Water fasting
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Cleanse your body with a water fast
Fasting is the process of abstaining from food, however, in recent years, many different forms of fasting have emerged. One of the more popular methods is water-only fasting, meaning that a person will drink nothing but water for the duration of the fast and refrain from consuming any other type of food or liquid.
The most popular hotels for Water fasting
Fasting with water: background to this form of fasting
This method is met with mixed reviews from medical professionals and the fasting community, both citing benefits and dangers.
The reasons for embarking on a fast are just as varied as the methods themselves. When choosing a fasting method, it is important to understand why you would like to fast and what you ultimately wish to achieve.
Although water fasting is currently a trending buzz topic, it is good to keep in mind that there are many varieties of fasting. This page will help you gain a deeper understanding of fasting and also help you choose the method that is right for you.
What is water fasting?
Water fasting means that the fasting person drinks nothing but water for the duration of the fast and refrains from consuming any other type of food or liquids. Since this form of fasting is also associated with many health risks, it should only be treated judiciously and for a short duration.
Why has water fasting become so popular?
It is no secret that the modern sedentary lifestyle coupled together with the tendency to grab convenience food options has led to an increase in overweight and obesity. Unfortunately, those pesky pounds don’t fly off as quickly as they’re put on. With hectic routines putting a strain on the little time we have each day, it’s very tempting to go for quick fix solutions. At first glance, a zero-calorie water diet seems to promise the most efficient calorie deficit.
The same lifestyle has not only led to obesity, but a rise in other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. More and more health professionals are tapping into the healing powers of therapeutic fasting to help treat and improve chronic conditions or underlying ailments.Patients are also trying to ditch the vast number of prescribed medications and instead opt for more holistic and natural methods that offer a permanent solution to the underlying problem.
Many fasting documentaries have also praised long-term water fasting and the weight loss benefits thereof, but often fail to mention the dangers. Before you embark on your fasting journey, regardless of whether you are looking at a 7 day water fast or a long-term 30 day water fast, it’s important to examine the effects it can have on you and your health.
Potential benefits of (water-only) fasting
The body is a complicated machine and modern medicine still only understands a fraction of what it is capable of doing. We do, however, understand how vital good nutrition is in the overall ability for it to function at optimal levels. Doctors repeat time and time again the importance of consuming sufficient calories, vitamins, and minerals in order to maintain our health.
However, our brains are also wired to react to food. In recent years, nutritionists have come to understand that substances like refined sugar have a similarly addictive effect on our brains as some illicit drugs. Foods containing refined sugars are a no-go during fasting, which is what makes fasting a great tool to "rewire" your brain and kick these addictions. Long-term changes to lifestyle habits can therefore be achieved through fasting, as you’re tackling the roots of your habits and cravings. Fasting not only provides a “reset” for the brain, but also grants your body a break, kick-starting your body’s ability to heal itself. Studies show that people who embark on holistic methods of fasting, such as the renowned Buchinger method, have shown improvements in their weight management and chronic conditions.
The hidden dangers of a water cleanse
You’ll often hear someone saying that the body can go for weeks without food but only several days without water. And although that is essentially true, it is describing an extreme survival scenario and not a healthy diet. The body can survive, but it is doing just that, merely surviving. A long-term water fast, lasting sometimes up to 30 or 40 days, can often cause more harm than good.
“Survival mode” from water fasting stresses vital organs
When fasting under healthy conditions, you should not be unnecessarily taxing your body. Depriving it of all nutrients and calories will ultimately cause shock and damage to your vital organs. And if you manage your water fast without any immediate physical repercussions and you even manage to lose some weight, many will suggest that this “survival mode” your body has just endured will prompt it to start “hoarding” calories as soon as you begin to eat again. This could ultimately mean that you regain all of the weight you lost and possibly even gaining more. This is that undesired and much dreaded yo-yo effect.
Starving your body of calories for longer periods of time is not only unhealthy, it can even be dangerous. You not only need calories for exercise, but vital organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs require a certain base number of calories per day to help you think and function on even the most rudimentary levels. If you eliminate calories from your diet altogether, as is done in water fasting, your body will not begin to eat away at those stubborn fat reserves, but rather at muscles and tissues, and your vital organs will experience a devastating shock.
Hypotension
You could even end up suffering of extremely low blood pressure, also known as hypotension. This can lead to dizziness, fainting, and even slower reaction speeds. Although this may not sound very dangerous all on its own, you could get into an accident that could even be fatal.
Even though water fasting promises many benefits, even helping alleviate certain medical conditions, there is a good chance it will ultimately worsen your state of health. Some of the benefits are only temporary or superficial, meaning once you return to your diet or routine, these medical conditions could resurface or even become much worse.
