A Really Good Cry Optimizing Female Health, Mindy Pelz on Fasting, Menopause, and Fertility
13 snips
May 6, 2025 
Dr. Mindy Pelz, fasting researcher and bestselling author focused on women’s health and menopause. She discusses how fasting affects hormones, why timing matters across the menstrual cycle, and how to break a fast to support the microbiome. Conversations cover fasting durations, fertility surprises, metabolic switching, and practical tips for perimenopause and daily detoxing.
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Avoid Fasting The Week Before Your Period
- Do time your fasting to your cycle and avoid fasting the week before your period.
- Mindy Pelz explains progesterone needs higher glucose and low cortisol that week, so eating in the morning and carbs helps symptoms and sleep.
We Have Two Metabolisms Sugar Burner And Fat Burner
- Insight that humans have two metabolisms: a sugar-burner when fed and a fat-burner when fasting.
- Pelz says metabolic switching produces ketones that increase GABA, which calms the brain and supports mental clarity during fasts.
Choose Fasting Length By Specific Goal
- Try graduated fasting lengths depending on goals: 15, 24, 36, 48 or 72 hours.
- Pelz maps 15 hours to reduced inflammation, 24 for gut repair, 36 to burn more fat, 48 to dopamine reboot, and 72 to system reset.
