Emma Roberts experienced profound benefits from a five-day water fast, including mental clarity and improved gut health. This type of fast restricts everything except water, potentially leading to health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and blood sugar but also posing risks like dehydration. Water fasting is an ancient and powerful healing strategy that can reduce the effects of various diseases.
During a 5-day water fast, it is essential to avoid eating or drinking anything besides water, preferably mineralized water, to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes. The fast may cause mood and energy levels to rise and fall during the fast, as well as hunger pangs. To prepare for the fast, it is recommended to eat well before the fast, with high-energy foods, and choose a time that allows for rest.
A water fast typically lasts 24-72 hours and is followed by a post-fast phase. If new to water fasting, it is recommended to spend 3-4 days preparing your diet. On day 2, start having low carb smoothies and coconut milk.
Emma Roberts, a 5 ft 5 inches woman at 238 lbs, started a 5-day water fast today and was surprised by the profound benefits she experienced. She found that the fast helped her lose weight, improve her gut health, and experience mental clarity.
To prepare and break a 5-day water fast safely and effectively, it is essential to know the pros and cons of this prolonged fasting method, as well as what to eat after it.
📹 5 Day Water Fast–Reset the BODY
5 Day Water Fast–Reset the BODY SEARCH on Dr. Sung’s Online Store https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/drjinsung/store-start Dr.
Is it safe to water fast for 5 days?
Water fasting, a medically supervised fast popular in Europe, has been studied by a team of experts. The study, which focuses on the impact of water fasting on weight loss and other metabolic factors, was conducted after being contacted by journalists last fall. The team analyzed eight studies on water fasting, or Buchinger fasting, a popular fast where people consume only a small amount of juice and soup daily. The results of these studies were used to determine the cumulative impact of water fasting on weight loss and other metabolic factors.
How much weight will I lose on a 5 day water fast?
Two studies have demonstrated that individuals typically lose between four and six pounds during a five-day water fast, between two and 10 pounds during a seven- to 10-day fast, and between seven and 10 pounds during a 15- to 20-day fast. However, the aforementioned studies revealed that individuals undergoing a water fast experienced a greater loss of lean muscle mass than fat mass. Indeed, approximately two-thirds of the total weight loss can be attributed to this loss of lean mass.
Is a 7 day fast healthy?
Water fasting can be beneficial for individuals for 2-3 days, but healthy individuals can undergo 7-day fasts without issues, provided fasting is not contraindicated. After 7 days, participants reported reduced stress, improved well-being, weight loss, better hydration and urinary health, less body acidity, lower blood sugar levels, and reduced blood sodium and blood pressure. However, downsides include depletion of calcium and magnesium stores and kidney protein sparing.
Longer fasts, such as 30 or 40 days, should be undertaken under strict medical supervision. Benefits include weight loss, improved metabolic health, and reduced inflammation, but risks such as severe nutrient deficiencies and muscle loss increase with the fast duration.
What happens if you don’t eat for 7 days but drink water?
The body can survive for about a week without food and water, while survival time may extend to 2 to 3 months with water. However, severely restricted food intake can reduce lifespan. Underweight individuals, with a BMI below 18. 5, are associated with malnutrition and health conditions like reduced immune system function, digestive issues, and cancer. A 2018 study found that having a BMI below 18.
5 could shorten life by an average of 4. 3 years for males and 4. 5 for females. Living without food and water for days or weeks seems inconceivable to many, as it can cause irritability and low energy.
How do you prepare for a 5 day water fast?
To prepare for a water-only fast, start by gradually reducing your food intake. Cut down one meal per week, gradually reducing it to one per day in six weeks. This gradual reduction helps the body adjust to functioning with less fuel and stores more energy in the muscles and liver. Drink more water during the week before the fast to control hunger pangs and avoid headaches or lightheadedness during the first few days.
It may be beneficial to continue your normal vitamin/mineral supplement regime as you prepare for the fast. This gradual reduction will help the body become used to functioning with less fuel and store more energy.
Are 72 hour fasts healthy?
Longer periods without food, such as 24-, 36-, 48-, and 72-hour fasting periods, may be dangerous and encourage the body to store more fat. Research shows that it takes two to four weeks for the body to become accustomed to intermittent fasting, and those who make it through the adjustment period tend to stick with the plan. During this time, water and zero-calorie beverages like black coffee and tea are permitted.
Will I lose muscle if I fast for 7 days?
Future studies suggest that consuming only one serving of protein per day is sufficient for maximal muscle growth. Fasting has been shown to prevent muscle loss, but more research is needed to determine the benefits of intermittent fasting versus 3-6 meals per day in resistance-trained individuals. A protein-rich meal before bed with carbohydrates, fat, and fiber can help slow digestion and prevent muscle loss.
Will I lose weight if I only drink water for 5 days?
Water fasting can be a beneficial method for weight loss, but it can also lead to unhealthy weight loss. Studies suggest that drinking water can lead to a 0. 9 kg daily weight loss, but this is primarily due to water, carbs, and muscle mass, not fat. Additionally, water fasting can cause dehydration, as 20-30% of daily water intake comes from food. Symptoms of dehydration may include dizziness, nausea, headache, constipation, and low blood pressure. To avoid dehydration, it may be necessary to drink more water than usual.
Can you go 40 days with only water?
The results of recent studies indicate that fasting for 40 consecutive days and consuming only water can have adverse effects on the body, despite the potential for weight loss. The drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have been demonstrated to be unsafe for individuals with diabetes and obesity. The recent cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin serves as a stark example of the potential risks associated with these medications.
What are the hardest days of water fasting?
Water fasting is a popular method for cleansing the body, as it helps to eliminate excess glucose and improve overall health. The body is 70% water, and it needs water to function properly. As we age, our dehydration decreases, leading to hunger. Drinking water helps the body use up stored glucose, which takes about 72 hours. The first three days of a water fast are the hardest, as the body starts living on fat. To measure this, we look at ketone levels, which are breakdown products of fat and used for energy.
