Daily Mail: intermittent fasting is not suitable for children and women before their periods

People recovering from illness, children, teenagers and women in the luteal phase of the cycle (the part of the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the start of menses) should avoid weight loss using the intermittent fasting method. British nutritionist Rob Hobson told the Daily Mail.

Intermittent fasting is the medical practice (and diet) of scheduling periods of food refusal followed by periods of food intake. The most popular 16/8 interval fasting scheme involves allowing a person to eat for eight hours and then refusing food for 16. Some scientific studies have shown, eating according to this methodology is better for appetite control and weight loss than many other classic diets.

However, according to the nutritionist, intermittent fasting is not suitable for everyone. Children and teenagers should stay away from it, because their bodies (especially bones) are still growing and developing. For this reason, nutrients from food should be supplied without interruption. Starvation is also not recommended for those with higher nutritional needs, such as pregnant women or people recovering from illness.

The doctor added that it is difficult and irrational to follow such a diet on certain days of a woman's menstrual cycle. The fact is that during the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and the beginning of menstruation), some women experience increased hunger and cravings for food due to higher energy needs and accelerated metabolism due to increased production of the hormone progesterone. Interval fasting can also exacerbate mood swings, fatigue and discomfort before your period starts.

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