Water Fasting

The concept of intermittent fasting has evolved tremendously with time. There are so many types of fasting and fasting methods that have become very popular. After you have decided to fast for increased weight loss, better immunity, and a healthy body, you must make a smart choice to make sure that the type of fast you are observing is good for your body. Water fast has become one of the prevalent choices among fasters around the world.

What is Water Fasting?

Just like the name suggests, water fasting means you are only allowed to drink water during the fasting period. This type of intermittent fasting usually goes on consecutively for the recommended 24 hours to 72 hours. Many people often choose to space out their fasts for a period of 30 days or more.

People choose to water fast for several reasons. They can be either medical or religious ones. From the medical viewpoint, water fast helps in cleansing the body systems, resetting the immune system, and losing weight by burning fat rapidly. Some of the benefits of water fasting are:

Decrease the risk of getting chronic diseases

According to a study by Science Translational Medicine, water fast can inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in the body. The study was conducted on animals, and it was assumed that such a phenomenon would happen in humans as well. Similarly, research published by Harvard Medicine concluded that the water fasts decreases triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which is helpful in preventing heart diseases, stroke, and other severe conditions.

Regulates Blood Pressure

A study conducted by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that 82% of the 70 participants who had high blood pressure were able to get it under the normal range after water fasting for two weeks. Other researches have also validated this claim.

Boost Immunity

The enhanced immune system is one of the primary benefits of any type of fasting. Cell Stem Cell’s study proves that water fasting helps in achieving autophagy quickly and producing healthy white blood cells, which are essential in fighting foreign invaders in your body.

Weight Loss

It is perhaps the most appealing aspect of fasting as the majority of the people wish to have a trimmed down and fit body. As water has no calories, so water fast is extremely useful in losing weight quickly and without damaging your muscles adversely.

How to observe a Water Fast?

The first step to successful water fast is determining an appropriate duration and time of the fast, you should schedule free days, like a weekend, for this purpose to make sure you do not have to break your fast. The recommended duration of a water fast is 24 hours to 72 hours, but you should decide the length according to your own stamina and body. Make sure you are not exhausting yourself too much because it causes harmful effects in your body.

During water fasting, you must keep drinking lots of water steadily throughout the day. It will keep you active, energetic, and give a fullness feeling which will minimize the hunger pangs. Ultimately, you will get used to the routine and even enjoy water fasting while reaping its benefits.