The Internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team."