Fasting for Women: Should Women Fast Differently Than Men?

Fasting has its challenges despite the numerous benefits it offers our health. Do you know that these challenges affect men and women differently? Some evidence suggests that women might be more susceptible to the negative effects of fasting. Mind you; no one is saying women are fragile – and all other whatnots.

Funnily enough, women (mothers especially) love fasting while men dislike it. How come women are susceptible ones?

Why is fasting challenging for women?

According to research, most of the challenges women encounter on fasting are primarily hormonal. How so?

Generally, both sexes have a hormone called Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GRH). This GRH regulates the activities of our reproductive organs. In women, GRH’s regulation functions are coordinated – and for good reasons. They decide the cycles and schedules of women’s ovulation.

Here’s the real thing:

At the slightest altercation to a woman’s routine, GRH is affected. In other words, fasting destabilizes GRH, and that is why it is more discomforting for women than men.

Again, there is a protein called Kisspeptin. This protein is higher in women, and it is very sensitive to fasting. So, fasting doesn’t only affect women’s GRH but their metabolism too.

Additionally, some other studies on the nervous system reveal some interesting findings of how fasting affects men and women. The findings are:

  • Men become calm when they fast (parasympathetic response)
  • On the other hand, women become stressed when they fast (sympathetic response)

Should women fast, even in the face of all these research findings?

Yes, women can still fast. However, they need to do it under the guidance of a physician. Luckily, this article has a summary of the necessary steps they need to take.

How women should fast differently?

Generally, women need estrogen and progesterone (women’s sex hormones) irrespective of their cycles. Remember, GRH stimulates the production of women’s sex hormones.

Mind you, GRH needs insulin and glucose to fuel the process. Now, the problem is that fasting depletes the body’s insulin and glucose reserves.

Common symptoms of low sex hormones as a woman

  • Hot flashes
  • Insomnia
  • Hair fall-out
  • Belly weight
  • Anxiety

If you notice such symptoms, there is a way out: fast around your menstrual cycle as a woman.

How to fast around your menstrual cycle?

Fundamentally, there are three variations to women’s menstrual cycle. Here is how to fast around these variations:

Regular menstrual cycle

A woman in this category experiences the normal 28-day cycle. For her, she can fast as she pleases between day 1 and day 12.

At day 12 – 14, estrogen production is at its peak. It is best not to fast. If you must fast, maintain 13-15hours fasting. On day 21 – 28, progesterone production is at its peak. The side effect of fasting in this timeline includes anxiety and shut down all other hormones in a woman’s body.

Also, increasing your carb intake will improve the production of progesterone in your body. Hurray! No shutdown.

Peri-menopause (erratic menstrual cycle)

For a peri-menopausal woman, stop ketosis and fasting (at least for seven days). Next, increase your carb intake.

If after that, you don’t observe your cycle, try this hormone reset formula:

  •  1 to 12 days – fast
  •  12 to 14 days – hormone building
  •  14 to 21 days – fasting
  •  Day 28 – hormone building

Post-menopause

After menopause, ovaries in women shut down. At this stage, sex hormones are usually low. Therefore, fasting should be kept at a minimum. For a menopausal woman, intermittent fasting is the best.

Summarily, women should fast differently than men. The reason is not that they are fragile, but because they have strict bodily cycles and schedules.

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2020-07-29T15:49:18+00:00Health|

51 Comments

  1. PENELOPE CALLENDER March 5, 2020 at 3:24 pm - Reply

    menopause reset

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 12, 2020 at 12:59 pm - Reply

      Hi Penelope,

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

  2. Gabriela March 5, 2020 at 3:29 pm - Reply

    Hello:
    Thank you for this article.
    What a woman who had histerectomy do( 77 yrs old)? What kind of fasting?

    Also I will greatly appreciate your input on CT Coronary Calcium Scan. The score is 318.68. Dr. recommends statins. Is there a kind of fasting to clear this kind of arterial plaque. Some doctors on YT recommend MK-& K2. I am active, have a good diet.

