Ep. 652 Undereating, Fasting, and Bone Density

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

In this episode, I answer questions related to disordered relationships with food, relative energy deficiency, bone health, and intermittent fasting.

Stay tuned to find out what can happen to your body when you’re undernourished, and how to approach intermittent fasting in a way that supports your health rather than adding more stress.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How fasting culture can sometimes intersect with undernourishing the body

• The link between a lifetime of anorexia, fasting, and restrictive eating and lower bone mineral density in midlife

• The importance of restoring energy availability

• The endocrine and metabolic changes that can accompany loss of the menstrual cycle

• When transdermal estradiol and progesterone may be appropriate if menstrual recovery does not occur

• The importance of getting enough protein, fiber, healthy fats, and overall nourishment when fasting intermittently

• What to consider when using electrolytes during a fast

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to [email protected]

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Research:

1. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): Endocrine Manifestations, Pathophysiology and Treatments.

Endocrine Reviews. 2024. Angelidi AM, Stefanakis K, Chou SH, et al. Review

2. The IOC Consensus Statement: Beyond the Female Athlete Triad--Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).

British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014. Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen J, Burke L, et al.

3.