Water fasting is a period when a person eats no food and drinks only water. Fasting in this way may help with weight loss, but is it safe, and do the effects last long-term?
There are a number of reasons why people undertake water fasting. Some for spiritual or religious reasons or to try and combat particular health issues, or to lose weight. Research suggests that occasional fasting may help with weight loss, although other methods may be more effective long-term and for sustainability.
To make sure that water fasting is done safely, you should prepare properly and choose a good time to go without food, when the body does not require too much energy and you can rest.
What is Water Fasting?
A water fast is when a person does not eat and drinks nothing other than water.
There is no set time that water fasting should last for, but medical advice generally suggests anywhere from 24 hours to 3 days as the maximum time to go without food.
Throughout history, people have undertaken fasts for spiritual or religious reasons. But, water fasting is now popular in the natural health and wellness movements, often alongside meditation.
Benefits
People with risk factors for certain diseases could benefit from short-term fasting. These include:
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol cholesterol
- diabetes
- being overweight
These risks are often related. When the body does not have access to carbohydrates, which are its preferred source of energy, it will use fats. So, a fast can result in weight loss as the body uses up fats in the body for its energy.
The best way to lose weight is to take it slowly, combining a healthy REAL plant based whole food diet with exercise. It is also important to try and change some eating habits, such as reducing the number of sugary foods and snacks eaten.
Safety
Although there are potential health benefits to fasting, there are considerable risks if a fast is carried out for too long, or by someone whose health or age puts them at risk of damage to their body.
If someone has health concerns, or is planning to fast for longer than 24 hours, they should seek the advice of a medical professional and consider undertaking a fast under supervision.
Water fasting will not be safe for everyone, and should not be undertaken by older adults, those under 18, or those who are underweight.
Research
An alternative to long periods of fasting can be intermittent fasting. This means eating nothing or very few calories for a certain amount of time and then eating as usual for another set period. An example is the 5:2 diet, where someone eats a regular diet for 5 days in the week, and a quarter of their daily calories on the remaining 2 days. This is a safe and gentle method.
In many studies where they have compared intermittent fasting and eating an ongoing low-calorie diet, both methods were found to be equally good for weight loss, as well as reducing the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Intermittent fasting was found to be as easy to stick to as a low-calorie diet.
Research based on studies with mice and rats suggests that fasting may protect against certain diseases, such as diabetes, and has the potential to delay aging. Fasting regularly for short periods of time has been associated with lower rates of diabetes, a lower BMI, and a reduced risk of coronary artery disease in people being tested for blocked arteries.
There have not been extensive human studies on fasting, although research has found some positive impact on blood pressure, body weight, and improved rheumatoid arthritis symptoms from small studies. Fasting can have adverse effects on the immune system for older adults, so individuals should seek medical advice on whether occasional water fasting could be beneficial.
Who should not fast…
Water fasting is not safe for everyone. People who should not fast, or who should seek advice from a medical professional before fasting include older adults, those under 18, and those who:
- have an eating disorder
- are underweight
- are pregnant or breast-feeding
- have heart problems
- have type 1 diabetes
- have uncontrolled migraines
- are undergoing a blood transfusion
- are taking specific medication; seek the advice of a doctor
Tips
If someone has not fasted before, they should consider starting with a 1-day fast to try it out and make sure there are no adverse effects. Fasting for longer than 3 days should only be carried out after seeking the advice of a medical professional.
Fasting can be mentally and physically tiring, so people must carefully prepare themselves by:
- eating well before the fast, with foods that are high in energy
- picking a time that will allow for rest, maybe a day when not at work
- avoiding fasting if unwell or very tired
- avoiding demanding exercise
- considering building up to a fast slowly, perhaps by reducing the size of meals
During the fast, it is essential to drink enough water and to spread this out throughout the day. It may be tempting to drink more than usual when fasting, but this can be harmful and should be avoided.
When ending a water fast, a person should not eat too much at once but build up gradually to avoid a stomach ache or feeling sick.
What to expect
Fasting deprives the body of the fuel it needs, so expect to feel tired and low on energy. A lack of food can also make people feel dizzy, weak, or nauseous, and if these symptoms are particularly bad, it is important to eat something.
Getting plenty of rest, sitting down, and avoiding intense exercise can help to conserve energy. It is normal to feel irritable or tired from lack of food, but if someone begins to feel disorientated or confused while fasting, they should seek medical advice.
“Although there may be some health benefits to water fasting, reducing overall calories is just as effective for weight loss, and is likely to be safer. Alternatives such as intermittent fasting could have more health benefits in terms of reducing the risks for heart disease and diabetes than a long-term water fast for days at a time and may be more sustainable.”
We should all be drinking lots of water every day, meaning it’s crucial that it is as clean and pure as possible.
There are many devices on the market that claim to produce structured water, and this is true, in most cases. However, the patented water restructuring device I recommend ‘sustain’ a permanent negative charge in the water. This capability is a defining factor in differentiating value for money, for most people.
Why are these water devices unique and different from other water restructuring devices?
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All cells in all species are in resonate coherence with structured water and therefore we need to drink structured water daily. If we can understand how to increase the structural integrity of cells (eg. mitochondria, DNA and genes) we will be successful in forming proper bio-feedback or communication pathways between cells, in a continuous stream of cell regulation and healing.
While death is inevitable, wellness is achievable.
Read more about water restructuring devices and other devices that restructure water here.