    Thank you!
    Gabriela

  3. Jody Marshall March 5, 2020 at 3:38 pm - Reply

    menopause reset please.

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 12, 2020 at 1:00 pm - Reply

      Hi Jody,

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

      • Sylvia M Berrios April 20, 2023 at 5:31 am - Reply

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  4. Cyndi Sculley March 5, 2020 at 5:22 pm - Reply

    Menopause Reset, please!
    Thank you so much, this makes so much sense!

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 12, 2020 at 1:00 pm - Reply

      Hi Cyndi,

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

  5. Linda Cuccio March 6, 2020 at 12:50 am - Reply

    Menopause Reset, please and thank you!

  6. Becky Denham March 6, 2020 at 2:09 am - Reply

    Menopause Reset

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 25, 2020 at 1:37 pm - Reply

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

  7. Charlotte Krasowski March 8, 2020 at 4:14 pm - Reply

    Yes I would like a free copy of the menapause Teset Book.
    Thank you so much. Love your Videos

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 25, 2020 at 1:37 pm - Reply

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

  8. Susan L Quance March 9, 2020 at 4:58 pm - Reply

    Menopause Reset
    Had my uterus removed in 1992. How would I fast, or should I fast?

  9. Susan Ruppert March 10, 2020 at 9:14 pm - Reply

    Reset menopause

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 25, 2020 at 1:38 pm - Reply

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

      • Sandra Poonsamy April 3, 2020 at 6:07 am - Reply

        Post menopausal. Still having hot flushes. Which fast should I follow

  10. V March 14, 2020 at 4:21 pm - Reply

    Menopause reset

    • Elizabeth Pernada March 25, 2020 at 1:38 pm - Reply

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team. The Menopause Reset book is a digital download and will release on April 7th. Sign up to reserve your copy of the Menopause Reset here: https://bit.ly/3brW19q

  11. Cindy April 3, 2020 at 6:19 pm - Reply

    I’m looking for dr mindy pelzs discounts on systemics formulas supplements

  12. Tatiana Drittlhuber May 24, 2020 at 12:08 am - Reply

    Dr Mindy , Reading you article about how fasting affects women differently than men I realized that I am doing everything wrong. I am 42 years old and I have being fasting for 19 hours every single day . Now I am really confused, should I stop fasting or not ?
    Thank you!

    Tatiana .

  13. Kim July 27, 2020 at 6:47 am - Reply

    Hi, just to make sure I understand correctly, in a normal cycle it says fast from day 1 to day 12, this means fast from first day of bleed? Many thanks

    • Elizabeth Pernada July 29, 2020 at 4:08 pm - Reply

      This is Eliza w/Dr Mindy’s support team.
      Yes, that’s correct our cycle start on the first day of our menstruation. I’m using Clue app to track my cycle.

  14. Sue September 5, 2020 at 7:25 am - Reply

    Menaporsev reset pls

  15. Cathrine Halliburton February 17, 2021 at 2:36 am - Reply

    Menopause reset

  16. E Meredith Young June 18, 2021 at 7:26 pm - Reply

    I am 78 — pushing 79 (!) and have been doing IF with the help of Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof coffee, for 16 to 19 hours daily. I then eat KETO and AM IN KETOSIS for the rest of the day. Since April 10th, I have lost 15 pounds.
    I keep reading all this detailed research on MEN and WOMEN re IF and Keto but there’s not much or anything about us folks past 70 who are looking for the very best way to increase longevity and get and maintain a healthy weight.
    Are there any resources that you folks know of that I could reference??? Thanks! Meredith in Ohio

  17. Carol Simeone February 19, 2022 at 9:29 pm - Reply

    Menopause reset

  18. Jennifer July 20, 2022 at 6:22 pm - Reply

    Hi! If I’m checking my temperature and see that my temperature goes up around day 10/11, should I assume that’s when I’m ovulating and should I stop fasting at that point? I think I have a slightly shorter cycle. Thanks!

