Fasting

[Strawberry-Jam]

How long is it safe not to eat or drink anything except for water?

[eatmeat4good]

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I like intermittent fasting...it makes me feel better.

Hope it does you too.

[GlutenDude]

I've done several 24 hour fasts with water only...they get much easier as you do them. And I've done one three day fast, but had the occasional carrot juice. I'm sure you can go longer, but I maxed out at three days.

[GFinDC]

Probably not a good idea to drive or operate machinery after 3 days. Five days is the most I've done, but I wasn't much use for anything at that point either. I think it depends lot on your individual constitution. For some people a day would not work for various reasons.

[Lisa]

What would be a reason to fast?

[cahill]

What would be a reason to fast?

That is also my question.

I have, when ill, fasted for 12 to 16 hours then reintroduced safe foods.Any longer than that the body starts breaking down muscle to burn as fuel. Counterproductive in my opinion.

[love2travel]

Some supplements/medications must be taken with food so it would be unwise for many like me.

[UKGail]

I wouldn't actually advocate it as it is probably harmful for those celiacs whose weight is worryingly low, but I wonder if fasting helps the gut heal by giving it a bit of a rest from food? I say this as someone who had had fasting for 23-36 hours foisted upon them by regular bouts of sickness and D before I was diagnosed, and once due to glutening post diagnosis. I always felt better after not eating anything for a day or so, despite being weak etc. I am fairly new to all this, so am still getting to grips with staying gluten free, but the best I ever felt in recent years was after a stay in hospital (had my appendix removed while on holiday by a well-meaning but misguided doctor). Because I was also on medication for a stomach ulcer they wouldn't let me eat while in hospital, for about 3 or 4 days. Felt much better afterwards (there was nothing wrong with the appendix it turned out), and ravenously hungry. And what was the first thing I ate when I got out? A piece of buttered toast! You have to laugh!

[Strawberry-Jam]

I have done 24 hour fasts before. Good Friday and so forth. During the first week of Lent I have fasted from all food except one plain meal of rice at the end of the day (traditional meal is bread, haha). By the end of the week I am exhausted but I have a good meal of protein and so forth and the life comes back into me.

I was wondering if a very long fast could help kick-start an elimination diet. Or reduce the effects of a glutening, since for me when I get glutened I will have reflux for about four or five days every time I eat or drink, no matter what it is, and it will last for hours and hours.

I am planning on a 24 hour fast this Friday. I will combine it with spiritual discipline but also use it for diet purposes. I will stick to 24 hours for now, though. (I do not take medications other than supplements and am not hypoglycaemic or anything like that.)

[swindlogg]

I would recommend a dry fast (abstaining from water as well)

works for me, stomach begans to heal

and remember, people dry fast all around the world (ramadan), so don't be scared!!

[tarnalberry]

I would recommend a dry fast (abstaining from water as well)

works for me, stomach begans to heal

and remember, people dry fast all around the world (ramadan), so don't be scared!!

ramadan is fasting during daylight hours only, and food may be consumed pre-dawn or post-sunset. so, it's not even a 24 hour fast. and since it's done repeatedly for a long period of time, the body adjusts to when it gets food. Not to mention, there are exceptions to the fast of ramadan (or the degree to which it is taken) depending on the health of the individual.

honestly, I wouldn't suggest dry fasting (dehydration is not good for the body, and you can become dehydrated in less than 12 hours), nor abstaining from food for a very long time. our bodies were designed to withstand fasting when necessary, but it is a distinct stressor on the body, and causes the release of many stress hormones. There are times when you may *need* to do a fast (can't keep food down due to illness), but I wouldn't voluntarily stress the body in that fashion if you don't need it. Eating light, eating easily digested foods, not eating late at night (or after dinner) are all modifications of the idea of fasting that are safer. But part of what works best depends on what your goal is.

What is your goal?

[Strawberry-Jam]

At the moment? My goals are to perform a proper elimination diet and to get over the effects of gluten or casein CC I got hit with recently.

I also need the spiritual cleansing. Helping wean myself from the material pleasures of food so that being unable to eat certain foods does not make me so petulant and depressed.

[Strawberry-Jam]

well, I made it from 8 pm to 8 pm, at any rate, except for morning tea to get me out the door. I wasn't supposed to eat anything on Friday but then I thought, I don't get enough calories in the day for the past few weeks, and I don't want to lose weight or anything. So I had a bowl of rice, olive oil, & salt and then some mixed nuts.

I hate food, but I hate being hungry just a little bit more, I suppose.