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Mood Swings While Fasting. Can Anyone Explain?

I’m (25M) 29 hours into a fast. I’m taking my electrolytes and drinking a lot of water. I’m getting hungrier as time goes by, but I’m shocked by how the hunger is creating mood swings. One hour, I’m hangry and irritable, and the next, I’m hysterically laughing my butt off. I’m not sure if I should break my fast or if this is a normal thing to happen during extended fasts. Anyone ever go through something similar? Thanks!

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Answer

My wife says that I get moody. My observation is that when I’m in the fed state, I let lots of stuff go and when I’m fasted, I’m calling things out because I have more energy and less brain fog. Fasting does make me less tolerant, eating makes me more tolerant (and lazy)

Answer

You are (probably) having ghrelin spikes, which then fade. Ghrelin controls the feeling of hunger, and is released by the stomach based on historical eating patterns. It’s amazing how much how we feel can be instigated by one hormone. See the chart linked

https://blog.thefastingmethod.com/fasting-ghrelin-fasting-29/

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