I’m looking to do some fasting (having some inflammatory issues - now i have geographic tongue on top of other things).
When I look up fasting there are SO many articles about how it can be dangerous/disruptive for women to fast. Except virtually none of these are based on (or even mention) the difference of fasting during different parts of your cycle.
These seems like a huge oversight.
Anyway, does anyone have any information about fasting during your period vs after vs luteal phase? When and how?
Articles would be great but anecdotal would also be very appreciated :)
Edit* thanks for the input everyone! I should have specified that I was referring to an extended fast of 2-3 days.
I’ve been fasting 18+ hours per day for about 2.5 years. I don’t change anything for my cycle and I don’t have any problems. Wellllll to be fair, sometimes it’s harder to say no to the cravings during my period but that’s just my sweet tooth :)
I think that only folks that should not fast, are either going through puberty, pregnant, breastfeeding or are diabetic and take medication to control blood sugar (diabetics should be talking to their PHP about adjusting their meds before/while fasting) otherwise I don’t think it matters much. This information is sourced from Jason Fung’s complete guide to fasting.
I’ve been fasting for 4 months. Weekly extended fasts of anywhere from 84 to 112 hours each week. The first two months my period was late, the 3rd was early, and the 4th was on time. Although I was annoyed with the timing of them, I haven’t had my normal pms symptom of really sore breasts and I didn’t notice the normal amount of cramping and my mood seemed to be much more stable. I’m sticking with the fasting because its really working out for me in so many other areas.
This has been so interesting to me…. so my period started a few days ago and first two days of my period I was eating normally, the flow was very heave and I had crazy crumps I had to take painkillers, after two days I decided to get back on track again and to fast and I did OMaD for three days and during these days almost no blood and no pain whatsoever, yesterday I ate again normally and today I had blood all over. So crazy I hope I didn’t do any bad to my reproductive system. Overall I felt fine
How I’ve understood the data is that IF is fine for women, but doing extended fasts may not be, as it can effect hormones. I think so long as you weren’t doing extended fasting a lot, you’d be okay, but it is very subjective.
I did a 5 day fast and my period was late. No harm done. 10 days, but it’s been a little wonky since getting an IUD 7 months ago anyway. I did it the week after I got my period. This time (in a few days) I’m going to try it during my period to see if that disrupts my cycle less and helps with cramping and bloating, etc.
It does seem very difficult to find really thoroughly researched info out there about this, but the one thing I read was not to fast right before your period as it can slow down the hormones needed to shed the uterine lining. But I’ve heard good things and bad about fasting during your period. Hoping for the best!!
Good luck! Overall- It’s totally safe for women!