Water fasting: what you can drink besides water
A forum debate on which liquids are allowed during a water fast: herbal teas, broths, distilled water and the alleged risks of detoxing.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Water fasting: what you can drink besides water without breaking it
A two-day fast to "detox the body" is a practice that sparks intense debate. While some argue the body needs no external help to cleanse itself, others claim certain herbal teas or broths can make the process easier. The key question is which liquids you can drink without breaking the fast.
Can you have anything other than water during a water fast?
There is no unanimous answer. Some claim that anything other than water "will more than likely just screw up" the fast, because the body is designed to survive on rainwater until food is found. Others, however, argue that sugar-free herbal teas do not break the fast and that even a spoonful of sugar may be necessary to stay sharp. Coffee and tea are ruled out from the start because of their stimulating effect, but linden tea, fennel or natural tomato juice come up as alternatives.
Water: distilled, rainwater or bottled?
The choice of water also divides opinion. One camp defends rainwater or very low-mineral water, even distilled water, because with no minerals to supply, the body can do its work without interference. Another warns that distilled water draws minerals out of the body and can be dangerous except for bodybuilders. Home reverse osmosis produces water similar to distilled, and some point out that drinking rainwater from a cistern was common for centuries.
The body does not need to detox, according to one view
Against the detox promises, one position stresses that the liver, kidneys and immune system already do that job without any fasting. It is argued that the body alternates between anabolism and catabolism, and that during a fast, cleansing processes that normally go unfinished are activated. However, there are warnings that prolonged fasts can raise uric acid and cause kidney failure, and that the hormonal response (insulin, leptin, ghrelin) is complex and not fully understood.
Refeeding: the step many ignore
One point of consensus is that breaking the fast by overeating is counterproductive. The advice is to start with broths, vegetable soups and light foods, gradually adding more substance. The experience of those who have fasted for several days shows that hunger disappears after the first three days and that improper refeeding causes most of the problems.
Benefits and risks: a delicate balance
Those who fast intermittently (16-18 hours a day) report better concentration and less food anxiety. Others warn that fasting can increase fat storage at the next meal, creating a rebound effect. The debate cites a study on fasting as a promising therapy against cancer, but stresses that fasting harms cancerous cells more than healthy ones, and that it is not risk-free.
The question remains open: is fasting to "detox" worth it, or is eating well and exercising enough?
A two-day fast to "detox the body" is a practice that sparks intense debate. While some argue the body needs no external help to cleanse itself, others claim certain herbal teas or broths can make the process easier. The key question is which liquids you can drink without breaking the fast.
Can you have anything other than water during a water fast?
There is no unanimous answer. Some claim that anything other than water "will more than likely just screw up" the fast, because the body is designed to survive on rainwater until food is found. Others, however, argue that sugar-free herbal teas do not break the fast and that even a spoonful of sugar may be necessary to stay sharp. Coffee and tea are ruled out from the start because of their stimulating effect, but linden tea, fennel or natural tomato juice come up as alternatives.
Water: distilled, rainwater or bottled?
The choice of water also divides opinion. One camp defends rainwater or very low-mineral water, even distilled water, because with no minerals to supply, the body can do its work without interference. Another warns that distilled water draws minerals out of the body and can be dangerous except for bodybuilders. Home reverse osmosis produces water similar to distilled, and some point out that drinking rainwater from a cistern was common for centuries.
The body does not need to detox, according to one view
Against the detox promises, one position stresses that the liver, kidneys and immune system already do that job without any fasting. It is argued that the body alternates between anabolism and catabolism, and that during a fast, cleansing processes that normally go unfinished are activated. However, there are warnings that prolonged fasts can raise uric acid and cause kidney failure, and that the hormonal response (insulin, leptin, ghrelin) is complex and not fully understood.
Refeeding: the step many ignore
One point of consensus is that breaking the fast by overeating is counterproductive. The advice is to start with broths, vegetable soups and light foods, gradually adding more substance. The experience of those who have fasted for several days shows that hunger disappears after the first three days and that improper refeeding causes most of the problems.
Benefits and risks: a delicate balance
Those who fast intermittently (16-18 hours a day) report better concentration and less food anxiety. Others warn that fasting can increase fat storage at the next meal, creating a rebound effect. The debate cites a study on fasting as a promising therapy against cancer, but stresses that fasting harms cancerous cells more than healthy ones, and that it is not risk-free.
The question remains open: is fasting to "detox" worth it, or is eating well and exercising enough?
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (77 replies).
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