The Internet is full of diets. In recent years, a lot has been written about intermittent fasting. This is only eating inside an 8-hour window. Supporters of this say it improves metabolism. However, a new study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers in China said people who restricted their eating to eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who spread their eating over a 12-16 hour period.

The researchers used data from 20,000 adults over a six-year period. The lead researcher said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed…a time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He encouraged people to take "a cautious…approach to dietary recommendations". The Mayo Clinic says fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years, but advised it is safer to consult healthcare specialists.