  19. Jenny September 15, 2022 at 9:44 am - Reply

    Hi – i’ve watched this a couple of times and would love the menopause reset ebook please!

  20. Anne January 26, 2023 at 10:46 pm - Reply

    Menopause reset please!

  21. Sandy January 29, 2023 at 8:27 pm - Reply

    Menopause reset, please and thank you!!!

  22. Harmit February 1, 2023 at 3:10 pm - Reply

    Menopause rest book please

  23. Tcha June 3, 2023 at 9:20 pm - Reply

    Hello,
    When is day 1? This article says “day 1” with no reference to help us know WHEN that actually occurs. Is it the first day of menstruation or what?

    • Amanda June 15, 2023 at 11:42 pm - Reply

      Day 1 is the first day you bleed.

  24. Kathleen June 8, 2023 at 3:51 pm - Reply

    Menopause reset book please.

  25. Susan June 16, 2023 at 6:00 pm - Reply

    If you are still giving away a free digital copy of the Menopause Reset I would love a copy. Thank you very much.

  26. Zana July 7, 2023 at 1:44 pm - Reply

    I am 39 years old and it has been almost a year that my cycle shifted from 28 days to 25 days. Since my cycle is now 25 days, can I still follow
    1 to 12 days – fast
    12 to 14 days – hormone building
    14 to 21 days – fasting
    21 to 28 (25) – hormone building

    Or should I do maybe
    1-11 days – fast
    12 -14 – hormone building
    15-19 – fasting
    20-25 – hormone building ?

    Thank you in advance

  27. Carmen August 19, 2023 at 5:54 am - Reply

    Hello, My cycle is 31 days always. Does apply t’he sames rules as if It was 28 days? Thanks

  28. Louise September 21, 2023 at 6:06 am - Reply

    My cycle is between 33-35 days. Should I adjust the days that I do my fast as I suspect that I ovulate on day 17 instead of 14. Any advice for a longer cycle?

  29. Irene September 23, 2023 at 4:56 am - Reply

    Menopause reset book please!!!

  30. Emily October 11, 2023 at 6:21 am - Reply

    Hi

    I’m trying for a baby. Is there any advice for a longer cycle of 30 to 35 days?

    I tend to ovulate later in the month, for example day 20. Should I fast for longer (eg up to day 15 or 17)? Or stick to the 28 day cycle?

    It feel like I should adjust as its just my bodies natural cycle length rather than something I need to change?

  31. Kelly Reny October 28, 2023 at 5:09 pm - Reply

    I would appreciate getting the menopause reset! Thx so much

  32. Vicki Laurens October 31, 2023 at 6:38 am - Reply

    Looking forward to receiving the book

  33. Ilona November 13, 2023 at 11:51 am - Reply

    Menopause reset, please. Thank you for all the information!

  34. michelle November 20, 2023 at 8:59 pm - Reply

    Looking forward to receiving the book thankyou

  35. Hilary November 28, 2023 at 1:44 pm - Reply

    Would love a digital copy of the Menopause reset book if that’s still possible! Thank you! Life changing info – my cycle is ending as my daughter’s is beginning, so wonderful to be able to share this info with her :-)

  36. Melissa December 11, 2023 at 1:16 am - Reply

    Hi there,

    I recently bought fast like a girl as I am looking to incorporate fasting into my lifestyle. I am however getting a bit confused as I have a 21 day menstrual cycle and the fasting cycle concept, referred to in the book seems to relate to individuals with 28 day menstrual cycles. How do I tailor it to my 21 day cycle?

    Would appreciate any help/suggestions.

    Many thanks.

  37. Elin Foss February 11, 2024 at 8:40 am - Reply

    Hi! I listen to a podcast (Dr Rangan Chatterjee) where Dr Mindy said that for menopausal woman it would be good to fast one day a week to clear up her hormones, but here she says that menopausal women should only to intermittant fasting. What is correct?

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