The 5/2 Fasting Diet

I have never taken up a diet before and I don't feel the need to lose weight, but the 5/2 fasting diet has my interest because of the potential long term health benefits regarding reduced risk for cancer and heart disease, two of the major risks for western European men such as myself.  I want to live a long and healthy life as long as possible, as many happy years with my lovely daughter as possible.  

The diet was brought to my attention by a friend who lives in London last year, which I didn't think much of at the time as this friend is forever changing diets and food regimes. I don't have enough time to look in to all of them. Then last week a friend of mine here in Sweden mentioned that she too has taken it up after seeing a documentary film about it, which mentioned that the intermittent fasting may reduce the risk of dementia in later life.
I decided to watch the BBC film for myself and after watching the program I thought I would give it a go. The rules are simple, eat regularly for five days of the week and fast for two. Fasting does not mean a total avoidance of food but a maximum of 600 calories per day for men and 500 for women.
I fasted on Thursday and Friday eating two measly meals per day. I did not attempt to cook small tasty meals, but ate simply to get about 500-600 calories in me. Tomato and scrambled egg on a single toast, rice cakes with beetroot slices and not much else. I staved off the pangs of hunger with green tea. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I will be keeping up the regime.