If glucose levels are high and ketones are low, it means that the body is still eating or consuming glucose. After day four, glucose should go down and ketones should increase. In prolonged water fasts, glucose may rise again due to the body eating non-viable pathological tissues. Ketone levels should be less than 1. 0, which always happens with water fasting.
A water fast is considered the ultimate renewal, similar to sleeping when tired and depleted of energy. It is like going to sleep when you’re tired and have had a long day, providing a new beginning and chance for renewal. The fundamentals of a water fast are the same as changing oil or rotating tires, but without proper maintenance, it’s irrational.
In conclusion, water fasting is an effective way to cleanse the body and improve overall health. By focusing on the needs of others and avoiding unhealthy habits, individuals can experience a renewed sense of well-being and improved overall health.
Is a 7 day fast too long?
Fasting should be approached with caution, especially for longer water fasts, and should not be attempted for more than seven days without medical supervision. It is recommended to start with a 12-hour fast and gradually increase the duration, spacing each one out. Longer fasts should not be done in succession, and they should be done quarterly at Ujido. Other individuals not to fast include diabetics, pregnant or nursing women, severe illnesses, heavy machinery users, and those without sufficient fat stores. It is crucial to consult with medical professionals before attempting any fast.
📹 5 Days Water Fasting: What happens to your Health? (Study 55)
Created with Biorender. #waterfasting #fasting #waterfast.
53 years old, overweight, really falling apart physically. Always been super sugar addicted, and never had the will power to fast until now. I’m on day 3, and simply blown away how good I already am feeling!! Mental clarity and my mood are, I’m struggling to find the right words, so surprisingly good! I’m just so stoked to go a whole week with this water and coffee only fast. I went on a roadtrip yesterday, (day 2) and I just simply could not believe that i was able to watch my family eating their delicious smelling McDonald’s breakfast, and later in the day, Wendy’s food, and I’m talking fries and chocolate frostys, everything yummy, and i was just fine!!! I have also now gained a whole new peace of mind, and confidence, in knowing that if crap ever hits the fan, i can go a HECK of a long time without food if necessary. I am now determined to begin incorporating occasional fasting and better food choices, along with smaller meal portions and exercise into my new future life! Update Aug 10 2024. I only ended up doing a 3 day fast back then. I weighed 296lbs at the beginning, but something happened with that 3 day fast, that made it easy to adjust my meal portions, and i think it was easing into the ‘refeading’ phase that made it easy to eat less. Most the time now, we only will eat 2 meals a day, instead of 3, and really try to stay away from all sweets. Anyway, I now weigh 258-260, legs and toes no longer tingle, legs feel lighter and just generally feel much better. However I’ve hit a 260lb plateau with recently sneaking junk food back into my diet, and feel that I still need to lose another 40lbs so here I go to reset the system with another 3 day fast and maybe this time I’ll go a whole week.
I did a 40-day water fast last June through July and lost 50lbs. I was going to check into a facility or have bed rest while I did it, but decided to work through it. I usually fly three to six times per week and drive up to 4,000 miles per week, so sometimes, depending on the airport, I was doing a lot of walking and running from one gate to another. I got my energy back in the evening of the third day. Boredom will make you quit, not hunger. Fortunately, I had already planned for boredom by learning new skills and keeping myself busy. Definitely felt great, but it didn’t help blood pressure though.
Very inspirational…l turn 52 in a few days. Gained 40lbs in 2 years. Addicted to sugar and carbs. Hormones out of wack. Dental bone loss above 1 molar. A frontal lobe brain hemmorage. Bad mood swings. Low motivation. Depressed. Left elbow pain. Lower back pain. Thinned hair. Overwhelmed. Social anxiety. Just completed 1st 24 hrs of water fasting and had a long conversation full of laughter with a friend. I feel so much better mood wise and looking forward to completing the next 4 days. Thank you doctor and all the folks who commented here. God give me the will & strength to complete 5 days. I desperately need this reset and receive total healing during this journey. In Jesus name, Amen🙏🏾💕
just completed a 9 day fast (had to break it for Father’s Day and my wife’s b-day)….amazing journey! So worth it. Going to repeat in July and maybe go longer…lost 15+ lbs…gained a few back…but the body, brain reset was awesome!! Secret….if you are really struggling with weakness, low blood sugar, etc…a large tablespoon of raw honey got me through the rough spots….I did swim 2 days…and took the honey beforehand to make sure I didn’t bonk….really had to increase my water intake more than normal…huge benefits…amazing spiritual awareness as a Christian too!
I’ve done a 21 day water fast just for the experience. It wasn’t terrible but wasn’t a breeze either…probably more due to boredom and wanting to at least drink something with flavor. The best thing about it was that my chronic rosacea was cured but that wasn’t the reason I did it. It was a great experience and I’m glad I persevered. Going without food is not only a good thing but nothing to fear! That’s probably the most valuable lesson I’ve learned. I may do this 5 day fast because I haven’t done one in awhile…just intermittent fasting, usually 22/2. Hope it’s ok to share this other source of info. Fasting For Survival Lecture ~ Dr. Pradip Jamnadas The Galen Foundation
Work your way to doing 3 or 4 week fast. I reversed an extremely fatty liver with galblatter calcifications and pre diabetic diagnosis. I had extreme back pain from being inflamed all tge time to almost pain free. It’s a life changer when you do it but it’s important to go keto after or you’ll get yourself right back into bad shape again.
