Water fasting has deeply impacted my health, by far, the deepest impact than any other practice. Moving from fatal parasites into a renewed gut, bloating and discomfort in my abdomen to high vitality health, and so much more.
I want to share the insights and wisdom that this practice holds purely because of how much it has brought me into a deep state of regenerative health. In this article is more practical information if you would like to prepare and practice this on your own, with friends, or with a community.
I have written about water fasting previously from a more personal perspective, what brought me into this practice, where I did it, etc., read here: Gut Revival from Parasites: 7 Day Water Fast and Whispers of Water: 9 Day Water Fast.
Gut-brain connection defines our mental health
The concept of the gut as our “second brain” is more than a catchy phrase; it’s rooted in evidence that more information travels from the gut to the brain than the other way around. This communication primarily occurs through the vagus nerve, where about 80-90% of the fibers are dedicated to sending signals from the gut to the brain.
The gut microbiota produces substances like neurotransmitters that influence function and mood. Disturbances in gut bacteria have been linked to depression and anxiety, amplifying the gut’s over-looked impact on our mental health. This robust gut-brain communication is a comrade for feeling good, affecting everything from our mood to cognitive abilities.
Overlooking this aspect of life is often due to the capitalistic nature of the systems we live in that prioritise profit, the need to make-ends-meet, the pressure of paying bills, and food becomes purely functional or on the go. When that actually imprints a cycle of harm
What happens to the body in the fasting process?
Day 1 (24 hours): By the 24-hour mark, the body has typically exhausted its glycogen stores, which are the stored form of glucose found in the liver and muscles. This depletion causes the body to shift towards using fat as its primary energy source. As glycogen levels fall, the body begins to break down stored fat into fatty acids, which are then converted into ketones in the liver. These ketones become an alternative energy source, especially for the brain. Insulin levels decrease significantly, which helps facilitate fat burning and reduces inflammation.
Day 3: By the third day of fasting, the body typically enters a state of ketosis. With glycogen stores depleted, the liver begins to convert fatty acids into ketones, which become the primary energy source, especially for the brain. While autopahgy, a cellular cleaning process, is up-regulated as the body starts to recycle damaged cells and proteins for energy. This process helps maintain cellular health and function.
Day 5: The state of ketosis deepens, with ketone levels in the blood rising. The body becomes more efficient at burning fat for fuel, which can lead to increased mental clarity and energy levels. Autophagy continues to be active, contributing to the removal of dysfunctional components in cells and promoting cellular regeneration.
Day 9: The body is now well-adapted to ketosis, efficiently using ketones for energy. This can lead to enhanced physical endurance and sustained mental focus. The prolonged fasting further enhances protective benefits against age-related diseases and supporting longevity by clearing out damaged cells.
Ketosis and autophagy play crucial roles in energy metabolism and cellular maintenance.
How does a healthy gut microbiome support your life?
A healthy gut microbiome holds the main role in overall balance, relating to major organs in the core such as the liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys, etc – everything is connected. The gut microbiome aids in digestion and nutrient absorption and helps regulate immunity. Mental health is deeply dependent on the gut-brain axis, affecting stress response, and cognitive function. More so, a diverse microbiome can protect against pathogens and reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases and allergies. Maintaining a healthy microbiome involves a consuming food rich in fiber, fermented foods, and probiotics, which supports microorganisms for our gut to flourish.
Bodywork for circulation, rebalancing, drainage
Receiving healing touch and bodywork is extremely supportive during fasting. It will help with lymphatic drainage, which is crucial for clearing toxins and waste. It will help with the potential water retention which is very common during fasting. Your body will highly likely go through some aches and pains, part of clearing toxins is this uncomfortable process, and having someone help you with these circulation issues will be very rebalancing and deeply relaxing.
Receiving support during fasting: Colonics & Community
Some people go on water fast without the support of enema or colonics. In my mere opinion, it is extremely supportive and effective to consider including enema or colonics this as part of your process every 3-4 days.
Enema is a more DIY and gentler approach that you can learn how to do on your own. You can use supplementary herbs such as camomile, aloe vera, or even coffee is often used. It is an affordable and sovereign way to deepen your relationship with your gut, your colon, and in essence, letting go. If you’re only fasting on water, using only water may be wisest to keep tracking within the bio-field of water. The quality of water used is of course, crucial, and where you source your water, how it is filtered, etc.
While, colonics requires access to a colonic machine or a colonic clinic, which can be found depending on your context. Colonics goes deeper into the intestines and it is a longer more intensive process. Some colonic machines even have a camera where you can track if parasites or worms were cleared from your gut – amazing.
Lastly, there are fasting communities around the world where you can practice this within a group. We are wired for relationships and at the heart of it are communal creatures. Even if it doesn’t necessarily involve talking, just going through the same journey together with a small or large group of people can be deeply comforting. An option is also to have a fasting buddy, where you journey together.
