Therapeutic Water Fasting

“Those who fast drink the wine of the spirit.” ~Rumi

Water only fasting is arguably the first medicine, dating back at least 50,000 years. Every major religion in the world includes fasting. By stepping out of the way, the body's self healing wisdom can do its work in accordance with the worldwide medical principle “first, do no harm.” In fact, do nothing. By resting the digestive tract, there is a reset of many physiologic functions. The body can shed layers of disease, and fasting is of great value for learning that one's body can heal itself. What is for breakfast? Room temperature water. What is for lunch? Shaken water. What is for dinner? Stirred water. By definition, fasting is the abstinence from all food and drink (except purified water) for an extended period of time in a state of complete rest.

Physical changes that happen during a fast include neuroadaptation to reset the autonomic nervous system. Enzymes and hormones of the body recalibrate themselves, decreasing the need for insulin and thyroid hormones. Fasting increases cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon, norepinephrine and melatonin. Immune function improves immensely, increasing macrophage, monocyte, neutrophil, natural killer cell activity, cell-mediated immunity, immunoglobulin levels and bactericidal activity, while simultaneously decreasing complement factors, antigen-antibody complexes and inflammatory cytokine activity.

This makes fasting a perfect therapy for immune dysfunctions such as allergies and sensitivities to foods and environmental factors, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid and Celiac's disease. It can help essential hypertension, insulin resistance and type II diabetes, IBS and IBD, osteoarthritis, psoriasis and eczema, asthma, uterine fibroids, addictions, mild to moderate depression.

Cautions and contraindications include fear of fasting. Someone who is not educated about fasting or prepared for it should not fast. Pregnant or lactating females and children should not fast. Because of cachexia, people battling cancer should not fast. People with eating disorders shouldn't fast. Individuals with type I diabetes mellitus, various renal pathologies, severe anemia, porphyrias or advanced malnutrition should not fast.

While there are individual variations, average weight loss is 0.5 to 1.0 pounds per day, and basal metabolic rate decreases by 1% per day until it stabilizes at 75% of pre-fasting baseline. In the heart, pulse slows, blood pressure decreases, and ECG changes occur. Potassium slowly declines, and should be monitored. Break the fast if serum potassium drops below 3.2. Ketones should be +4, otherwise a person is getting calorie-rich food somewhere. Urinalysis will show RBCs, WBCs, bilirubin, protein and urobilinogen, while the blood will see decreases in serum protein, lipase, amylase. Blood work will show increases in AST ALT, triglycerides, LDL and uric acid.

How long to fast? “As brief as possible, as long as necessary.” -Dr. Goldhammer.
At a medical fasting center, a person can fast up to 30 days. On one's own, a fast should be kept to 5 days or less. There should be no soap, dishwashing, toothpaste, exercise, enemas or colonics. Water only. Distilled, deionied and reverse osmosis water are recommended. Fizzy water can cure nausea.

Since the basal metabolic rate slows, be ready to feel cold. Have a hot water bottle, blankets and space heater close by. Common complications include:

• Boredom

• Dizziness
• Nausea, vomiting
• Dyspnea (labored breathing)
• Hypothermia
• Bowel impaction
• Dehydration
• Insomnia
• Pain
• Fatigue, weakness
• Palpitations, arrhythmias (check potassium levels)
• Headaches

Refeeding is the most important component of a fast, and needs to last more than half the length of the fast. For example, if you fasted for five days, you will spend three or more days refeeding while resting. During this time, do not eat animal products, legumes, nuts or seeds, since they are difficult to digest. There are seven stages to reintroducing food:

1. Break-fast: best done with steamed zucchini or diluted watermelon juice.
2. Early refeeding: Vegetable and fruit juices.
3. Mid refeeding: Cooked vegetables, and fruit.
4. Late refeeding: This should last as long as you fasted.
5. Transitional period: Avocado is a good thing to have during this time.
6. Rebuilding: This is a good time to reintroduce cooked grains, and test oneself for food reactions.
7. Maintenance. Back to a healthy, nutritious diet. We recommend eating in accordance to the Harvard “Healthy Eating Plate” as you transition into daily eating.
   

You can do this!
If you would like medical supervision, we are here for you. We can monitor your weight, height, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation. We can order your comprehensive metabolic profile (watch your potassium and other electrolyte levels), complete blood count, urinalysis and ECG pre and post fast. Urinalysis can be done daily, and if you are wanting to fast more than one week, a weekly comprehensive metabolic profile can be done.