Is intermittent fasting good for digestion?

The gut does housekeep between meals: waves of movement sweep debris when the stomach is empty, and constant grazing interrupts them. Many people simply feel better with defined meals and an overnight gap of twelve hours or so.

Formal intermittent fasting helps some with weight, mostly by containing eating hours, and modestly improves reflux for late-night eaters.

It is not required for a healthy gut, and it suits shift workers, diabetics on medication and anyone with a history of disordered eating poorly. Stopping eating three hours before bed captures most of the digestive benefit alone.