitable for everyone
- It's called the 5:2 diet because five days of the week are routine eating days
- It's recommended to cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods two weeks before starting the diet

The 5:2 diet is an intermittent fasting regime
The 5:2 diet is also known as The Fast Diet and was popularised by British journalist Michael Mosley in his 2013 bestseller, *The Fast Diet*. The book outlines the protocol that allows you to eat normally for five days and restrict calories for two days.
The 5:2 diet is more of a lifestyle than a diet because there are no requirements about which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them. It is a popular intermittent fasting diet, and scientists have been interested in whether plans like this can promote weight loss, help manage or prevent diabetes, and improve heart health.
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves regular fasting. Longer periods without food, such as 24-, 36-, 48- and 72-hour fasting periods, are not necessarily better for you and may be dangerous. Going too long without eating might actually encourage your body to start storing more fat in response to starvation.
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It involves limiting calorie intake to 500-600 calories per day, two times per week
The 5:2 diet, also known as the Fast Diet, is an intermittent fasting regime in which calorie intake is limited to 500-600 calories per day, two times per week. This equates to around a quarter of your daily needs. For example, you might eat normally every day of the week except Mondays and Thursdays, which would be your one-meal days.
The 5:2 diet is simple: for five days per week, you eat normally and don't have to think about restricting calories. Then, on the other two days, you reduce your calorie intake. You can choose whichever two days of the week you prefer, as long as there is at least one non-fasting day in between them.
The 5:2 diet is more of a lifestyle than a diet, as there are no requirements about which foods to eat but rather when you should eat them. It was popularised by British journalist and former medical doctor Michael Mosley in his 2013 bestseller, *The Fast Diet*.
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It's a popular diet, but may not be suitable for everyone
The 5:2 diet, also known as the Fast Diet, is a popular intermittent fasting regime. It involves eating normally for five days and restricting calories to 500-600 per day for the other two days. The diet was popularised by British journalist and former medical doctor Michael Mosley in his 2013 bestseller, *The Fast Diet*.
Although the 5:2 diet may be linked to several health benefits, it may not be suitable for everyone. Longer periods without food may be dangerous and could encourage the body to store more fat. It can take two to four weeks for the body to become accustomed to intermittent fasting.
Before starting the 5:2 diet, it is recommended that you cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods for two weeks. It is also advisable to clear your social calendar, as the diet will involve eating only one meal on fasting days.
The 5:2 diet is more of a lifestyle than a diet, as there are no requirements about which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them.
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It's called the 5:2 diet because five days of the week are routine eating days
The 5:2 diet, also known as the Fast Diet, is an intermittent fasting regime in which calorie intake is limited to 500-600 calories per day, two times per week. It's called the 5:2 diet because five days of the week are routine eating days, while the other two restrict calories.
The 5:2 diet is a popular intermittent fasting diet that was popularized by British journalist and former medical doctor Michael Mosley. It is a simple concept: for five days per week, you eat normally and don't have to think about restricting calories. Then, on the other two days, you reduce your calorie intake to a quarter of your daily needs. This is about 500 calories per day for women and 600 for men. You can choose whichever two days of the week you prefer, as long as there is at least one non-fasting day in between them.
The 5:2 diet is more of a lifestyle than a traditional diet because there are no requirements about which foods to eat but rather when you should eat them. It is linked to several potential health benefits, including weight loss, improved heart health, and better diabetes management. However, fasting diets may not be suitable for everyone, and longer periods without food may be dangerous.
Before starting the 5:2 diet or any other fasting regime, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure it is safe and appropriate for your individual needs. Additionally, it is recommended to cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates, and ultra-processed foods for at least two weeks before beginning the diet.
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It's recommended to cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods two weeks before starting the diet
The 5:2 diet, also known as the Fast Diet, is an intermittent fasting regime in which calorie intake is limited to 500-600 calories per day, two days per week. It is recommended to cut out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods two weeks before starting the diet.
The 5:2 diet involves eating normally for five days and restricting calories for two days. It is a popular diet that was first outlined in the book *The Fast Diet* by British journalist and former medical doctor Michael Mosley.
The diet is considered to be a lifestyle choice rather than a quick fix, as there are no requirements about which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them. It is not advisable to leap into the diet without preparation. As well as cutting out excess sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods two weeks before, you should also clear your social calendar.
The 5:2 diet may be linked to several health benefits, but fasting diets may not be suitable for everyone. It is important to note that longer periods without food may be dangerous and can encourage the body to store more fat in response to starvation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Fast Five Diet, also known as the 5:2 diet, is an intermittent fasting regime in which calorie intake is limited to 500-600 calories per day, two times per week. For the remaining five days of the week, you eat normally and don't have to restrict calories.
The Fast Five Diet involves eating normally for five days and restricting calories for two days. On the two fasting days, you can choose to eat one 500-600 calorie meal or spread your calories out throughout the day.
There are no specific food requirements for the Fast Five Diet, but it is recommended to focus on high-quality plant-based proteins, mainly from nuts (a maximum of 18-25g per day), healthy fats, and vegetables. It is also suggested to include high-impact foods like green tea and turmeric, which are rich in polyphenols.







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