In Sept. ’22, I did a 7 day DRY fast. No food, no water. I simply told myself, if I get a headache, I’d stop. No harm, no foul. I did it because my mom passed away from diabetes at 62 and my habits haven’t been so great as of late at that time. On day one, there wasn’t any problem, as I was expecting a headache. On day two, I was expecting a headache but no headache. So far, so good. On day three, again, no headache, so I knew day four was probably going to be a headache……. NOOOO!! On day four, I felt better than I did before I started the fast!! I was truly amazed; however, the one problem I did have was DRY MOUTH. As it turned out, I was testing for a new job, which included an oral exam. The examiner had me repeat a couple of verbal answers because the dry mouth was that bad!😂 The dry mouth subsided after about an hour. I GOT THE JOB! Day five had me thinking about extending the dry fast but since I did not consult a doctor beforehand, I decided to continue aiming for the seven days (166 hours). On day seven, I woke up early and ran and jogged to the Publix Supermarket. That’s where I had weighed myself the day I started the fast. For those of you in the South, Publix Supermarket, along with their pristine appearance and customer service, they’re known for having their scale in the vestibule area of their stores. I was so energized! By the way, the supermarket is about 3 miles from where I live (nearly 5k)! I wore very light clothing because I knew I would take most of it off when I got there.
Day 5 begins at 9:30PM for me today! I can see the difference in my skin the most, it’s amazing actually. Fine lines, gone. Dark circles, gone. My right knee had been bothering me, but now the pain is gone. I’ve only ever done 2 other extended fast (11day and 3days). I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do this one. But my sugar addiction had been getting intense, I was so sluggish, and my weight started to creep up. Im so glad I started. Not only to prove to myself that I have the strength to, but to heal my body and readdress my relationship with food. So so so worth it!
Started water fast 3 days ago, felt great, no desire for food even from day 1, on day 2, I drove 800km interstate on my own, it was probably the best drive I’ve ever had, I was not tired at all throughout the journey. I just needed a stretch every time I fuelled up. I felt so alert. 3rd day and I’m feeling great. At no stage was I feeling hungry nor desire for food. I was initially only doing a 3 day fast, but since I feel so great I’m going to continue. I’ve done juice fasts for 14 days in the past. I’d like to take this water fast to 30 days, we’ll see how I go.
My immunesystem became really weak after a medical intervention 2021. Was sick at least a week out of every month. After 18 months of this I decided to do a 7 day water fast. I only managed 5 days. But on day 3 of refeeding I felt strong again. For the first time in 18 months it felt like my immunesystem was working again. Not a complete fix but it felt like it went from 40% up to 80%. Was so happy. But one must be very careful with the refeeding. I did a second 5 day fast 4 months later. Broke the fast with a big bowl of bone broth, the an hour later another big bowl of bone broth. I got so sick. My body got really stressed. Several hours later I had to throw up because I was feeling so bad. Felt like I was dying. I was weak and sick for several weeks after that. Once I got som strenght back, like 5 weeks later I did a 4 day fast and came back pretty strong again after that. Made sure to break it with just a small portion of broccoli. I have done a 3 day and a 4 day fast since then. They went well. Going to do a 5 day fast in a few weeks time agsin. But oh how importsnt the refeeding part is. I cant stress this enough. Fasting is so powerful when done right, but just a small misstep or a big bowl of bonebroth can really make you worse of going out of the fast than you were going in.
I am happy I got your website. You have an acceptable pace of delivering your materials. You are a gifted teacher. You explained concepts that I have heared of but were not explained, you used it with in the concept of their meanings. I am now informed and prepared to enbark on a five day water fast. Thank you indeed for your labour of love.
I am a mail man and a powerlifter and I absolutely love the 5 day water fast and have gotten some incredible healing from them over the years! Just a little bit of advice for the people like me who do very physical jobs. I only do 1 workout during my fast and it’s the morning of day 1. After that I will supplement with potassium and branch chain amino acids twice that day. After that I will do a full water fast. I just feel that really helps me transition well into the full fast without excess soreness or fatigue from the workout. When transitioning out of the fast I will also eat a ketogenic diet for a week like Dr sung says. I will work out twice during that week. The first day I will repeat the workout I did on day 1 of the fast with 70% of the weight. The second workout will be with 85%. I won’t do another 100% workout until 2 or 3 days after reintroducing carbs. All In all it’s about a 2 week period but I think the health benefits are really worth it. I know a lot of athletes and manuel laborers are very concerned about attempting a fast. If that is you then I highly recommend you trying this protocol. It has really worked wonders for me!
I’m on day 5, and I’ve noticed an Increase of motivation I’m not as depressed (I struggled with depression) My skin is clear I can think clearer (I struggle with brain fog) I’m less irritable I haven’t weighed myself but I could tell in my face that I’m slimmer I don’t feel as hungry. I feel hungry every now and then, but I drink a lot of water, and the hunger goes away 5 minutes later
Thanks,you make this crystal clear. I just finished my 2nd 3 day water fast in a attempt to improve my metabolism. What I experienced matches right up with your presentation. By the end of the 3rd day I felt 10 years younger. One thing I noticed was my ketones only got up to 1.9.my blood sugar got down to 59. Next month I will go for 5 days.
I was in a really bad state and started doing alternate day fasting if you haven’t seen Rachel sharps article she had quite an incredible transformation and alternate day is a bit of a trend now, but I fell off and here I am about 24 hours in, and need to pull as long as I can. also, I had to give up coffee because I just wasn’t getting much benefit even though I was fasting until I eliminated that as well. Good luck, everyone, and thank you for the article highlighting the benefits, of this incredible healing tool.
I once had an allergic reaction to something I was eating or drinking (milk, dairy, yogurt, cheese), and breaking out in hives. I decided to fast for the first time ever. By day 3, I was feeling great with nothing but water and green tea! By day five, I had to force myself to eat again as I wasn’t even hungry… Yet again, I felt great. Fasting is interesting and can be useful for the body.
I finished a 4 day/100 hour fast two weeks ago, 3 of those days were a dry fast. The headache on the 4th day really began to gnaw at me. A few years ago I caved at 100 hours also. Unfortunately I didn’t notice my hunger fall away at all on both of those 4 day fasts. I’m 24 hours in to another fast at the moment and shooting for 7 days, this duration is uncharted territory for me but the path is clear for this effort. I live off grid in the bush and am not working, it’s just the boredom to deal with.
