Intermittent fasting (IF) has some significant health benefits. This dietary approach, which refers to going without food for a certain period of time, promotes ketosis and thereby increases fat burn, boosts cognitive functioning and energy levels, reduces inflammation, and may even boost longevity. Some experts even think that, done consistently over the long term, intermittent fasting likely reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
It’s certainly not for everyone, though. As we’ve reported before, intermittent fasting could potentially be a bad choice if you’re prone to anxiety, have a history of eating disorders, or you’re dealing with one of these issues. But what about during pregnancy? If you’re a die-hard intermittent faster and you get pregnant, do you have to give up this lifestyle or might there actually be some perks like improved energy levels and reduced risk of gestational diabetes?
Here, we chat with two female intermittent fasting experts for the lowdown on whether any version of intermittent fasting can be considered safe during pregnancy.
If you’re currently pregnant, most experts agree: Don’t fast.
We’ll cut to the chase: Pregnancy and intermittent fasting don’t really mix. “I want to be clear that I am very in favor of fasting and time-restricted eating but not during a pregnancy,” says Felice Gersh, M.D., OB/GYN, founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine and author of PCOS SOS.
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