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.