This is the best info yet! ❤️❤️❤️And I’ve watched a lot of articles ! Clear concise and easy listening thank you so much . Knowing all this stuff will happen in my body during a five day fast is such a motivation ❤I used to fast five days years ago to relieve my severe asthma but not knowing any of this. I don’t have asthma any more. Now I’m doing it to clear up my brain after having to have a few unavoidable surgeries the last few years. the anesthesia did a number on my ability to think clearly and my gut health .
Great article packed with useful information. It has been a while since I did a prolonged fast and I am due. A while back I did a 7 day fast and it was amazing. By day 7 the thought of eating, chewing, digesting was actually disgusting. The mistake I made during the fast was drinking coffee and tea with sweetener. This time I’ll follow Dr. Sung’s advice.
Thank you so much doctor! I have officially crossed the 110 hour mark and do expect to finish my fast here sadly, i truly think i cam go 10 days if i really push myself but i think a good keto diet and eatinf appropriately and still be able to lift weights and hit the gym, since i committed to that, doesn’t make much sense for me to push for the 21+ day fast. but i know i could do it if i wanted to amd that has been so inspiring, I feel like I’m LIVING again
I attempted a 3 day water only fast over 3 weeks ago and only made it two days and decided to quit. When I started back eating I got heart palpitations and when I say that I mean that I could literally feel my heart beating in my chest all day long, especially when I laid down to sleep which frankly was terrifying. Went to the ER after 3 days of this and they checked everything and said I was ok but it continued for 2 weeks and then went to a cardiologist who said I was ok. It seems to be getting better but do NOT take this lightly.
Hello Doctor. I live as healthy as I can. No sugar, no processed foods, doing sports. I had a heart attack 1 month month after the 2nd Pfizer jab with 32 yo. Now I have ishemic heart disease and only 30 EF. Is there any chance fasting will help with reversing ishemic heart muscle? I did multiple 72h and one 96 h water sea salt fast. No changes yet when I went to checkup. Maybe a dryfast will have more impact on the ishemia? I have heard its up to 2-3x more powerful on scars too. Dead heart muscle is a scar too
I’m on day six. Day 4 & 5 was the toughest. But you know what’s pushing me is the pain in both of my feet & legs is gradually going away. Now I don’t want to quit because I feel as if fasting is healing my feet/body and I will know when it’s done. Going for 7 days or when my feet feels completely or near healed
Salvation is the good news that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. Because of the disobedience of Adam we were made sinners. Sin was passed down to us, and therefore, the judgement of that was to condemnation. But John 3 verse 16-18 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but God sent His Son to the world so that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God💛 The name of Jesus is the only name given to men (people) in which they must be saved. Only Jesus saves!!
Watching this on day 2. When it comes to exercising, as a natural bodybuilder, I disagree. As long as it feels ok, why not working out? Anyway, I don’t expect to break records during fasting.. but this is my first time. I did a quite regular workout today and if possible, I will continue. Thanks for the great article, very helpful! We need much more Doctors like you.
A lot has been going on in my life which led to lethargy which brought about weight gain. I made a decision to ho on intermittent fasting and walking to regain my health, both physical and mental. I have been on a liquid fast for 72 hours now and have not felt this good in a longtime.On the 3rd i feel no hunger pangs. Will continue to use this method as a way to get back to good health.
I have discovered, for me, the more often I do a prolonged fast, the less symptoms I have during the fast and the easier each time is… for instance… no dizziness or low blood pressure causing my to not function standing up, in my current 5 day fast (suprisingly wondress)… perhaps due to some autophagy healing of an illness. I now have zero hunger during 5 day water fast so I do not add anything… I use it also to break any plateaus in weight loss… Also, I am reprograming my thinking patterns, around mindless eating, through structured time feeding. IMO, a 5-day water fast is a 5-day “water” fast… not adding things to it… In your explanation of days 4-5, I personally would move them to the days 6 and 7 to break the water fast.
Thank you Doc for this article,i got really sick during my first 5 day water fast,could barely walk,tried mct oil and minerals nothing changed, got ulcerative colitis,the pain became worse but I pushed through,my worst symptom was upper back pain from day 2 all through fast,my CRP was 32 during the fast,I hope I can get some answers.
About to finish a 3 day fast in a few hours though not hungry at all. Whenever I’m ill (rare) I do a water fast until I feel better ( like animals do naturally ) I didn’t feel like eating so didn’t eat all day on Day 1 ( wasn’t a planned fast just going with what my body was telling me) Day 2 felt slightly headachey & nauseous so stayed in bed. Wasn’t hungry at all. This morning woke up completely better & my energy back up. Will break my fast with half an advocado followed by a veggie soup. Good to see this visit to remind myself what good I’ve done but it was easy. Recommend anyone to fast when they are coming down with something as you don’t feel like eating anyway. Maybe different for people who don’t eat healthily and are quite toxic – likely to be much harder
After seeing your article on 3 day fast, I completed a 3 day fast just water and electrolytes. I was taking less of electrolytes and salt and took it only late on 2nd day. Felt much better after that. Most of my eating was muscle memory and not based on need. Before 3 day fast, I had started fasting on once a day and did 1 meal a day and progressed to 1.5 days once and excused myself to eating. But next time I told myself I am not going for any excuse and crossed second day into third.
I have done all of this in 5 months 6 and a half day Arise and shine cleanse with no food. 6 week candida cleanse course/1 week on one week off (with food) 10 week liver flush course split every 2 weeks/2 day process (no food) Multiple 1 day and 2 day water and dry fasts 4 day parasite cleanse with herbs (no food) 106 hour dry fast with only cold showers once a day and grounding/post 3 day cleanse 8 day process Over 50 green coffee and sea salt enemas
Started doing prolonged fasting this year and my experience is the same, only water+minerals, I was a coffee junkie but could not do a fast with coffee. Walking is a must, I would say some resistance training is also recommended to minimalize muscle loss, but it should be dialed back. For example I do 3x/week calisthenics, tons of pullups and dips, now during prolonged fasting I still do 5-10x/day a set of pushups. Also breaking the fast in a convenient way (=not running to the toilet multiple times…) is just some lean meat, nothing else. I would never break my fast with bone brought or veggies again.
