Intermittent fasting is considered safe for adults. However, women need to be extra careful while following it. Here are certain things to keep in mind about intermittent fasting regarding whether or not it can impact your menstrual cycle.
Know What Studies Have Found
Studies have been observing how intermittent fasting affects women’s hormonal levels. If the hormones get imbalanced, it is likely to disrupt the menstrual cycle, particularly when you are ovulating. Moreover, it can lead to infertility which can cause difficulties, especially if or when you are in your childbearing years and want to go the family way.
The human body has a complex internal system that runs smoothly by consuming energy from the food we eat. It requires plenty of energy to enable the transmission of essential signals. When the system finds there is a deficiency, it is likely to decide to push back certain processes. Notably, in studies concentrating on nutrition and pregnancy in animals, the experimental subjects showed some significant changes in their ability to procreate.Â
Given the shorter lifespan of these animals as compared to humans, it is possible that most people will fare well in most cases. Nevertheless, there is much to look into in these studies. Though there are a few metabolic differences between women and men, studies have begun to include and note these variables. Additionally, these studies have started to provide other interesting information to consider.
Your Body Knows Why You’re Hungry
The studies on hormones have provided doctors with evidence that the body can sense what kind of stress is experienced from lack of food or being in a rush and other daily issues. That is mainly the reason you don’t enter starvation mode even when you skip meals. This is also why your body needs to be tricked into losing weight in certain cases.
This can dampen several of the classic beliefs of people regarding simply working out. That means that moods and emotional changes directly affect your physical form. The fact that our hormones can have such a tremendous impact on the way energy is stored as well as used could be a significant puzzle piece in the quest to understand why weight is tougher to lose for many individuals.Â
Effect On Your Menstrual Cycle
The truth is that intermittent fasting can impact your menstrual cycle. However, this will vary, depending on each person. This does not mean that it is dangerous to fast, but women who are in their childbearing years need to practice more caution. You want to pay close attention to your body, keep a track of your cycle, and observe if you notice changes when you ovulate or how long the cycle is over time with the fasting in your routine.
It is always better to consult your doctor if you experience any concern with your cycle while you fast.
