Rajeev Verma Published on 19-October-2024
Fasting during Karva Chauth, a Hindu festival where married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life and well-being of their husbands, can impact women’s hormones in various ways. This type of fast involves abstaining from food and water, which can stress the body, leading to several changes in hormone regulation.
Below is a detailed look at how fasting might influence different hormonal systems in women:
1. Cortisol and the Stress Response
Cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress, including physical stress like fasting or dehydration.
Prolonged fasting and dehydration can cause: Elevated cortisol levels, as the body perceives fasting as a stressor.
High cortisol can lead to:
i. Anxiety or restlessness during the fast
ii. Difficulty sleeping (especially if fasting becomes frequent)
iii. Increased cravings for sugary or fatty foods after the fast, due to cortisol’s role in promoting hunger for energy-dense foods
iv. Disrupted circadian rhythm, which may affect sleep patterns, mood, and energy levels over time.
Impact on Health: Elevated cortisol over time can lead to metabolic imbalances, increased fat storage (especially around the abdomen), and increased susceptibility to stress-related disorders like high blood pressure and digestive issues.
2. Insulin and Blood Sugar Regulation
Fasting influences insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. During a fast, insulin levels drop as there is no food intake to stimulate glucose release into the blood.
Improved insulin sensitivity can occur with short, controlled fasting. This is beneficial as it allows cells to use glucose more effectively when food is consumed post-fast.
Risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Women, especially those who are diabetic or prone to blood sugar fluctuations, may experience low blood sugar during fasting, leading to symptoms like:
a. Dizziness
b. Fatigue
c. Headaches
d. Irritability
Impact on Health: For women with diabetes or other metabolic conditions, fasting without careful planning can destabilize blood sugar control, potentially leading to more severe health issues.
3. Estrogen and Progesterone:
Reproductive Hormones : Estrogen and progesterone are critical in regulating the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and overall reproductive health.
Fasting, especially when it becomes frequent or prolonged, can impact these hormones in the following ways:
Lower estrogen levels: Insufficient food intake and dehydration can suppress the body’s ability to produce estrogen.
Over time, this can lead to:
a. Irregular menstrual cycles
b. Missed periods (amenorrhea)
c. Decreased fertility
Reduced progesterone: When the body is under stress, progesterone production may also decline, which can affect the balance between estrogen and progesterone.
This imbalance might:
a. Lead to more severe PMS symptoms, like mood swings, bloating, and fatigue
b. Disrupt ovulation, making it difficult for women to conceive
Impact on Health: Hormonal imbalances over time can lead to reproductive health issues, including problems with fertility, irregular cycles, and symptoms of hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
4. Thyroid Hormones :
The thyroid gland produces thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), hormones that regulate metabolism.
Fasting can slow thyroid function, especially if it is prolonged or repeated, leading to:
a. Decreased T3 levels, which is the active form of thyroid hormone that regulates metabolism.
Low T3 can lead to:
( i.) Fatigue
( ii.) Slower metabolism
( iii.) Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
b. Decreased overall energy: Fasting can signal the body to conserve energy, reducing the production of thyroid hormones that stimulate metabolic activity.
Impact on Health: Women with underlying thyroid issues, like hypothyroidism, may experience worsening symptoms if fasting is prolonged or frequent. This can include extreme fatigue, hair loss, and weight gain.
5. Leptin and Ghrelin: Hunger Hormones
Leptin and ghrelin are hormones responsible for regulating hunger and satiety (feeling of fullness).
Leptin: Leptin is produced by fat cells and helps signal to the brain that the body has enough energy, curbing hunger.
Fasting decreases leptin levels, which may:
(i) Increase hunger after the fast is over.
(ii) Lead to overeating when breaking the fast, as the body attempts to replenish lost energy.
Ghrelin: Known as the “hunger hormone,” ghrelin increases before meals, signaling hunger. Fasting can elevate ghrelin levels, especially when the fast is prolonged, making it harder to resist food cravings.
Impact on Health: Long-term fasting or frequent fasting practices can disrupt these hunger hormones, leading to difficulties in controlling appetite and possibly contributing to weight gain or unhealthy eating patterns after the fast.
6. Reproductive Hormones and Fertility
Chronic or extreme fasting can impact a woman’s hypothalamic-pituitary- gonadal axis, which regulates reproductive hormones like luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
This can lead to:
(i) Suppression of ovulation: Fasting, especially combined with stress, can lead to a decrease in LH and FSH, preventing ovulation from occurring.
(ii) Delayed or absent menstrual cycles: As the body conserves energy, reproductive functions like menstruation may slow or stop altogether (amenorrhea).
Impact on Health: For women who are trying to conceive, fasting that disrupts ovulation and menstrual cycles can lower fertility. Even in women who are not attempting to conceive, missed or irregular periods may signal that the body is under stress and struggling to maintain normal reproductive function.
7. Hydration and Electrolyte Balance
While not strictly a hormone, hydration plays a crucial role in maintaining balance within the body, including the regulation of hormones. During Karva Chauth, women fast without water, leading to dehydration.
This can:
(i) Increase stress on the kidneys, which need water to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance
(ii) Cause an imbalance in aldosterone and vasopressin, hormones that regulate fluid retention, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance.
Impact on Health: Dehydration can exacerbate hormonal imbalances and cause additional issues like headaches, dizziness, and fainting, particularly when fasting for long hours.
Conclusion
While fasting during Karva Chauth holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning, it can have profound effects on hormone balance in women. These changes are generally more pronounced if fasting is prolonged, frequent, or done without proper nourishment before and after the fast. Women with pre-existing health conditions (such as diabetes, thyroid issues, or reproductive health concerns) should consult with healthcare professionals before fasting to manage potential risks effectively.
To minimize hormonal imbalances, it’s important for women to:
1. Stay well-hydrated before and after the fast.
2. Break the fast with nutrient-dense foods.
3. Listen to their bodies and avoid pushing through extreme hunger, dizziness, or fatigue.
RAJEEV VERMA 