I was floxed high dose for a month. My health destroyed in 2018. I was pollydrugged with psych meds and abruptly stopped on all. Health even worse definitely histamine intolerance. I’m thinking of trying a long fast to get rid of the candida hopefully it’ll heal it. I feel better when I don’t eat. I did ok on a 40 day grape 🍇 fast
Im doing 84hrs. So about 3.5 days. Night 2 was bad news. I didn’t know if i was awake or asleep it felt really weird and then i got up my heart started to race and i vomitted. But all of a sudden i felt much better, almost really good and finally fell asleep properly at 4:45am. Now day 3 and i feel ok.
How much Celtic salt should I add to my water? Last time I tried this and didn’t use salt, and only made it to the morning of day 4. I would really like to do at least 5 days this time and I think the salt will help. I stopped because of bad cramps in my abdomen so I’m sure it was lack of minerals that I needed. Thanks so much 🙏🏾
I want to try this water fasting again I did it yrs ago but only for 3 days the past 6 yrs I have been severely ill due to chronic mold exposure it led me to over eat processed carbs and sugar because of a chemical imbalance I feel miserable I lost 40 pounds over the last 2 yrs only because of the toxins overload in my body and bloodstream once I removed myself from the toxic environment the weight came off but iam still struggling with excessive sugar I want to try water fasting for 7 days just to see how I feel and hopefully go into ketosis and eliminate process carbs and just eat leafy green vegetables I also have chronic inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis through my whole body and alot of other health issues that I didn’t have before along with depression ptsd and anxiety
Starting my first ever water fast on the 20th of this month. I’m confident I can fast for 3 days, But not sure if I can do 5 for my first attempt. Im a recovered meth user clean for a couple yesrs, So i kinda remember what it was like for me going days without eating, But in the last few years since quitting all substances Ive gained body fat and Im 200lbs now, Ive been much more fitter in the past, Im not doing this for instant weight loss, But a body reset before I start training heavy again
Hey everyone, 36 year old here with inflammation issues of the gut and stomach. I fear it’s going to lead to cancer and other illnesses. I am trying to quit sugar and I’ve improved my diet a lot… But I feel I need to reset my body and wanted to try fasting. 5 days seems extremely rough to start off with, is this safe for a novice like me? Should I do 2 days and start off slow?
I used to do 3 to 5 day fasts and they were great except for horrible sleep. I no longer fast at all because i became obsessed with lifting weights. Im hungry all the time now as muscle building requires a lot of calories. I do track calories and do get autophagy benefits in the muscles but apparently not in the rest of the body as fasting does. Ill stick with being more muscular and lean then attempting to shed fat through fasting altho it did help me in the past.
I’ve been fasting on and off for many years. OMAD sometimes, 24 hour fast, 36 hour fast, most I have done is 21 days. I break the small ones up and do them randomly through the month. I still have some arthritic pain to overcome and about 60 pounds of weight to lose. I’m also still struggling with blood pressure. I do not know what is holding me back, as i am already ketovore and eat very clean. I did have a total hysterectomy and I am not on any hormone replacement. So perhaps that is causing my struggles. idk :/
Hi Dr Sung, Thank you for this great informative article. I’m on day 3/5 of my water fast and will be finishing on Sunday morning. I wanted to break it with green juice (vegetables only and lemon) and bone broth. I’ve also heard raw eggs are good on the first day of breaking fast, does that sound right to you? Id really appreciate your advice here, I’m quite nervous about breaking the fast and just want to do in the best way possible
Starting a 5 day water fast tomorrow. I did it once before (jan 2023) and i lost 5kgs and managed to keep it off for several months. It was 5 days of hell however. I took water, black coffee and a spoon of mct oil in the morning for mental clarity, and the articles i had watched while researching it described each day bringing its own set of pros and cons, but that it gets easier as you go along and you start to feel amazing. Well i felt like absolute hell and it just got worse and worse. I couldnt control my non stop cravings for food. It was all consuming. Especially burgers for some reason. I found myself sitting at work staring at Burger King menus. I also had serious brain fog for those 5 days and just felt generally yuck. So lets see how it goes this week. 😏
1:52, that’s me. Hypoglycemic but not diabetic. I get BOTH low blood sugar and low blood pressure at the same time when I try to fast. My Dr suggested a high quality salt to combat the low blood pressure. That worked. But I still get severely low blood sugar and can RARELY accomplish a 24 hour fast, let alone longer than that. 🤷🏻♀️
Did a 5 day fast a month ago, lost 13 pounds. On day 2 right now of my second fast, trying to go longer. Do not drink coffee during the fast. All the YouTubers will say it’s fine. It’s not. Think about it this way, while fasting your body doesn’t have anything other than toxins to get rid of when you use the bathroom, while yea coffee won’t break the fast in terms of calories but now you have something to use the bathroom for. I’ll let y’all do the math on how that went when coffee is the only thing your body is pushing out 😂😂😂
I have done multiple 72 h fast which is enough for me because i lose to much body mass and muscle mass. In my third day of fasting my glucose level drops to about 55-60 mg/dL and my insulin level drops to 0.8 mIU/mL which is very low. The next days after the fast is done if I eat moderate amounts of carbs and I drink a coffee I feel like I have snorted drugs. The amount of energy is insane and similar to using drugs.
