I’ve started seeing a naturopath and we had an enlightening conversation about menstrual cycles and diet and how our food needs/cravings shift through our cycle.
I’ve been thinking about this in the context of fasting and am wondering if anyone adjusts their fasting schedule based on their cycle, how you do it and what benefits (if any) you have seen from that.
I don’t adjust my fasting schedule based on my menstrual cycle, but there’s some evidence that it’s beneficial to do so.
Dr. Mindy Pelz is a big proponent of fasting, and she has several video on fasting in women. She talks a lot about how menstruation and fasting affect one another, how menopause changes fasting, etc. It’s worth checking out some of her videos. She recommends not fasting the week before you get your period, but everyone is different and YMMV.
I don’t change what I do, but it’s probably smart to at least consider whether it’s helpful to do so. Good luck.
I don’t typically plan to change anything but I’m more willing to give into a craving or stop a fast early if I’m struggling with a fast in the week leading up to my period when other weeks I’d force myself though the entire fasting period.
I fast only occasionally, but I watch my calories (and some nutrients) daily. I become a voracious eating machine with drastically reduced self-control the week before and during my period, and I just make allowances for that. I’ve learned not to fast during that time, and I increase my daily calories.