In the Tayyibat System, Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that fasting is not just a change in meal timing, but a complete reset of the entire hormonal axis, where growth hormone and glucagon rise, and a new balance occurs in insulin’s relationship with cells. If you are new here, you may benefit from learning What is the Tayyibat System? or reviewing the article Allowed and Forbidden Foods in the Tayyibat System as well as reading Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi’s Biography and finally you can Download the Tayyibat System PDF.
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How does the hormonal axis change during fasting?
When you stop eating for enough hours, insulin drops naturally, and this drop is the key that opens the door for other hormones to take their role. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that constantly high insulin is what disrupts other hormones, because it sends a signal to the body that it is in “storage mode” rather than “building or repair mode.” When insulin drops during fasting, the body begins to shift to a different mode, where hormones like glucagon, growth hormone, and testosterone rise.
Why does growth hormone rise during fasting?
Growth hormone is not only responsible for height in childhood, but it is a hormone for continuous tissue building and renewal even in adulthood. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that growth hormone stimulates protein building, improves insulin sensitivity, and enhances fat burning. During fasting, natural spikes in growth hormone secretion occur, especially during sleep at night and in the later hours of fasting. This means that fasting is not just a weight loss tool, but a natural stimulant for tissue renewal and improving body composition.
How does fasting affect testosterone?
Testosterone is the primary male hormone, but it is also important for women in smaller amounts. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that the relationship between fasting and testosterone depends on the quality of food when breaking the fast and the type of fasting itself. Short to moderate fasting improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation, both of which support healthy testosterone production. Very long fasting with poor nutrition and insufficient protein intake when breaking the fast may lead to a temporary drop in testosterone because the body enters energy conservation mode. Therefore, the result depends on how you break your fast, not just on how you fast.
What is the role of cortisol during fasting, and is it harmful?
Cortisol is the stress and emergency hormone, and its primary function is to stimulate the liver to produce glucose and prepare the body to respond to danger. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that during fasting, cortisol rises naturally in the early hours, and this is not necessarily harmful. The problem begins when stress becomes chronic and cortisol remains high all day, whether due to continuous psychological pressure or due to very long fasting without adequate compensation. In the Tayyibat System, moderate intermittent fasting with adequate rest does not chronically raise cortisol, but may actually improve the body’s response to it.
How is glucagon different from insulin during fasting?
Glucagon is the opposite hormone to insulin. While insulin lowers blood sugar and pushes cells to store energy, glucagon raises blood sugar by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose and produce new glucose. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that fasting creates a natural balance between the two hormones, where insulin drops and glucagon rises. This balance is what allows the body to shift from storage mode to fat burning and using stored reserves. A person with insulin resistance may not respond to this balance with the required efficiency, which is what makes fasting beneficial for them in the long term.
How does fasting affect energy, mood, and physical ability?
Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, links the improvement in hormones during fasting to improved energy and mood. When insulin drops and hormones like growth hormone and glucagon rise, the body begins to rely on stored fat as its primary energy source instead of sugar from food. This shift leads to stable energy levels throughout the day instead of repeated spikes and crashes after meals. Improving insulin sensitivity and reducing chronic inflammation also positively affect mood and focus. Many people notice mental clarity and higher concentration after the first week of regular fasting.
Is fasting suitable for everyone from a hormonal perspective?
Not everyone responds to fasting in the same way. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains that those suffering from adrenal insufficiency or severe chronic stress may not tolerate long fasting easily, because their bodies already secrete high levels of cortisol. Athletes who need to build muscle may also need different timing for fasting and meals. In the Tayyibat System, fasting is a flexible tool used according to each person’s individual condition. The important thing is not to impose long fasting on everyone, but to find the time window that suits the body’s hormonal capacity without causing additional stress on the glands.
How do you start fasting in a way that supports your hormones and does not harm them?
Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi, may Allah have mercy on him, recommends starting fasting gradually, especially for those accustomed to eating continuously throughout the day. You can start with a 12-hour fast and then gradually increase to 14 or 16 hours depending on your response. The most important thing is the quality of food when breaking the fast: complete protein, healthy fats, and complex, easy-to-digest carbohydrates like rice and boiled potatoes. Avoid white flour and refined sugars when breaking the fast because they cause an insulin spike that disrupts the hormonal benefits of fasting. Adequate sleep is also essential because growth hormone and testosterone rise naturally during deep sleep.
Conclusion
Hormones during fasting undergo a major transformation: insulin drops, glucagon and growth hormone rise, and testosterone and cortisol balance depending on the quality of application. Fasting is not just deprivation of food, but a tool to reprogram the hormonal axis toward greater insulin sensitivity and improved building and burning. However, the result depends on the individual’s condition, the quality of food when breaking the fast, and not turning fasting into a source of chronic stress.
Read Also
- What is the Tayyibat System?
- List of Forbidden and Allowed Foods in the Tayyibat System
- Biography of Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi
- Download the Tayyibat System PDF
This article is a simplified and organized summary of the video content, aiming to arrange the ideas and concepts mentioned in it and connect them to their context within the Tayyibat System. You can watch the video on YouTube here.
When you stop eating for enough hours, insulin drops naturally. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that constantly high insulin disrupts other hormones because it keeps the body in “storage mode” rather than “repair mode.” When insulin drops during fasting, hormones like glucagon, growth hormone, and testosterone rise.
Growth hormone is not only for childhood height. It is a hormone for continuous tissue building and renewal even in adulthood. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that growth hormone stimulates protein building, improves insulin sensitivity, and enhances fat burning. During fasting, natural spikes in growth hormone occur, especially during sleep and in the later hours of fasting.
Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that the relationship between fasting and testosterone depends on the quality of food when breaking the fast and the type of fasting itself. Short to moderate fasting improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation, both of which support healthy testosterone production. Very long fasting with poor nutrition and insufficient protein at breakfast may lead to a temporary drop in testosterone.
Cortisol is the stress and emergency hormone. Its main job is to stimulate the liver to produce glucose and prepare the body to respond to danger. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that cortisol naturally rises in the early hours of fasting, and this is not necessarily harmful. The problem starts when stress becomes chronic and cortisol stays high all day. Moderate intermittent fasting with adequate rest does not chronically raise cortisol.
Glucagon is the opposite hormone to insulin. While insulin lowers blood sugar and pushes cells to store energy, glucagon raises blood sugar by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose and produce new glucose. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that fasting creates a natural balance between the two hormones, where insulin drops and glucagon rises. This balance allows the body to shift from storage mode to fat-burning mode.
Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi links better hormones during fasting to better energy and mood. When insulin drops and hormones like growth hormone and glucagon rise, the body starts relying on stored fat for energy instead of sugar from food. This shift leads to stable energy levels throughout the day instead of repeated spikes and crashes after meals. Many people notice mental clarity and better focus after the first week of regular fasting.
Not everyone responds to fasting the same way. Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi explains that people with adrenal insufficiency or severe chronic stress may not tolerate long fasting easily because their bodies already produce high cortisol. Athletes who need to build muscle may need different timing for fasting and meals. In the Tayyibat System, fasting is a flexible tool used according to each person’s individual condition.
Dr. Diaa Al-Awadi recommends starting fasting gradually, especially for those used to eating continuously throughout the day. Start with a 12-hour fast and gradually increase to 14 or 16 hours depending on your response. The most important factor is the quality of food when breaking the fast: complete protein, healthy fats, and complex, easy-to-digest carbohydrates like rice and boiled potatoes. Avoid white flour and refined sugars when breaking the fast because they cause an insulin spike that disrupts the hormonal benefits of fasting. Adequate sleep is also essential because growth hormone and testosterone rise naturally during deep sleep.