## 5-Day Water Fast: Resetting Your Body and Energy *What is a 5-day water fast?* * Abstaining from all food and calories for 5 days. * Drinking water, supplementing with salt and minerals. * Optional: Drinking coffee or tea, but not preferred. *Who should do a 5-day water fast?* * Generally healthy individuals, ideally twice a year for a reset. * Individuals with metabolic conditions under physician supervision, once a month. *Who should NOT do a 5-day water fast?* * Pregnant or breastfeeding women. * Hypoglycemics (prone to low blood sugar). * Insulin-dependent diabetics. * Patients on multiple medications with potential interactions. * Individuals with gastritis. * Lean body types with limited reserves. * People who continue to work and do heavy labour. * Individuals with eating disorders or a history of eating disorders. * Alcoholics. *Benefits of a 5-day water fast:* * Improved immune function. * Repair of damaged tissues, including mitochondria. * Removal of dysfunctional cells and pathogens. * Reduced neuroinflammation and general inflammation. * Increased autophagy (cell cleaning). * Decreased autoimmune disease symptoms. * Improved gut flora. * Increased DNA repair. * Reset of metabolic system and hormones. * Improved liver detoxification. * Increased self-awareness about health and relationship with food. * Motivation to adopt a healthier lifestyle. *What happens during a 5-day water fast?* * *Days 1-2:* * Depletion of glycogen stores. * Transition to fat utilisation for energy (ketosis).
Unless it’s in the total beginning, I’ve never had a bowel movement during a 3-5 day fast (even though I fiber load right beforehand), and those fasts always included water and black tea. Wow for the first time I had coffee, and it induced a movement!! I felt like expelling that waste had to be a plus, and I’ll definitely be adding at least one large coffee on my long fasts now.
I have 90 lbs to go. I’m in my 20s, have had back pain since 14 and I feel like most of it is from just lugging around extra weight you know? I’ve done a fast 2 years or so ago that scared me cause I don’t think I drank enough water and on TMI WARNING but Day 11 I peed out something really strange it looked like dried up yk what (white, it freaked me out) and it burned a bit. It was the weirdest thing ever but I want to do this again just less than 11 ofc. I feel like it was cause I wasn’t drinking enough water so shit was like, drying up or something. Idk. I’m thinking 3 days at a time, until I get within 30 lbs of my healthy weight range, at which point I’ll work out normally and start creatine ingestion. Something like that anyway. I heard eating a lot and working out is best but really it’s probably just consistency no? I’d love to drop my 30lbs in the end while putting on a bit of muscle . Edit: Did my first 3 Day Fast, Day 1 and 2 was mildly tough but Day 3 was super easy, the only thing was that on Day 3 my breath was suspect for smelling so my mouth tasted weird easily only 2 hours after brushing. I hated that lol. I went from 248 lbs to 238 lbs. Im sure the amount of fat was only 4 lbs at the most. I ate 2,400 – 2,700 calories on Day 4, a whole plump chicken breast, with lots of vegetables, some trail mix, a lot of water melon (which is how i broke it actually) but 400 or so calories came from a Soda I really wanted to try and I got slightly carried away by having like 3 Cans.
Day 3 was the worst, low energy, but I’m chalking it up to not getting a full nights sleep. Day 3 was mentally funny because my brain was acting like an a$$, “eat it, it’s all good, just a bite”. I still cook for my wife so it was a huge mental struggle. Day 4 came and I’m running around like a weasel on m3th
I have Hypoglycemic so before i wanted to try 3 days water fast, i did intermitten fasting from 12 hours to 6 hours eating window but then i got my period twice in a month and this happened for three consecutive months. So, i stopped intermitten fasting and i didn’t do water fast for 3 days then my period got back to normal. May you help me to explain about this? because i tried to find the reason why it happened to me but i didn’t find ‘why’ and what should i do if i wanna try it again. Before that i’d like to say thank you for your great explaination, very helpful ^^
On day three. I need ti stress how much emotional hunger is a strong sensation!!! Like damn i know im not hungry in the refueling sense, but i am ceaving all kinds of food 😢i can smell food and fantasize people eating😂 anyways i think that is due to gut parasites and worms sending signals to crave crabs and sugar ( not sure this sceifietically proven )
I used to fast all the time and was very good at it. Last summer I developed leptin resistance and blew up my weight. I don’t know how much because I will not weigh myself. The fasting and keto diet is what blew it up and it was caused by my poor sleep. I am now very sick. I am working with a practitioner to get my minerals back on track. I just keep gaining belly fat. I now have to eat many times per day and eat a lot of carbs. I would like to see a article by one of these fasting advocates regarding leptin resistance because none of the protocols for leptin resistance are working. I went on low-dose naltrexone and that is not working. Please make a article on fasting nd leptin resistance.
I just had 1 TBS of phylum husk and bentonite clay on hour 67 of my fast to clean my bowels. (Basically following John rose’s suggestions only not juicing.) Do you think this just stopped the autophagy? I am thinking of going 4-5 days to get max benefits of autophagy. I want to stop the fast once autophagy starts slowing down. For anyone reading this please let me know if you think im still in autophagy! I still feel that I’m in ketosjs. My stomach hurts a little
Sorry, but MCT oil coming out of a fast is a waste of money. In my opinion, MCTs only have a place in fasting at the beginning to ease a switch from glucose to ketones for energy. Ideally, a person would eat a very low/zero carb diet a few days before fasting so they can split the stress of switching body energy sources and the stress of not eating (mix of physical and mental.) During this very low/zero carb diet, one tablespoon of an unrefined coconut oil will provide MCTs for brain energy. Unrefined coconut oil is a superior choice for getting MCTs in your diet because it is cheaper and shelf stable. MCT oil is basically a specialty product that typically needs to be refrigerated and has a limited lifespan. Additional information for readers: Your body can use glucose, fat, or ketones for energy. However, your brain has additional protections since it is the most important part of your body: the BBB (blood-brain barrier.) The BBB limits the size of what can pass from the blood to the brain in order to protect the brain. While glucose and ketones are small enough to pass the BBB, most fatty acids are too big. This causes a problem where your brain isn’t getting energy when your body is switching from glucose to ketones. MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) consist of 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-chain fatty acids. The 6- and 8-chain fatty acids are small enough to pass the BBB. So MCTs can be a bridge to provide energy to your brain while your body is switching from glucose to ketones. As your body becomes better and better with switching energy sources, you won’t need as many days to switch over.
