Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity over the last few years. Unlike other diets, which advise you what to eat, intermittent fasting focuses on when to eat by including periodic short-duration fasts into your daily routine.
Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of regular eating and periods when no food or drink is ingested. Fasting on alternate days, daily 16-hour fasts, or fasting for 24 hours two days a week are some of the most common forms of intermittent fasting.
Other health benefits of intermittent fasting include cleansing, blood sugar stabilization, blood pressure control, hormone modulation, and reduced inflammation.
The biggest difference between men and women when it comes to intermittent fasting appears to be the impact of this sort of eating pattern on female hormones and their impact on daily living. There have been several anecdotal stories of women experiencing changes in their menstrual cycles after beginning intermittent fasting. Because female bodies are particularly susceptible to calorie restriction, such modifications are possible.
Women's potential benefits from intermittent fasting
There are numerous health benefits to intermittent fasting that you should be aware of. Let us discuss it.
Loss of weight
When done correctly, intermittent fasting can be a simple and successful strategy for women to lose weight since regular short-term fasts may help them consume less energy (calories).
Another advantage for older women is that intermittent fasting appears to be more successful in sparing muscle mass than continuous calorie restriction. This is especially crucial after menopause because muscle mass declines and becomes more difficult to maintain, so women want all the assistance they can get.
Diabetes
Intermittent fasting may help both men and women manage and reduce their risk of acquiring diabetes. This is accomplished mostly by lowering insulin levels and insulin resistance.
Anti Aging
Intermittent fasting may also reduce important markers of inflammation, according to research. Inflammation is linked to numerous aging symptoms, including skin and metabolic changes. Intermittent fasting may also lower the rate at which DNA degrades, which occurs as we age, as well as increase DNA repair, reducing the aging process.
Fasting on Alternate days, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding.
Fasting is not generally advised for pregnant women. Possibly though intermittent fasting has been found to enhance metabolism, lead to weight loss, and even potentially reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, it can also cause a pregnant woman's blood sugar to drop below acceptable levels. When low blood sugar levels mix with the natural reduction in blood pressure seen by pregnant women, lightheadedness and fainting can occur. Fasting is not advised during pregnancy.
In the third and later phases of the second trimesters, intermittent fasting may not be appropriate at all many women will require an additional evening snack before bedtime, or will need to eat soon after rising.
While pregnant, a woman must ensure that she is consuming enough essential nutrients as well as total energy (many pregnant women are advised to add about 300 extra calories per day), especially if the pregnancy begins at an underweight or even normal weight, so restricting eating time may not be a good practice.
When it comes to breastfeeding with fasting, it is better to avoid long periods of fasting because the baby requires extremely nutritious milk. Fasting may have an impact on both the quantity and quality of the mother's milk. When there isn't a lot of scientific evidence or medical warnings against it, it's typically advised to avoid fasting while breastfeeding.
PCOS and intermittent fasting
The polycystic ovarian syndrome is a reasonably common disorder that affects the normal function of the ovaries (PCOS). PCOS not only causes larger ovaries and irregular periods, but it can also create an excess of the male's hormone androgen. Energy balance is a more essential element for successful ovulation in women with PCOS.
Furthermore, PCOS creates insulin resistance, which means that the body overproduces insulin, resulting in many of the classic PCOS symptoms. Carbohydrates, which induce a surge in insulin levels, can exacerbate this cycle of increased insulin resistance and related effects, thus they should be avoided if feasible. As a result, intermittent fasting has become an increasingly popular strategy for controlling PCOS symptoms.
Although research is ongoing, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests intermittent fasting may be beneficial for women with PCOS.
As previously stated, intermittent fasting can aid in the management of PCOS symptoms because eating boosts insulin production. When women fast, they assist their bodies to regulate their insulin levels.
Fasting reduces insulin stimulation, causing the body to shift from storage mode to fat-burning mode, where it uses up stored sugar and energy. Furthermore, because insulin affects other hormones in the body, lowering insulin levels allows the body to better manage androgen production.
While intermittent fasting has helped some women manage PCOS symptoms, doing so without the counsel of a healthcare practitioner is not recommended. A medical expert should evaluate each woman's symptoms and personal experience with PCOS to determine whether IF is the best treatment option for her.
Before discussing fasting and hypothyroidism, I'd like to point out that while intermittent fasting is difficult, it can be fun when done with the proper people.
Hypothyroidism with intermittent fasting
Fasting has a direct impact on the thyroid due to its effects on hormone synthesis. Fasting has been demonstrated in certain studies to lower the synthesis of T3 hormones. Because intermittent fasting alters the way your body consumes energy, if you have hypothyroidism, you may see increased metabolic activity. Furthermore, several ladies have reported that their hypothyroidism medicine is working better and that their inflammation levels have decreased.
