I’ve been doing IF for a long time now, before I had 2 meals, and everything was ok. When I started working from home I’m went OMAD.
There is a lot of pressure in my job and I feel really stressed. From what I’ve read with cortisol being highest in the morning, and studies that a healthy breakfast helps lower cortisol and reduce stress, while not eating increases stress.
Besides other stress management strategies like excercise and meditation, which I already do. I am wondering if anybody have stuides or comments on IF and cortisol/stress relationship and how to better manage it. For example I’m guessing “bulletproof” coffee helps reduce cortisol, but not sure, and it doesn’t interfere with fasting.
thoughts? any other diet that would be a better fit?
I heard dr Peter atria say something along the lines of although electrolytes are important, we most likely store sodium pretty well in our bodies. Magnesium supplement while fasting is also important and shouldn’t be overlooked (I take magnesium glycinate and it’s said to be really good for anxiety).
Cortisol in the morning helps wake you up. As you can imagine, eating breakfast, which reduces cortisol, makes you essentially a little more tired, or lazier or more relaxed. However you want to put it, it ends up the same.
They say fasting increases cortisol levels but also protects you from stressful situations by making you prestressed and energetic. At the end of the day, they are paying you to do something. So if you take something to try and relax then you realized you have to do something to get paid or survive or whatever then your brain will just ramp up cortisol again until you’re active enough to do it.
So basically, just skip worrying about it and let the cortisol flow through you and get done what you have to do.