How do you all do it? I know about salt and even have a proper fasting electrolyte supplement designed for it, But when I try to do 3 day fast I get severe headache/migraine and end up breaking the fast. Only manages to do one successful 3 day fast, But current attempts I fail now. What tips can anyone give? Is there something I should do in advance to prepare for fast or am I still not adding enough salt/minerals?
Just done 5 days 17 hours. Felt like needed to break out of boredom. Black tarry diarrhea past day or so. Broke fast with couple pieces bread and butter. Tin of chicken stock. Banana muffin and now couple of yoghurts. Lost 5 kg+. Worked out during fast. First two days worst. Days 3 and 4 okay. Made my mind you to crack 5 days. Wasn’t hungry and could have continued but felt bored not eating
finally something healthy for me to binge 😉 your articles! lol i’ve been practicing forms of prolonged fasting and intermittent fasting for just over a year now, but i REALLY need to get my head back in the game. 70 more lbs to go for me til my ideal weight (20 down in the year i’ve been going). i’ve mostly been doing 24s and 48s, longest i’ve gone is 6.5 days! wanting to master 7 days. articles like these keep me motivated and focused!!
One thing that comes in mind is that people mind also change their behavior/approach to food/eating after the study. I mean, for me for example, fasting showed me that cravings might come not from physiological needs (i.e. I need energy) but from psychological “needs” – i.e. eating will help me avoid some emotions I do not want to feel. So, after fasting, I chnaged my relationship with food and started choosing a bit different food etc. So, the question is if the people changed their habits/approach to food after the fasting.
Good article. It appears, from your articles on fasting and insulin and my own experience ( int-fasting, and 3 and 5 day ) the key takeaway may very well be, resetting or calibrating insulin-resistance greatly enhancing benefits of healthier diet going forward. Lots of good avenues for further research and myth-busting ; addressing goals, ie, fat loss, vs weight (muscle ) gain and body chemical upkeep/balances. and there is no secret to overcome genetic disposition… it’s harder for some, impossible for some, and easy for some.
Fabulous article and longer term insights. I only do shorter fasts up to 48 hrs end of wk on top of time restricted feeding each day and eat healthy whole foods – mainly Flexitarian/Mediterranean (not Keto which will cause large leaps in lipids on fasting). I do however take fish oil tablets and a few other supplements to lower triglycericides and LDL/VLDL each meal (as well as BSL) despite that my lipid/BSL profile are normal, before I start a fast. Many people on intermittent fasting long term have improved lipid profiles but I believe it really depends on your diet and your original levels. ie I think your 2 hypotheses are both correct. LDL transports cholesterol from liver to peripheral tissues including the adrenal glands and gonads for both hormone synthesis and cell membrane repair and it is known that cortisol does increase somewhat in fasting. Triglycerides are mobilized and used for fuel after conversion to ketones to spare what little glucose is left for brain use so they should be elevated during your fast. They however will also be elevated if you keep eating lots of fats during refeeding or if you eat too many carbs without also increasing your fiber intake. The other thing is exercise. If you aren’t burning them off, you are storing them.
“I have been practicing fasting for five years now, and despite having a BMI of 19, my cholesterol levels have remained high for the past three years. Recently, I have noticed signs of poor circulation in my extremities, and my blood pressure tends to be on the low side. I am feeling somewhat apprehensive about the potential long-term effects on my blood vessels.”
One point of reasoning about the increase of Triglycerides following the fast might be because the body is more fat adapted than pre-fast. The body is likely tapping into the fat stores at a higher rate in spite of returning to burning carbs as well. Thus, increase fat metabolism would suggest an increase in Triglycerides in the blood in such a state. Speculating of course.
Thank you for the article but I am so confused. I do a 48 hour fast once a week for almost 2 years and I also do keto for the next 2.5 days immediately following my fast (have been doing that for the last 7 months). My triglycerides plummetted since when I first started doing the fast and continues to be very low now. My LDL was high before I started the fast and spiked up since the fast and recently improved by 20% but still more elevated than my doctor is comfortable with. I continue to resist taking the statins per doctor’s recommendation. My bp was 130/80 before fasting and now like 110/80. But I did lose a bunch of weight I’m sure helped with the bp. Was 165 lbs and now between 143 lbs to 150 lbs. Anyway super confused about elevated triglyceride from your article in light of my results.
Raised cholesterol is the body’s reaction to stress. Cholesterol being used to build glucocorticoids like adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol causes insulin resistance. It makes sense from a survival standpoint. The body says, “I better become insulin resistant so I can store any shave I encounter as fat”. Metabolism is thereafter lowered and excess energy is saved in the form of fat via insulin resistance.
I have a potential explanation. I watched a article about cholesterol- wish I could tell you the name or anything- wherein it explained that all cholesterol was actually the same and whether it was good or bad had to do with how it is directed. That’s the very simplistic explanation from a non-doctor me, so be patient. They said something about triglycerides raising after a fast because the body is doing much more repair work than it had been doing before the fast. That’s all I have for you to work with.
The liver doesn’t produce cholesterol particles to transport fat. It produces lipoproteins which transport fat, cholesterol, liposoluble vitamins, etc. It is important to make that distinction. LDL and HDL are not cholesterol. They are vessels for various substances, including cholesterol. Having said that, I don’t really care about cholesterol or lipoprotein numbers. I don’t believe they are at all causal in heart disease.
I’m starting day 5 of a 5 day fast, I’ve lost 11 pounds, or 4.68% of my total body weight. I started at 235 pounds, I’m sure that’s above normal. Last year’s 5 day fast I lost 10 pounds. What was interesting was I did my first 5 day fast last year, and it broke my food discipline I had formed dieting the previous year. I really struggled to get back to eating specific things at specific times
2:18 2:36 :How do you come to the quick conclusion that they lost subtantial FAT withing 5 days of fasting, rather than primarily muscle mass? Doesn’t muscle mass tend to go before fat? Isn’t “loss of weight => loss of body fat” precisely a common mistake? How is “weight” even a relevant indicator for anything but largely overweight people? (which as you point out is not even the case in this study) What did these people do in the lab for 5 days? Did they train or just zone in hypoglycemia limbo? In which case, what was the effect on training?
the increase in TG could be that the body got used to utilizing more fats even when glucose is available. When i started cardio fasted i was very week at first but after weeks of training i was much better, and even after a good period of not fasting i felti kept these gainz for a long time. I also remember to start getting irritable when hungry and trembeling and after a few mornings of fasting it went away forever even if i eat normaly, as long as i fast occasionally.
