Making Decisions While In This Physical State, Can Impact Your Financial & Life Choices In More Ways Than You Think

Rich & Famous March 17, 2020

Intermittent fasting has gotten quite popular as a weight loss and health management technique. The method requires people to only eat during limited hours in a day depending on the variation of the fasting they’re on.

While intermittent fasting has helped numerous people lose the extra pounds and manage their blood glucose levels, some experts are warning people against the possible consequences of being in a fasted state can have on their daily lives.

Fasting & Productivity

Dorsey typically breaks his fast at 6:30 p.m. on weeknights and eats a meal consisting of some form of protein, some vegetables, and mixed berries for dessert

Twitter CEO and billionaire Jack Dorsey is one of the many famous names who have sworn on the effectivity of the eating method. He himself sticks to only eating one meal a day, usually at dinner, while fasting over the weekend. The businessman only drinks water during these long fasted periods.

While some people might find this kind of lifestyle restrictive, Dorsey says that following it led to him feeling much more focused and even productive during the day. What more, the practice led to him being more appreciative of food and its taste going so long without it.

Hunger & Decision-Making

Most health experts recommend people to eat at least three meals a day

Though intermittent fasting may work for the CEO, a new study has found evidence saying the opposite. According to researchers, hunger can make one more willing to settle when making decisions on an empty stomach. They concluded this after observing 50 participants at two different times.

First, they asked them questions just two hours after they’ve eaten. Then they did so again after 10 hours into their fast. The experiment saw the participants being given the choice of getting a small incentive, in the form of money, food or music downloads, either right away or to get something bigger but an hour later.

As the study’s lead author Benjamin Vincent, Ph.D. explains, hungry individuals had the tendency to lean more towards short-term rewards while in that state of hunger. This supposedly applies to other non-food related decisions as well such as when one is speaking with their mortgage or pension adviser.

Doing the latter while in a fasted state, he says, might lead to people into choosing something that would give them immediate gratification instead of a decision that would be more financially beneficial.

Dealing with Hunger Pangs

An ounce serving of almond nuts has plenty of both satiating fiber and protein

However, some people may actually be unintentionally fasting. Busy business people and workers may be unwittingly skipping meals because of their packed work schedules during the weekdays.

To remedy this dilemma, Vincent recommends people be more aware of the hunger cues their body is sending them. Snacking on foods rich in healthy fat, protein, or fiber when one doesn’t have the time for a full meal is a great way to energize fast while also preventing intrusive hunger pangs.