Is Fasting good or bad for women?

Fasting has been a big topic in the health world due to its ability to trigger cellular apoptosis.

What in the world is cellular apoptosis & why is everyone so excited about it?

Cellular apoptosis is when your immune cells start scanning your body for cells which are damaged, slacking off or on a permanent holiday. The body identifies these slackers and packages them up for garbage collection to be excreted from the body. The benefits of this is the body has a chance to eliminate virus infected & potentially cancerous cells to maintain balance in the body for optimal health.

That sounds great right!

It is great, but for women we have to be a little more tactical about fasting due to our cyclical hormones.

Fasting is great but not for everyone and not anytime.

Who is fasting not great for?

1. Females who are already struggling with their hormones.

2. Women in their Luteal phase: the second half of your cycle after you have ovulated.

Sorry to break it to you ladies but fasting is not ideal for health hormones, especially progesterone.

Let’s talk a little about a health natural cycle of hormones for women.

After menstruation 🩸 our bodies start producing higher levels of oestrogen to prepare for ovulation. Oestrogen is like our fun, tuff & outgoing big sister. She is make us more outgoing and helps keep us safe from viral or bacteria danger by increasing our immunity. She isn’t as impacted by exercise or fasting as her little sister progesterone.

If you want to fast and you have health hormone levels, then in your follicular phase (the week or so after your menstruation), is the time to do it.

Why not after you have ovulated in your luteal phase?

This is because if you are having a healthy ovulation, then you will be producing progesterone in you luteal phase and progesterone is the sensitive little sister. She is introverted, sensitive & calm. She prefers yoga to HIT, she reduces anxiety but can be easily spooked and take off.

Excessive High intensity exercise and fast anytime or moderate HIT & fasting in your follicular phase can cause the body to not produce enough progesterone or none at all due to having an anovulatory cycle (no ovulation).

Having balanced hormones is very important as female because our mood, metabolism, immunity & energy levels depend on their cyclical nature.

So, if you want to do a couple days or intermittent fasting or more high intensity exercise ladies, please remember the week after your period is the best time to do so. Again, if your hormones are already struggling it is best not to fast until that has been sorted.

Big Love,

Shelby