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There are always so many studies on men and fasting, but there isn’t much about women. They did notice that when women started fasting like men do there were negative side effects like hair loss, rashes, and anxiety. It wasn’t until people dived deeper to understand that a couple things play a HUGE role in how we as women fast.
Here are the 3 Reasons Women Should Fast Differently Than Men
- Hormonal fluctuations Fasting can increase cortisol and blood sugar levels, disrupt thyroid function, and affect sex hormones like estrogen. This can disrupt the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which can lead to irregular periods, infertility, and poor bone health. Also, our thyroid can get messed up if we are not consuming enough calories in the day. It will slow down and make it harder for you to lose weight.
- Stress Fasting can trigger an exaggerated response to stress. About 1 week before your period you want progesterone to be as high as you can, but when the stress hormone (cortisol) comes out to play then progesterone goes away. This can make us even crazier in the head than we already are.
- Energy needs Some women burn more calories at rest during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, or the phase right before their period. If you feel especially fatigued and sluggish before your period, you may want to avoid fasting and focus on adequate nourishment and rest. Listen to your body, if you can’t handle not eating and feel light headed, definitely grab something to eat!
It’s important to remember that women and men can be different in various ways due to biological, psychological, and social factors. These differences can manifest in physical characteristics, cognitive abilities, emotional expression, and societal roles. It’s essential to approach these differences with respect and understanding, recognizing that individuals vary widely regardless of gender.
Women are beautifully and wonderfully made. We are unique and different, we are not made the same as men, and that’s why it’s important to do research that is centered around studies on women instead of men if there are any. Mindy Pelz does a great job describing all of this in her book, “Fast like a Girl.” Get your hands on it, implement what she says, and you’re on your way to loving yourself more and living your best life!