Intermittent fasting, also known as time-restricted eating or periodic fasting, is a popular health and fitness trend that involves limiting food intake for certain periods of time. Alternate day fasting and cyclic fasting are other commonly used synonyms for intermittent fasting. Some people refer to it as periodic calorie restriction or time-restricted feeding. Another synonym for intermittent fasting is 16/8 fasting, which refers to the practice of fasting for 16 hours and only eating during an 8-hour window. There are also variations such as the 5:2 diet which involves eating normally for five days and restricting calories for two non-consecutive days. Whatever synonym is used, intermittent fasting can provide numerous health benefits when done correctly.