Intermittent fasting has gained a following, in part because of tantalizing hints that it can boost cognition, fend off cancer and even slow aging

"An appealing feature of [intermittent fasting] is that dieters do not have to focus on counting calories and restricting intake every day as they do with daily calorie restriction," they continued. "Furthermore, the periodic nature of fasting may mitigate the constant hunger associated with [daily calorie restriction]."