@Wagner83
I meant the factors to optimize glycemic responses, which will have a beneficial effect on many parameters including but not limited to the hormonal profile. For instance Chromium normalizing blood glucose can hypothetically prevent pathogenic growth like that of Candida Albicans. This is a major issue with fructose malabsorption, which lays in the gut to promote such growth (I think substances with adhesive properties like Gluten and Casein also promote this, as well as anything that isn't 100% absorbed in an individual like Lactose; I think you already read me say that). Such malabsorption is shown to happen past certain points (I've read 20g of Fructose in average people, less than 10g in people with severe malabsorption) so it can be pretty easily attained. Some other factors like RDA of B vitamins, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, good CO2 levels, keeping stress low while eating and digesting, regular physical activity etc.
About meals lowering T, I find it true from experience. Especially an high sugar or high mufa one, but generally my Test will be higher in the day up to my first meal. I've had an history of very fluctuating hormones so somehow it makes a noticeable difference, and this really became more significant after like 3 weeks of IF.
I don't know about the parallel, there are so many differences. In many ways, IF is health-promoting. We can't say this of Keto diets, the only real way is that it probably decreases bacterial feeding since they favor sugar; but in many ways it is health-degrading. IF lets the gut and organs rest, it is truly a stress to be constantly digesting and it is a long process, it allows for the repair of linings and recovery of the gut's integrity, the Endotoxin reduction having a decreasing effect on Estrogen, Serotonin, general inflammation and cancer-promoting processes. The net effect on Cortisol will depend a lot on the individual I think, for instance only in obese invididuals was a decrease in insulin sensitivity shown. In my experience, it is the opposite (though I also reduced Fructose) where I feel that my glycemic response is always great and I never get close to diabetic states which has sometimes happened in past years. The obese people of the study may be more stressed individuals in general (smart people that use food to reduce their chronic stress which is less damaging than stressed starving people) and this is where IF wouldn't be beneficial I think, when one can't willfully exert a certain control on his/her mental stress. I also think you don't have to be rigid about it. Doing it about 5 days a week is good enough for me, sometimes a shorter fasting window or cutting it early with a tsp of honey if I'm hungry (usually would be stress-induced) is fine too. I would reserve the "heaviest" of my trainings or playing sports for 2 hours on these "refeed" days. I still need to figure what else impacts IF's success, I think being able to store glycogen optimally is also very important which has to do with liver health, and probably androgens are very helpful by restricting stress. Evolutionnarily, it makes a lot of sense that men would be more adapted to fasting.
At worst, IF is something to consider doing temporarily when you have gut issues. Like you I don't know how healthy it really is (or the optimal frequency, the optimal fasting window etc), but it feels right to do and that feeling is stronger when I'm not too rigid about it. Don't fight the stress but instead adapt to not feel stress in a fasting window (which really is beneficial in all aspects of life) and if it comes up you eat earlier, and you try again the next day it's really no big deal.
I meant the factors to optimize glycemic responses, which will have a beneficial effect on many parameters including but not limited to the hormonal profile. For instance Chromium normalizing blood glucose can hypothetically prevent pathogenic growth like that of Candida Albicans. This is a major issue with fructose malabsorption, which lays in the gut to promote such growth (I think substances with adhesive properties like Gluten and Casein also promote this, as well as anything that isn't 100% absorbed in an individual like Lactose; I think you already read me say that). Such malabsorption is shown to happen past certain points (I've read 20g of Fructose in average people, less than 10g in people with severe malabsorption) so it can be pretty easily attained. Some other factors like RDA of B vitamins, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, good CO2 levels, keeping stress low while eating and digesting, regular physical activity etc.
About meals lowering T, I find it true from experience. Especially an high sugar or high mufa one, but generally my Test will be higher in the day up to my first meal. I've had an history of very fluctuating hormones so somehow it makes a noticeable difference, and this really became more significant after like 3 weeks of IF.
I don't know about the parallel, there are so many differences. In many ways, IF is health-promoting. We can't say this of Keto diets, the only real way is that it probably decreases bacterial feeding since they favor sugar; but in many ways it is health-degrading. IF lets the gut and organs rest, it is truly a stress to be constantly digesting and it is a long process, it allows for the repair of linings and recovery of the gut's integrity, the Endotoxin reduction having a decreasing effect on Estrogen, Serotonin, general inflammation and cancer-promoting processes. The net effect on Cortisol will depend a lot on the individual I think, for instance only in obese invididuals was a decrease in insulin sensitivity shown. In my experience, it is the opposite (though I also reduced Fructose) where I feel that my glycemic response is always great and I never get close to diabetic states which has sometimes happened in past years. The obese people of the study may be more stressed individuals in general (smart people that use food to reduce their chronic stress which is less damaging than stressed starving people) and this is where IF wouldn't be beneficial I think, when one can't willfully exert a certain control on his/her mental stress. I also think you don't have to be rigid about it. Doing it about 5 days a week is good enough for me, sometimes a shorter fasting window or cutting it early with a tsp of honey if I'm hungry (usually would be stress-induced) is fine too. I would reserve the "heaviest" of my trainings or playing sports for 2 hours on these "refeed" days. I still need to figure what else impacts IF's success, I think being able to store glycogen optimally is also very important which has to do with liver health, and probably androgens are very helpful by restricting stress. Evolutionnarily, it makes a lot of sense that men would be more adapted to fasting.
At worst, IF is something to consider doing temporarily when you have gut issues. Like you I don't know how healthy it really is (or the optimal frequency, the optimal fasting window etc), but it feels right to do and that feeling is stronger when I'm not too rigid about it. Don't fight the stress but instead adapt to not feel stress in a fasting window (which really is beneficial in all aspects of life) and if it comes up you eat earlier, and you try again the next day it's really no big deal.
