Put short, dry fasting is a form of fasting that eliminates liquids from the diet for periods of time. This type of dieting has become increasingly popular over the last few years. If you are interested in trying it out, then read this article to find out what you need to know.
Before jumping into anything head first, you should always do your research. Luckily, that’s what we’re here for. Let’s take a look at dry fasting and what it means.
What Is Dry Fasting?
Dry fasting is a form of fasting that not only eliminates solid foods for chosen periods but also liquids. This includes anything from smoothies and coffees to regular water.
This kind of fasting can be done alongside other kidneys of fasting, For example. Intermittent fasting, periodic fasting, alternate day fasting, or eat-stop-eat fasting.
There are two types of dry fasting:
- Soft dry fasting – you can use water to shower, wash your face, and brush your teeth
- Hard dry fasting – you cannot come into contact with water at all
How It Works
When the body does not get the water it needs, it will start to burn fat in order to generate the needed energy.
The lack of water in the body will begin to place a lot of stress on the body, causing it to use any and all other energy sources that are available. This is done to ensure the organs and the whole internal system keep running.
It is also thought that dry fasting can help improve the immune system. This is done by damaged cells being removed and the body generating new ones to replace them.
Dry fasting is typically done for various increments and schedules. There are three primary schedules that you can follow when following this diet:
- Daytime-restricted fast – you can eat as you usually would, but only within a specific window of the day. For example, you can eat regular meals between 10 am and 6 pm, but cannot eat or drink before or after that time.
- 5:2 fasting – you can eat as you typically would for five days a week, and fast for the other two. Days for this option can vary depending on your preferences and lifestyle.
- Alternate-day fasting – you can eat normally on day one, then fast the next, and continue the cycle. On the fasting day, you would aim to only have a small meal or under 500 calories.
Is It Safe?
Dry fasting is not without risks. Some doctors deem it to be a healthy practice if done correctly, but this won’t be the case for everyone. Everyone’s bodies are different, and you may react differently to something.
There are a number of common side effects that are associated with dry fasting:
- Hunger
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Inability or difficulty sleeping
- Dehydration (thirst; dry eyes, lips, and mouth; dizziness; dark urine with a strong odor; urinating less frequently)
There are also a number of more serious risks that some people may experience due to extreme dry fasting:
- Severe dehydration
- Seizures
- Brain swelling
- Heat injury
- Kidney failure
- Low blood volume shock
- Comas
- Death
It should be noted that these are simple extreme cases and are unlikely to happen if you are dry fasting safely. However, it would be irresponsible to talk about dry fasting and not mention the potential risks to your health.
Dry fasting should never be done in such a strict way that it would impact your health negatively. Unfortunately, there are always people who take it too far and put themselves at risk. The risks mentioned above are primarily linked to the body not getting enough water in the system.
The Benefits Of Dry Fasting
This kind of fasting is known to have a number of benefits for people. These benefits are as follows:
- Reducing inflammation – according to a study, those who fasted during Ramadan experienced a positive impact on the inflammation in their bodies as well as several heart disease risk factors.
- Delayed aging* – more research is needed for this potential benefit, but some studies have suggested that dry fasting slows down the aging process. This should not be taken as fact, though.
- Weight loss – the primary reason for dry fasting is weight loss. Everyone who fasts for Ramadan has been found to lose weight.
Is There Anyone Who Should Not Do Dry Fasting?
Anyone who experiences any sort of pre-existing disease or condition should never dry fast. Dry fasting is a very demanding form of fasting that should only ever be undertaken when you work alongside a medical professional. Before starting, get an expert’s opinion to ensure that you aren’t putting yourself in danger.
It is never recommended for people who are either pregnant or breastfeeding to try dry fasting, either. This is because this form of fasting severely impacts the nutrients that your body can get. During these life stages, nutrients are incredibly important.
Something To Remember
No form of weight loss is worth risking your health and well-being over. Although dry fasting has the potential to slim you down, you should never try to push yourself with it. Even if you feel you are a healthy person, you should always seek a professional’s opinion before starting.
Not only that, but you should ensure that you have no family diseases that may become a problem while dry fasting. You need to do everything you can to ensure your own well-being, even if that means that you cannot try dry fasting.
Conclusion
Dry fasting is a form of dieting that severely restricts water intake as well as food intake. There are different ways of dry fasting, depending on your lifestyle and preferences, but all should be approached with caution.
Anyone who has any diseases or health concerns should not attempt dry fasting. Likewise, anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should not attempt this. If you are trying to get pregnant, then this is not recommended, either.
To start dry fasting, make sure you are healthy and are given the green light by a medical professional before starting.