Weight creeping back after fasting is not an issue. I hope nobody believes fasting is a magic trick to get you slim — you still have to put in effort to keep your gains after you have achieved them. Thinking you can fast once for 5 days and be slim forever is like thinking you can run daily for a month and be healthy for life. Not monitoring body composition is really poor study design here. You want to understand how much of that weight loss was fat and how much was muscle / everything else. I think the most important results of a 5 day water fast is not weight loss itself — a lot of it is usually regained soon. The most important results are overall health improvements, especially reduced insulin resistance as well as mental improvements — it trains your willpower and gives you sense of accomplishment. Personally, I have been running throughout my week long fast. On my second day my performance dropped severely, but about day 4-5 it started going back up. After couple of days of refeeding my performance and especially endurance jumped much higher than before I started the fast — my suspicion being improved ability to burn fat improving my running at my slow speeds.
Hm … just thinking: One part of the weight loss from water fasting is the lack of glycogene and the water it holds in the body; the second – and likewise fast effect – is the loss of gut contents; both can in my experience sum up to 3-4 kilograms. That will be restored with a normal diet within a few days.
In my experience, fiber is the best way to reduce cholesterol numbers. When I was on a strict keto diet, my cholesterol was sky high. ApoB was 186. Switching to a high fiber diet (i.e. lots of legumes), literally cut that number in half. So of course, we aren’t taking in fiber on a multi-day water fast, and cholesterol will increase.
So, Professor, have you done a five day fast? I would be afraid of passing out. A few years ago I lost a dear friend and subsequently lost my appetite for several weeks. I wasn’t fasting, but I definitely was not eating much. I had a blood test during this period and my total cholesterol was shockingly high. Maybe the result of utilizing fatty acids as fuel?
Thank you for this topic. I would like to do this sort of fast to improve metabolic health (and potentially longevity through autophagy) but I don’t have the reserves to do so healthily. This is suppose, is where Prolon saw a gap in the market as a treatment protocol for those with chronic illness or who lack the willpower to comply with a water fast unsupported.
When i was doing 10 days water fast i had high trigl. Slightly high colesterol, after 10 days i had my blood checked had loverd triglicerides and almost dubled cloesterol also had high lvls of uric best explantaion for this was given by Buchinger wilhelmy doctors in one of theyrs articles about long therm fasting should lookt them up if you havent jet thery work is great, ps ty for article always plesure to learn sonething new
For the finding of higher triglycerides after 3 months, did the study subjects have their calorie and macronutrient consumption tracked during this period? The explanation might be behavioral–i.e. after the 5 day fast was over, maybe the deprivation triggered some long-term “poorer” eating habits–(the body thinks periodic famine conditions may be a regular occurrence in the future, therefore, test subjects become more “fat seeking” in their dietary choices)
What is your opinion? I am diagnosed NAFLD, and my enzymes were around 550 after a 48 hour fast (I am/was a heavy drinker until the last few weeks also)… after those results I have cut back alcohol to rarely… and I have been losing weight with keto/occasionally 24-36 hour fasts… is the fasting causing more damage than it is repairing due to the weight loss?
Fasting may not improve things dramatically unless you change your diet—and that includes basal insulin. I had dramatic weight loss fasting, but was only successful in keeping it off when I changed my macronutrients, reducing carbohydrates and processed foods (including seed oils.) PS: Virtually all the standard metrics for health improved, with the exception of LDL, because LDL is BS. My coronary artery calcium scan even went down to “zero.”
have a doubt bro please clarify me I want to loose weight My doubt was I will eat only 4 or 5 days in a week and remaining days are fasting until i reach my target my daily calorie deficit budget was 2300 Does my BMR will help me to loose weight in fasting days ? I mean can I count BMR calories in fasting day ???
0:51 41 people in such a fasting study staying at a lab for 8 days can be considered comprehensive 1:14 baseline, post-fast and post-refeed measurements done, ok good 1:27 one month and third month mark details, ok good 1:54 what kind of a graph is that, how broad can the plotting be, especially when the people are ‘normal’ thus low in weight, the graph needs to be detailed 2:05 almost 7 percent weight loss does not mean anything especially when the subjects are already low in weight, where is the differentiation of fat, muscle, fluid comparison (at least simple impedence measurements), pre and post fasting?
This data point doesn’t make any sense 7:17. We can see the linear return to baseline during the first month, why should it bounce back up? Has to be change in behavior, like the fasting made them change their diet. Also I’m not sure these studies are meaningful, fasting was used for healing, so you’d want to see these kind of effects, a sick person does fasting and see if it helped. But you won’t find these studies.
When we engage in physical activity & or fasting out cholesterol rises as it’s like the trucks bringing materials to the sites that need fuel or repair. Mostly repair. Hence in the begining of a project the cholesterol is higher do to work load or project management in the body. Most professions know this, yet still prescribe high blood pressure meds knowing high cholesterol is normal amaongest Athletes. 🙏🙏🙏 They want you sick so they can practice on you. & if you’re healthy thier goal is to make sure you are Not so you’ll come back & spend more of your energy (money) 🙏🙏🙏
This is NOT safe, dont do if because of Hyponatremia and its increased chance of heppening if youre relying on just water. Theres many caveats to how you would fast under Water only, and these factors most people would not even look up. So this us also why I wouldnt recommend it. To add to that this is no sustainable, its short term and if you cant keep to it whats the point?