Intermittent Fasting for Women

Intermittent fasting in general is safe for everyone to do, as long as they are an adult
and don’t have major health complications. However, if you are a woman, you might
want to think before you try it. While many women experience no negative side effects,
there are some things to consider first. Here is what you should know about intermittent
fasting as a woman.
The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
First of all, it helps to know the benefits of intermittent fast, not just for women but for
everyone. There are many reasons people try IF for health and weight loss. It can help
increase your body’s fat burning potential, since the food you eat is burned rather
quickly during your fasted state, after which you start burning fat. Because of this, it can
also help to increase your energy and cognitive function. Some people notice a
reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as more balanced blood sugar
levels.
Hormonal Changes
While there are a few different side effects of doing intermittent fasting, the hormonal
changes women sometimes experience tend to be the most worrisome. Many women
can do IF and not have any issues, but those who do show signs of hormonal changes,
might need to consult their doctor and possibly switch protocols or stop intermittent
fasting altogether.
The hormonal imbalance is often from not doing intermittent fasting correctly, which is
good news. It means as long as you follow your protocol, there is a good chance you
won’t have these problems. If your body senses starvation by going too long without
food, your hormones may increase, thus creating an imbalance. This is why it is
important to only stick to the number of hours you are meant to fast, and not go over it
by too much.
Signs of a Hormonal Imbalance
Make sure you are paying close attention to your body when you do intermittent fasting,
so that you know if and when you have hormonal changes. Some signs of having a
hormonal imbalance include bloating, irregular periods or bleeding in the middle of your cycle, fatigue, and even depression. If this is happening to you, talk to a doctor and let them know you have started intermittent fasting. They might recommend either stopping it completely, or switching up your protocol or diet. Your health should be top priority, so don’t ignore those hormonal balance symptoms.
Women's body react differently by Intermittent Fasting
Estrogen is produced in our fat cells. Estrogen increases fat cells. As a result more estrogen is produced and so on and so on. Breaking the Estrogen cycle and then going on an excellent weight management program is exactly what needs to take place.
How to Balance Your Hormone Levels
There are many hormones in your body as a woman that you need to work on balancing
properly. These range from estrogen and progesterone, to testosterone and your thyroid hormones. Simple daily tasks can help improve your health overall and balance your hormone levels at the same time.
Signs of a Hormonal Imbalance Problem
Before looking at the different ways to balance your hormone levels, it helps to first find
out if this is something you are struggling with. All women should make sure their
hormones are balanced properly, but if you show signs of problems, you really need to
focus on it a little more than the average woman. Some signs of hormonal imbalances
include having an irregular period, trouble conceiving, insomnia, and a change in your
libido. You might lose or gain weight without changing your diet, experience severe
fatigue, and have mental health changes like anxiety or depression. Hair loss and
changes in your appetite may also occur.
Try Adaptogen Herbs
These types of herbs are healing herbs that provide even more benefits than standard
herbs. They are wonderful at helping to balance your hormones as well, so if you are
looking to improve your hormone levels with herbs, those classified as adaptogens are
the first ones you should turn to. These include many you might recognize, like holy
basil, ashwagandha, and certain types of medicinal mushrooms. Not only can they help
with your hormone levels, but they are great at lowering your cholesterol, improving
thyroid function, and helping with anxiety and depression.