Fasting is a method that many people practice to gain health and weight loss benefits in a quick and efficient manner. While fasting comes with its set of benefits, it is definitely not for everyone. Water fasting is a type of fasting that involves only consuming water, usually lasting between 24 to 72 hours. People practice water fasting for various reasons—religious, spiritual, or health (such as weight loss, detoxification, or disease prevention).
However, water fasting can be dangerous for some, especially those who have no experience with fasting for long periods or those who have a very active lifestyle. If you start experiencing signs of exhaustion, discomfort, irritability, or illness, your body is signalling you to stop water fasting. Ignoring these symptoms and continuing on with the fast can lead to serious health problems.
If you are considering water fasting, it is important that you first understand the risks and signs of stopping water fasting so you can ensure your health and safety.
In this blog, we will look at the signs to stop water fasting, along with a brief overview of who should avoid fasting altogether.
Table of Contents
- How Do I Know When To Stop A Water Fast?
- Signs to Stop Fasting Immediately: When To Break A Fast?
- Who should avoid water fasting?
- Dietitian’s Recommendation
- The Final Say
- FAQs
- References
How Do I Know When To Stop A Water Fast?
Water fasting is not without risks and side effects. If you’ve been water fasting for a while now, then look for the following signs to know that you should not continue fasting or reduce the intensity of your fast:
- Loss of muscle mass is caused by the body's decomposition of muscle tissue for protein and energy. This can reduce your metabolic speed, and in the long run, it makes it more difficult to maintain or lose weight.
- Constant hunger, desire for food, irritability, mood swings and boredom. Water fasting is supposed to be a beneficial process, and if you experience these signs, then water fasting could be having the opposite effect on you, which could worsen your mental and emotional well-being.
- If you notice consistent low energy, reduced physical performance and impaired cognitive function even when you’re not fasting, then water fasting could be detrimental to your lifestyle, daily activities, work or school.
- You may get nutritional deficiencies or malnutrition, which is more likely if you fast for more than 72 hours or do it often. You may be missing out on the basic recommended value of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that your body needs for optimal health.
- Triggering or deterioration of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Water fasting can become a self-harm or extension cycle, which may have serious consequences for your physical and mental health.
- Ketoacidosis (a rare but serious condition) can occur from prolonged ketosis due to starvation or insufficient glucose. If ketoacidosis occurs during fasting, you would need immediate medical treatment with fluids, electrolytes, insulin, and glucose. Otherwise, it may lead to excessive acidity in the body and can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, and even coma. It can also result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and organ damage.
So, here are the signs to stop water fasting in the long run, but in the next section, we will look at signs to stop water fasting immediately and break your fast!
Also Read: Does Fasting Help In Weight Loss? Know The Weight Loss Fasting Tips And Types
Signs to Stop Fasting Immediately: When To Break A Fast?
If you’re on a water fast and notice any of the following symptoms, you should stop immediately and break your fast:
Low-risk symptoms:
- Anxiety, anger and irritability
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth and bad breath
- Unpleasant body odour
Moderate-risk symptoms:
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Headaches
- Nausea, vomiting and acid reflux
- A burning feeling in your stomach
- Diarrhoea and indigestion
- Excessive urination
- Menstrual irregularities
High-risk symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness
- Chest pain or stomach pain
- Difficulty in concentration, confusion and disorientation
- Severe nausea with the inability to keep the fluids down
If you experience any of these symptoms, especially the high-risk and moderate-risk symptoms, you should immediately stop water fasting.
Also Read: 10 Dietitian-Recommended Tips For Intermittent Fasting For Beginners
Who Should Avoid Water Fasting?
Water fasting is not recommended for people who have certain health conditions or take medicines that require adequate food intake. Here’s a list of all those who should avoid water fasting to avoid any health complications:
- Those under 18 years of age and older than 75 years; they may have different nutritional needs and higher risks of complications.
- Underweight individuals or those who have an eating disorder. Water fasting can worsen their nutritional condition and psychological condition.
- Women trying to conceive because water fasting can affect fertility and hormonal balance.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women. Water fasting can take away the basic nutrition and calories that a mother needs to provide her child. Water fasting can affect both the baby's and the mother’s health and development.
- Individuals who have an infection or who have a compromised immune system. Water fasting can disrupt the immune response and increase the risk of complications.
- Those preparing or recovering from surgery or medical procedures. A water fast can disrupt the body’s natural healing process and reduce the effects of medicines.
- Diabetics or those using insulin or other drugs to reduce blood sugar. Water fasting can cause hypoglycaemia, a dangerous drop in blood sugar, which could complicate their condition.
- People diagnosed with a heart disease or those who use blood pressure or heart medications. Water fasting can cause an electrolyte imbalance in the body, which can affect the heart rhythm and even blood pressure.
- Patients with kidney disease or those taking diuretics or other kidney medicine. Water fasting can cause dehydration that may worsen kidney function and increase the risk of kidney stones and complications.
- Living with gout or taking medication for the same. Water fasting may increase uric acid levels, which can cause gout attacks.
Also Read: What Is Yo-Yo Dieting? Know About Diet Plans, Side Effects, And Tips To Break The Cycle!
Dietitian’s Recommendation
Water fasting is not suitable for everyone and should be carried out carefully. I suggest adequately preparing your body for the fast before you try out water fasting. When you choose a time for the fast, make sure you won’t be doing anything strenuous, and your body will be relaxed.
Drink enough water during the fast, watch dehydration signs and break the fast if you notice any signs mentioned in this blog above. You should also avoid any use of medicinal drugs or supplements.
Dt. Lavina Chauhan
The Final Say
Water fasting is a type of fasting when a person only consumes water for a set period and abstains from any and all other foods and fluids. It may have several health benefits, such as cellular growth stimulation, cell regeneration and restoration, lowering blood sugar and insulin levels, reducing stress, blood pressure, and oxidative stress, and supporting weight loss.
However, water fasting can also come with potential risks and side effects such as loss of muscle mass, experience of hunger and mood changes, low energy and decline in cognitive function, development of nutritional deficiencies, etc. If you experience these signs, then you should stop water fasting. Some signs to stop and break a water fast immediately are dizziness, blurred vision, chest or stomach pain, disorientation, etc.
FAQs
1. What are signs you should break a fast?
If you experience any symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, diarrhoea/constipation or abdominal pain, you should immediately stop fasting.
2. Can water fasting cause health problems?
Yes, fasting can cause health problems like dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, dizziness, and ketoacidosis if not done properly.
3. Is it safe to do water fasting for 3 days?
Water fasting for 3 days can be safe for healthy individuals, but it should be done with caution and under medical supervision to avoid potential risks like dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or nutrient deficiencies.
References
- https://www.drberg.com/blog/signs-to-stop-water-fasting
- https://myacare.com/blog/understanding-water-fasting-benefits-safety-how-to-go-about-it#:~:text=Signs%20to%20stop%20water%20fasting,cramps%20are%20also%20warning%20signs.
- https://jindalnaturecure.in/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-go-on-a-7-day-water-only-fast/#:~:text=Electrolyte%20imbalance:%20Prolonged%20fasting%20may,supplementing%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Dr%20Babina.
- https://zoe.com/learn/water-fasting
- https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/symptoms-that-indicate-you-need-to-stop-fasting/
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/will-water-fasting-result-weight-loss-what-know/
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