12 replies to this topic

[orangish]

Another personal inquiry again :/.

Water fasting seems very trendy, but I am unsure what are valid claims about its unsafety. In particular, would water fasting be unsafe if one had a former period of unexplained weight loss that resulted in some shutdown systems (can't recall off the top of my head the exact dysfunctions) (how resilient is the body?)

Another contraindication I'm wondering about is in cases of insulin resistance. Would this kind of diet not be ammenable?

Ideally, I'd like to plan a 3 day water fast for this weekend, or something equivalent to get my body to do some detoxing.
-o

[ajnast4r]

water fasting doesnt supply the body with the necessary nutrients & cofactors for its detoxification pathways... so i would venture to say water fasting is NEVER safe

[health_nutty]

Let me turn the question around a bit. Do you have any solid evidence that a water fast is an effective detox therapy? What "toxins" are you targeting?

Edited by health_nutty, 09 January 2008 - 01:45 AM.

[niner]

Another personal inquiry again :/.

Water fasting seems very trendy, but I am unsure what are valid claims about its unsafety. In particular, would water fasting be unsafe if one had a former period of unexplained weight loss that resulted in some shutdown systems (can't recall off the top of my head the exact dysfunctions) (how resilient is the body?)

Another contraindication I'm wondering about is in cases of insulin resistance. Would this kind of diet not be ammenable?

Ideally, I'd like to plan a 3 day water fast for this weekend, or something equivalent to get my body to do some detoxing.
-o

I'd like to hear a bit more about the unexplained weight loss that resulted in some shut down systems. That sounds like a potentially serious issue. Was there ultimately a diagnosis? Which systems were shut down? For healthy people with normal metabolism, I think that short water fasts are no problem. Three days is longer than I would do though. I'd be looking at a day or day and a half. Finally, as health_nutty asked, what "toxins" are you concerned about?

[krillin]

Ideally, I'd like to plan a 3 day water fast for this weekend, or something equivalent to get my body to do some detoxing.
-o

Here's something that might be fun. Detox Foot Pads

In a couple of months I think I'll be giving them a try, just to see if I can turn them as nasty as the ones I've seen in pictures. I'm not endorsing the product or its underlying theory. This is more along the lines of (Warning! These links have porn in them too.) this guy trying colonic irrigation or Ernie himself trying a colon cleanse.

[lucid]

Ideally, I'd like to plan a 3 day water fast for this weekend, or something equivalent to get my body to do some detoxing.
-o

Here's something that might be fun. Detox Foot Pads

In a couple of months I think I'll be giving them a try, just to see if I can turn them as nasty as the ones I've seen in pictures. I'm not endorsing the product or its underlying theory. This is more along the lines of (Warning! These links have porn in them too.) this guy trying colonic irrigation or Ernie himself trying a colon cleanse.

The detox foot pads are bamboo shoots that absorb sweat. That hardly sounds like detoxification to me.

[krillin]

The detox foot pads are bamboo shoots that absorb sweat. That hardly sounds like detoxification to me.

Great... Now you've gone and ruined the placebo effect for me. I did some looking and the nasty color comes from sweat combining with the dried wood vinegar.

[Shepard]

I did some looking and the nasty color comes from sweat combining with the dried wood vinegar.

Sweating makes you release the toxins, yo.

[dehbleh]

When is water fasting not safe?

When you have had so much water you have cleared out the majority of your body's electrolytes. I managed to do this whilst practising extreme CR with days of IF inbetween.
Trust me, heart palpitations/arrhythmias and inability to concentrate urine are not fun. This combined with complete and utter mental confusion is no way to do a fast, especially with the demands of work.

I think if you're going to do a water fast, at least have a couple of glasses of pure lemon juice mixed with a tiny dab of honey. Also, try to avoid possible diuretics throughout the course of the fast.

Maintaining your body's electrolyte balance is absolutely crucial and can make you go backwards (health-wise) very fast if ignored.

[niner]

When is water fasting not safe?

When you have had so much water you have cleared out the majority of your body's electrolytes. I managed to do this whilst practising extreme CR with days of IF inbetween.
Trust me, heart palpitations/arrhythmias and inability to concentrate urine are not fun. This combined with complete and utter mental confusion is no way to do a fast, especially with the demands of work.

I think if you're going to do a water fast, at least have a couple of glasses of pure lemon juice mixed with a tiny dab of honey. Also, try to avoid possible diuretics throughout the course of the fast.

Maintaining your body's electrolyte balance is absolutely crucial and can make you go backwards (health-wise) very fast if ignored.

Good point, dehbleh. Is there a commercial (non prescription) electrolyte mix that doesn't contain sugar?

[dehbleh]

Good point, dehbleh. Is there a commercial (non prescription) electrolyte mix that doesn't contain sugar?

A little bit of sugar is necessary to maintaining an electrolyte balance, but certainly not to the extent that popular sports go to (such as gatoraid etc..). I haven't found a decent commercial electrolyte mix yet, please let us know if you do find something.

[Athanasios]

When is water fasting not safe?

When you have had so much water you have cleared out the majority of your body's electrolytes. I managed to do this whilst practising extreme CR with days of IF inbetween.
Trust me, heart palpitations/arrhythmias and inability to concentrate urine are not fun. This combined with complete and utter mental confusion is no way to do a fast, especially with the demands of work.

I think if you're going to do a water fast, at least have a couple of glasses of pure lemon juice mixed with a tiny dab of honey. Also, try to avoid possible diuretics throughout the course of the fast.

Maintaining your body's electrolyte balance is absolutely crucial and can make you go backwards (health-wise) very fast if ignored.

In a strict water fast, the need for water is almost non-existent after the first 3 to 4 days and a lot shouldnt be ingested. The intake of sugar or honey would reverse the metabolic changes that people who water fast are looking for which start at 3 to 4 days into the fast.

Edited by cnorwood, 15 January 2008 - 06:31 PM.

[dehbleh]

Good point, dehbleh. Is there a commercial (non prescription) electrolyte mix that doesn't contain sugar?

A little bit of sugar is necessary to maintaining an electrolyte balance, but certainly not to the extent that popular sports go to (such as gatoraid etc..). I haven't found a decent commercial electrolyte mix yet, please let us know if you do find something.