What is Intermittent fasting?

What effect can it have on female hormones?

Why might it not be the best solution for you?

///A THREAD///

Ps: this thread is not about pizza's.

What is Intermittent fasting? (IF)

This is a specific diet method in which you restrict yourself to eat during a time-restricted window.

The different types

16/8 IF which translates in 16 hours fasting.

Alternate day fasting.

5/2: fast two days per week.

Potential benefits of IF?

Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress.
Initiates autophagy = waste removal which has a potential effect on slowing down aging.
Lowers insulin resistance.
Good for brain health.
Less caloric intake and weight loss.

Potential downsides of IF for a woman:

Suppression of the reproductive cycle.
Increase in stress hormones/ mood disorders.
Increased risk of eating disorder behavior.

Let’s break these down.

//Reproductive cycle//

Your reproductive cycle starts from the hypothalamus, a brain structure.

The hypothalamus will stimulate the hypophysis, which in fact will stimulate the ovaries and thus produce estrogen and progesterone.

Too much stress can inhibit this cycle.

Potential solutions

Limited fasting, don’t use the alternate day method.
Focus on destressing by having:
enough sleep
enough nutrients in your diet
meditation
leisure time.

Keep your stress levels balanced.

//Eating disorder//

A strict diet regimen can provoke eating disorder habits.

Especially for females with a history of eating disordered behavior, this can be very risky.

I have experienced this personally.

Be cautious.

//Stress hormones//

IF can be seen as an acute stress phenomenon that when applied in limited doses can be beneficial in the long term. (Hormesis)

However together with other daily stressors, it can lead to too much stress.

This form of chronic stress can have its effect on the menstrual cycle and your mental state.

When IF gives you too much stress, consider trying another diet strategy or change the diet strategy to your liking.

Conclusion

IF has lots of benefits, probably also for females.
Research is still scarce but shows potential benefits.
Every person and situation is unique, so is every diet.
Focus on the sustainability of a diet.

-More next tweet-

Shorten your fasting periods when you face menstrual cycle problems or too much stress.

Consider other reasons as well when you face mental or physical problems.

Always approach problems from a holistic mindset.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to diets.

Focus on healthy long term habits that you are capable to sustain over a longer period.

That will make your diet successful.

Ps: I hope I did not make you to hungry with the food pics if you were reading this fasted.

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