Can you drink water while fasting? It is recommended to drink water while doing any type of unique intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is when you abstain from eating for certain periods of time. And that period can be 12 to 16 hours a day or 24 hours at once, twice or three times a week.
When you do any type of fasting it results in lower blood sugar and insulin levels. While eating solid foods increases your blood sugar levels and stimulates the secretion of insulin. Drinking water does not affect your blood or insulin levels and you can safely drink it during intermittent fasting.
Can you drink water while fasting? Photo credit: iStock-globalmoments
One of the negative things about drying fasting which means no water while you are fasting is the potential of extreme dehydration. Here are some friendly drinks if you don’t want to drink water when you are not fasting:
- Lemon water
- Flavored water
- Sparkling water
- Unsweetened tea
- Black coffee
Here are some drinks to avoid while fasting:
- Alcohol
- Milk
- Smoothies
- Sports Drinks
- Energy Drinks
- Coffee with milk, cream, or sugar
Some of the dangers of water fasting are dizziness, nausea, headaches, low blood pressure, low energy, and productivity. 20 to 30% of your water comes from food. So, if you do regular fasting and water fasting at the same time the lack of hydration which will happen could cause an extreme dehydration issue to your body.
People who have the following medical conditions should not water fast.
- Gout- Water fasting can potentially increase gout attacks.
- Eating disorders. There are studies that have shown that fasting can encourage and heighten eating disorders.
Can you lose weight while fasting? Yes you can lose weight while fasting but once you start eating regular food any water weight you lose will come back.
Some of the reasons people water fast are:
- To lose weight
- Religious reasons
- Getting ready for a medical procedure
If you move forward with water fast, it shouldn’t last longer than 24 to 48 hours. Any water fast longer than that should be under medical supervision. Several research studies have linked water fasting with improving your health such as lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
The Bottom Line is drinking water while your fasting is not a bad thing to do. In fact if you don’t drink water while you are fasting it can cause extreme dehydration. 20 to 30% of your daily water intake comes from eating regular whole foods.
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