Swelling, weakness and hair loss
A study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine on patients who underwent a total fast, showed that they also suffered from additional effects such as hair loss, swelling, and weakness. Although these are superficial side effects, they can be avoided through choosing safer methods of fasting.
Requirements for a healthy detox
Even when embarking on a detox, your body needs certain nutrients to support the self-cleansing mechanisms of your body. The liver, which plays a vital role in this “spring-cleaning”, requires certain vitamins, minerals, and calories for it to function and perform at capacity and achieve the best results. Water fasting doesn’t provide these essential nutrients, thus not guaranteeing that you will get the most out of your fasting experience with the best long-term effects.
It is imperative to seek medical advice before attempting any form of fasting, to make sure it’s the right course of action for you and your health.
Before you start: detox vs. weight loss
The first question you should ask yourself when starting a fast is: Why am I fasting? Nutritionists, dieticians, and doctors will tell you that fasting is not a long-term diet, but rather a tool for shorter periods of time to hit your body’s reset button and activate self-healing. By omitting certain foods or calories from your diet, you stimulate your body’s built-in cleansing mechanisms, helping restore its natural balance.
This break from your daily routine and otherwise unhealthy lifestyle, such as sugary or high-processed foods, will allow your body to clean out unnecessary toxins and junk, alleviating your body from inner stressors such as inflammation.
By granting yourself this break, you’re also allowing yourself to get in touch with real and whole foods again, re-learning the benefits of a nutrient rich diet and how it supports your bodily functions as well as your immune system, ultimately giving you control over your health and lifestyle.
The reset will help support you when switching your diet, as staying away from foods, such as high-glucose treats, will allow you to kick the habits and the cravings on the long run. In other words, it helps your body detox from harmful toxins and contaminants that could negatively impact your health and send you running back to the sweets aisle.
Fasting on the road to permanent weight loss
Nutrition experts and doctors will generally recommend a diet and lifestyle change when attempting weight loss as opposed to long-term fasts. A diet will reduce the calories you eat per day, allowing for that essential calorie deficit needed to attain weight loss, without endangering your body and vital organs. Weight loss is not achieved in a week, but it is rather a lifestyle and habit shift that should be maintained over longer periods of time.
Although fasting is primarily used for detoxing, it can be a great tool to help you stick to your diet and achieve your ultimate weight loss goal. Healthy diets are usually so hard to follow through with, not only because we are confronted with our vices at every turn, but our brains tell us that we crave and need those temptations.
Allowing your body to detox from things like sugary treats is a great way to help ensure that you stay on track with your weight loss journey and kick those unhealthy cravings!
Healthy alternatives to water fasting
Buchinger fasting, named after Dr. Otto Buchinger, involves consuming only fluids like water and herbal teas while abstaining from solid foods. It's practiced for health benefits like detoxification and weight loss under medical supervision, often in fasting clinics or retreats. The approach emphasizes rest, relaxation, and mindfulness, alongside light exercise and meditation, to promote overall well-being. Learn more about Buchinger fasting.
Liquid fasting involves consuming only liquids, such as water, herbal teas, vegetable broths, and fruit juices, while abstaining from solid foods. This type of fasting is often practiced for health reasons, including detoxification, weight loss, and digestive rest. Liquid fasting allows the body to still receive essential nutrients while giving the digestive system a break from processing solid foods. It can be done for short periods, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks, and may be supervised by healthcare professionals depending on individual health conditions and goals. Learn about liquid fasting.
Fruit fasting therapy involves consuming only fruits while abstaining from other foods. It is a type of fasting regimen aimed at detoxifying the body, boosting energy levels, and promoting overall health. Fruit fasting therapy typically involves eating a variety of fresh fruits, both raw and juiced, throughout the day. This type of fasting may be practiced for a short period, such as one to several days, under the guidance of a healthcare professional or as part of a holistic health regimen. Learn more about fruit fasting therapy.
FAQ - Water fasting
Water fasting means that a person will drink nothing but water for the duration of the fast. Other liquids as well as food are completely renounced during the fasting period. Due to the associated dangers, this form of fasting is extremely controversial and usually not recommended by medical experts.
If the fasting person drinks only water for a period of time, there is a risk that the lack of nutrients and calories will prevent important organs such as the brain, heart and lungs from fully performing their functions. Hypotension (extremely low blood pressure), swelling, weakness and hair loss are also associated with water fasting.
Probably the most suitable alternative is Buchinger therapeutic fasting. During the main detoxification phase, this also relies on liquids, but those that provide a minimum of calories and the intake of important minerals. Typical liquids you drink during Buchinger fasting are vegetable juices, vegetable broth, and herbal teas (with honey, if necessary).