Menopause and intermittent fasting
Menopause is the normal decrease in sex hormones that occurs in women in their 40s and 50s. The ovaries stop generating estrogen and progesterone about this time, which causes menstruation to end. When a woman has not had her period for 12 months, she has officially entered menopause. Nonetheless, amenorrhea (period loss) is not the only symptom of menopause.
Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, anxiety, sadness, increased risk of heart disease, chills, nocturnal sweats, and mood changes. Menopause, for many, is also associated with changes in metabolism. The metabolism usually slows down during menopause due to an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels. Many women gain weight as a result of the abrupt hormonal change.
Intermittent fasting may help with a variety of menopausal symptoms. Intermittent fasting is an excellent technique for controlling weight gain, insulin resistance, and other menopausal symptoms.
Hormones and fasting
While there is less food consumed, such as when fasting for an extended period of time or on a regular basis, a tiny region of the brain (the hypothalamus) is affected. This can cause changes in the production of some hormones (such as GnRH, LH and FSH). When these hormones are unable to communicate with the ovaries, a woman faces irregular periods, infertility, poor bone health, and other health consequences.
Similar to how fasting has different effects on different people, intermittent fasting can produce different responses in men and women. These are some examples:
- Women may have a harder time curbing their appetite than males
- Men's neurological systems undergo fewer alterations and hence endure less stress than women's.
- Women's reproductive systems are more likely to be harmed than men's (for example, menstruation cycles may become modified).
- Women's gonadotropin-releasing hormone can be impacted in a way that gives them greater discomfort than men do when fasting.
How can a woman practice intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is entirely safe for women, and it can be done even more successfully with a few easy modifications.
You might be wondering how to begin intermittent fasting. Women should, in general, adopt a more relaxed attitude to fasting than men. Modifications may include shorter fasting times, fewer fasting days, and/or taking fewer calories on fasting days.
The greatest intermittent fasting method is one that fits each woman's lifestyle. Experiment with duration and frequency combinations to find the best strategy for you. The most common types of intermittent fasting are:
The method of 24 hours: Starting with 14 hours and gradually up to a full day of fasting once or twice a week.
Fasting on alternate days: Every other day, limit your food intake to 500 calories.
Fasting 5:2: Only consuming 500 calories on two non-consecutive days and eating regularly the rest of the week.
The 16:8 technique: Fasting for 16 hours and just eating for 8 hours.
Please see a doctor before attempting protracted fasting methods (eating minimal calories for durations of 24 hours or more).
The plan you choose will be determined by your daily activities and fasting experience. For example, if you believe that eating nothing will be impossible for you, choose a strategy that allows up to 500 calories. If you will be traveling for a while but will have some days at home, the 24-hour strategy may work for you. You can also combine approaches to find the perfect fit.
Whatever method is used, it is critical to eat healthily during non-fasting periods. If a woman eats a lot of bad, calorie-dense meals during her non-fasting times, she may not get the same weight loss and health advantages as if she ate more nutrient-dense foods. At the end of the day, the optimum method is one that can be endured and sustained over time while having no negative health repercussions.
Tips for Women on Intermittent Fasting
To begin with, staying hydrated during fasting is critical to avoiding headaches and feeling hungry as one learns accustomed to lasting long periods without meals. If you're feeling hungry, try mixing 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into some water. This can aid with weight loss as well as curbing hunger.
Women should also remember to keep things basic and consistent. Begin by going a couple of hours between meals to see how your body reacts. Skipping a meal can be the next step, with the goal of eventually skipping two. When the fasting periods are ended, it is critical to focus on clean, wholesome foods.
Women's Intermittent Fasting Side Effects
A lot of studies have found that fasting days might cause hunger, mood fluctuations, lack of concentration, decreased energy, headaches, and foul breath. Some women have also stated that while on an intermittent fasting diet, their menstrual cycle ceased.
While intermittent fasting has been demonstrated to benefit heart health, diabetes, and weight reduction, finding the ideal combination of fasting and eating times to promote reproductive health and regulate blood sugar levels in women is critical. However, reduced forms of intermittent fasting appear to be safe for most women and may be a better option than longer or tighter fasts.
If you are a woman wanting to lose weight or improve your health, intermittent fasting is something you should think about.
It is critical for women to realize that there are unique considerations they must make while choosing a fasting lifestyle. Before beginning a fasting regimen, women should consult with a healthcare practitioner, especially if they:
- Have or are suffering from an eating disorder.
- Have diabetes or a tendency to have low blood sugar levels!
- Are malnourished, underweight, or suffer from nutritional inadequacies?
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive?
- Have issues with fertility or a history of missing periods.
Overall, intermittent fasting can be safe if it is organized according to each individual's needs. However, if you notice any irregularities, such as a lack of your menstrual period, contact your doctor straight once.