Some conjectures have led to the belief that women may experience a change to their standard and regular menstrual cycle after they start fasting intermittently. These changes occur due to women’s high sensitivity toward calorie limitation.
When calorie consumption is reduced due to long hours of fasting or fasting too often, a tiny portion of the brain, called the “hypothalamus,” experiences some shifts.
It can also render specific changes to the hormonal setup, mainly in women’s estrogen levels. Certain risks when these hormones do not flow to the ovaries include inconsistent periods, anovulation, infertility, reduced bone density, and other minor health issues.
Due to these causes, women should take up a more optimized approach towards intermittent fasting, for example, fasting for shorter durations or fasting for fewer days.
Let’s have a look at some of the Intermittent Fasting Health Benefits for Women:
Improved Heart Health
Cardiac arrests are the top cause of death in the world. Hypertension, harmful cholesterol levels, and increased triglycerides (bad fat) are the main factors leading to poor heart health. According to some studies and research, intermittent fasting in women has lowered bad cholesterol and triglycerides by 25 % and 32 %, respectively. It is also said to reduce the risk of chronic inflammation in women.
Reduced Risks of Developing Diabetes
For women, intermittent fasting can help mitigate and lower the risk of diabetes more effectively.
Prolonged calorie restriction can reduce the risk factors that lead to diabetes. This happens because insulin level is lowered and insulin resistance is reduced. However, if a woman has already developed diabetes, intermittent fasting may not be very beneficial.
Enhance the Wight Loss Process
Intermittent fasting is a straightforward and productive approach to losing weight when it is done safely and with proper precautions.
Our body generally uses up glucose from food consumption to derive energy. Still, when we fast, our body starts breaking down the existing body fat to get the fuel for energy derivation. As a result, it can lead to temporary weight loss.
Help with Chemotherapy
Some very tentative and initial research suggests that intermittent fasting works to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment on different types of cancer.
However, this has not been accurately proven, and research on the topic is still going on.
Helps Protect Against Neurodegenerative Disorders
Certain studies suggest that intermittent fasting may render protection against a few specific neurogenerative disorders, such as brain stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The process of shifting between carbohydrates, glucose, and fats as the fuel to derive energy reduces the chances of developing neurodegenerative disorders.
When should women refrain from intermittent fasting?
Even though intermittent fasting has a plethora of health benefits for women, there are certain situations and conditions where women should refrain from practicing intermittent fasting. They should do it with advice, recommendation, and guidance from a healthcare professional. Let’s have a look at some of these conditions :
- A long history of Anorexia, Bulimia, or other eating disorders
- Already affected by or experiencing low or high blood sugar levels due to preexisting diabetes
- Malnourishment or being underweight
- Going through protein or vitamin deficiency
- Have infertility issues, amenorrhea, or anovulation
Wrapping up…
Women trying to lose weight, reduce cholesterol, or improve their overall health, should consider intermittent fasting because intermittent fasting for women has proven to be effective.
In several situations, the health benefits of intermittent fasting have come to the forefront, especially when IF is done with a balanced diet, simple workouts, and physician consultation.
