Effects of Intermittent Fasting on the Endocrine System

Intermittent fasting has become a part of the new-age lifestyle. People, especially women, are becoming more concerned about their well-being and healthy lifestyle every day.

With the gradual popularity of intermittent fasting and weight loss, there have been multiple studies on the effects of intermittent fasting on endocrine system function.

The endocrine system organs rule several bodily functions like metabolism, fertility, growth, combating stress, and much more. If the entire system gets disrupted, it may lead to some health complications.

Intermittent fasting can help you to solve your weight loss problems easily; however, this should be kept in mind that a slight fluctuation in the hormone level can cause health issues. Therefore, doing it correctly is the best way to practice intermittent fasting for hormonal imbalance.

Health Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting – The Hormones Associated

If you are looking for better results and weight loss, these few hormones can help you to achieve better results. These include:

1. Insulin
2. Growth hormones
3. Sex Hormones
4. Thyroid Hormones
5. Ghrelin
6. Leptin

Besides insulin, another hormone mainly associated with weight loss is Leptin. Leptin mostly helps in fat loss and sends signals to the brain stating that there is enough energy stored in our body to survive and we do not need to consume extra food. Leptin and insulin help to regulate each other.

Conversely, Ghrelin is mainly associated with hunger and, at times, is known as the hunger hormone. In the case of overweight and obese people, there is a slight drop in ghrelin after meals.

Growth hormones and other female hormones help in cell regeneration, reproduction, immunity, and bone density.

Intermittent Fasting and Hormones:

Intermittent fasting decreases testosterone and androgen markers and, on the other hand, increases the levels of sex hormone-binding-globulin, mainly in obese premenopausal females. This method is convenient when food is consumed early in the day, before 4 pm. Moreover, this has zero effect on women’s prolactin, estrogen, and gonadotropin hormone levels.

Intermittent Fasting For Metabolism:

Although Intermittent fasting can be beneficial for both the heart and metabolism, however, it may also have some negative aspects.

The side effects may include:

1. Hunger
2. Irritability
3. Mood swings
4. Fatigue
5. Overeating
6. Difficulty in concentrating

How to improve metabolism:

Hormones act as messengers, and they help in growth and metabolism. Moreover, they contribute equally to regulating weight and strongly influence appetite. Intermittent fasting is known to improve your overall weight, and the primary hormones that are associated with this process are:

1.     Insulin:

The main hormone associated with fat metabolism is inulin. If your insulin level is higher, it can make it difficult for you to lose weight.

Practicing intermittent fasting can reduce insulin levels by 20-31% and help you to lose weight and improve your metabolism hormones.

2.   Norepinephrine

This hormone, in other words, is known as stress hormone and helps you to improve your alertness and attention. In other words, you can say it’s either fight or flight.

Norepinephrine affects your body, including which fat cells release fatty acids and help burn.

Intermittent fasting helps to increase the amount of norepinephrine in your bloodstream and, as a result, helps break down fats.

3.   Human Growth Hormone 

Many studies conducted show that fasting increases the level of growth hormone. However, the results may vary, and it is unclear if different groups of people from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles were included in the studies or not.

If you are trying to lose weight and focus on improving your metabolism, the most important factor is to change your food habits and lead a healthy lifestyle.

 Foods To Avoid Hormonal Imbalance

1. Red meat
2. Dairy products
3. Processed foods
4. Caffeine
5. Sugar items
6. Soy products
7. Alcohol
8. Stevia

 Foods For Hormone Balance:

1. Apples
2. Avocado
3. Brocolli
4. Almonds
5. Green Veggies and fruits
6. Green Tea
7. Blueberries
8. Mixed seeds (Pimpin, flax, chia, sunflower)

Conclusion:

Intermittent fasting is proven to have innumerable benefits regarding hormonal balance and weight loss.

And the best part of intermittent fasting is it does not require any medication and can be conducted naturally. However, if you are planning to try out the various aspects of intermittent fasting, consult your doctor before trying.