Where do you your water fast sets the tone
A nurturing space for reflection and rejuvenation is necessary in complementing the cellular cleansing and renewal occurring within the body, as a deep internal cleaning process will bring up fatigue, buried emotions, unprocessed trauma, and more.
Nature is energy-giving and welcomes deep states of rest. A more natural settings is inherently energy-giving and facilitates deeper states of rest and introspection. The tranquility in nature allows the body-mind to align harmoniously. A nurturing space for reflection and rejuvenation is necessary in complementing the cellular cleansing and renewal occurring within the body, as a deep internal cleaning process will bring up fatigue, buried emotions, unprocessed trauma, and more.
Cities can tend to be energy-draining for this process of rest, this opposes to the restful state fasting seeks to achieve. The hustle and bustle, noise pollution, and constant stimulation in urban settings will disrupt the hyper-sensitivity that fasting invites. If this is your only option, finding pockets of peace and quiet, even within city environments, to support the fasting journey is crucial for the process to be easeful. Smaller fasts would be better for this environment, such as 24 hours or 48 hours.
My own encounter with fasting was at Tirtananda in the Northern tip of Bali in a costal town called Les. It has access to a fasting community, colonic machine, healing bodywork, fasting guidance, and of course most importantly, a holy water spring from the mountains. After I did my first time with them, I went there on my own and I now feel confident to do a more DIY version.
Auto-immune disease support
Fasting has been linked to particular support in the management of chronic ailments. Fasting can improve metabolic health by reducing insulin resistance, and lowering blood pressure, which are helpful for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the long run. Fasting may enhances mental clarity and reduce inflammation, offering relief for conditions like arthritis and neurodegenerative disorders.
As I write now, I have a friend confronting chronic cancer that’s going through her 21 day water fast. She knows that a deep re-set will be one of the way this method can be potential helpful long-term. Such an intense fast will require deep will power, immense support, and the loving embrace of the natural world.
Re-feeding is almost more important than fasting
Re-feeding requires absolute care and loving attention following a fast. Re-feeding intends to gradually reintroduce nutrients and regular eating patterns to the body, which make take some time. After fasting, the digestive system is hyper-sensitive, and depending on how long you fast, it will need time to re-learn how to digest various forms of foods and flavours. Your gut microbiome is basically renewed, and you are almost like a baby, needing to eat gradually so that the microbiome and re-build itself.
Improper re-feeding can lead to intense digestive distress. I have encountered many people on an intense fast, sometimes a dry fast, and when the re-feeding comes, they eat 3 meals in one go because they perceive themselves to be ravenous. One way to counter this is to create an intentional container, set and setting. For example, to break your fast over dinner by the fire with one bowl of broth soup, and to really slowly enjoy it. If one consumes slowly, you will feel the fullness of that one bowl.
A careful re-feeding process typically begins with small portions of easily digestible foods like broths, smoothies, fruits, and steamed vegetables before transitioning to more complex meals. Bone broths are excellent in re-building the gut lining, and I highly highly recommend this for the first week, along side introducing other foods. This gradual approach helps restore metabolic balance and ensures the body efficiently absorbs nutrients, maximising the benefits of the fasting period.
Personally, I highly recommend quality bone broth to repair your gut lining as a way to break your fast, and to maintain having broths, almost daily or every other day. This was crucial in providing my gut microbiome with the right flora and fauna needed for a healthy digestive track to follow.
Quality of water
Going straight to the source is best. Finding a spring source within your context, or even travelling to one where you can live near it for this fasting period is so beneficial. Although, most of us living amidst modernity are some-how bizarrely more trusting of machines than the actually technology of the earth, such as the filtering of deep minerals, filtration of specific plants and internal water ways – that eventually bring the spring water to the surface is the oldest most ancient way of pure water. Some water ways are contaminated, especially those close to the pollution of cities, which would require machine filtration. However, finding the right source for your water fast will completely change your experience and it will dictate the quality of your cleanse.
History of fasting is found in every spiritual tradition
Fasting is a universal tool for seeking transcendence, devotion, and connecting with the divine.
Fasting is a time honoured practice embedded in the spiritual fabric of many world religions and indigenous cultures. It serves as a means of purification, a test of self-discipline, and a method for deepening spiritual insight. In Christianity, fasting is observed during Lent as a form of penance and reflection. Islam practices fasting during Ramadan to cultivate self-restraint and empathy. Buddhism and Hinduism use fasting for meditation and spiritual growth, emphasizing detachment from physical desires. Judaism incorporates fasting on Yom Kippur for atonement and repentance.
Across traditions, fasting is a universal tool for seeking transcendence, devotion, and connecting with the divine.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or health regimen.
