Women and Fasting

Women have to be aware that due to their monthly hormonal changes they can’t fast or engage in keto diets the way men do. A week before their monthly cycle they should step out of fasting and/or ketosis and lean more into progesterone-feeding foods mentioned below.

Progesterone is a hormone that women are losing dramatically in menopause. The more you fast the quicker you lose progesterone, explains Dr Mindy Peltz, the keto and fasting specialist for women. She says it is a hormone that tells you “everything is going to be ok”. Usually, the lack of it would bring anxiety and worries. Dr Peltz says that on her own blood tests she even sees the hormones go up every year since she started minding the cycling of certain foods and fasting periods, which is quite unusual for perimenopausal women.

Fasting will help produce oestrogen. To be able to make oestrogen (a hormone that helps develop and maintain both the reproductive system and female characteristics) you have to be insulin sensitive. One of the infertility problems of modern society is insulin resistance which in turn prevents the production of oestrogen. Hot flashes, brain fog and cardiovascular problems in postmenopausal women is also a sign of dropped oestrogen. Another function of oestrogen is to make serotonin which is a hormone that will make you feel happy “for no reason”. Minding insulin spikes and regular fasting protocols can help with that.

So it’s basically a fine dance between these two hormones. Oestrogen likes fasting and keto while progesterone doesn’t. Men have such small amounts of both that they don’t have to consider them with the same attention.

Here is the 30-day cycle designed by Dr Mindy Peltz:

From day one to day ten your body is making oestrogen. Feel free to fast and practice the keto diet all you want. This is a good window if you want to do a multi-day fast.

When you go into ovulation from day 11 to day 15 you have the most amount of hormones - oestrogen and testosterone are surging, and a little bit of progesterone. These five days are great to do some time-restricted feeding., Increase your protein intake and even go carnivore if that’s your thing. You can up your body weight, and try to build more muscle with heavy lifting.

When you come out of ovulation, there is a 4-5 day period (day 16-20) where you can go back into fasting and keto.

Around day 20 you have to step out of it and go into what Dr Peltz calls “hormone-building days” and consume progesterone-feeding foods like squashes, potatoes, beans, citruses, and grass-fed beef.

This knowledge might help many women with infertility problems. Women without a regular cycle and especially postmenopausal women can build their own 30-day cycle based on the same information. Please have a look at her website for more incredibly useful information at https://drmindypelz.com/