Chances are that you have heard or tried Fasting before. Whether that is a Juice Fast, a Full Fast, Raw Fast, a Water Fast or a Dry Fast – there are heaps of choices – and what often comes with having many choices, is often much confusion as to which one would be best suited to you and your specific needs and abilities.
Abilities? Well, not every human being is the same and thus, not every Fasting Diet is working or applicable to everyone the same way. There is no one-for-all solution. If you for instance should have a medical condition, or currently undergo pregnancy, chances are that one Diet is better achievable than the other.
In this article, we’ll talk about Dry Fasting and Water Fasting respectively, and the benefits and drawbacks they each come with. With this knowledge in hand, you should be able to make a qualified decision on which option would suit you better in your current state.
If you should have any questions regarding Fasting in general, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
What is Water Fasting?
Water Fast, also called Wet Fast, is a type of fasting in which the practitioner consumes water only and no food whatsoever.
Fasting allows the body take time to heal from all of the toxins and pollutants in the food and environment.
Scientific research has proven how the brain literally grows and you become more intelligent when you fast. On top of that, recent studies at the University of California Berkeley stated that 3 day water fasts reset your immune system by activating the stem cells and enables you to perform at the optimum level.
Water fasting has been linked with a variety of health benefits in human and animal studies.
Here are a few health benefits of water fasting:
- It may help lower your blood pressure
- It may improve your Insulin and Leptin sensitivity
- It may lower the risk of several chronic diseases
People with risk factors for certain diseases could benefit from short-term fasting.
What is Dry Fasting?
There are two kinds of dry fasts; hard and soft. With a hard dry fast, it isn’t allowed to have any water touch the body, i.e. no washing dishes, no taking baths or showers, no brushing teeth, etc. With a softer dry fast, it is allowed for the body to come in contact with water. When you go on a dry fast, the pours of your skin develop a greater capacity to absorb water through the skin and in a good clean environment it will readily absorb moisture from the air.
There is significantly more research on water fasting and intermittent fasting, thus the research on dry fasting is quite scarce. Many of the believed benefits of dry fasting come from Dr. Filonov’s research and his book. One of the biggest benefits of dry fasting to take away from this appears to be how quickly it works.
Other benefits may include:Other benefits may include:
- Brain protection and increased function
- Improved response to inflammation
- Improved blood fat profiles (e.g., triglyceride levels, HDL, and LDL cholesterol)
- Blood sugar regulation
- Gut health (after the fast, it is important to help reestablish the microbiome)
- Flushing of toxins
NOTE: Dry fasting should NOT be carried out hastily, or if you are a beginner!
| Water Fast | Dry Fast | |
| Food | No | No |
| Water | Yes | No. Don’t let any water come in contact with the body through the skin or mucous membranes. Yes, that’s right; there will be no showers, no swimming, no brushing teeth while dry fasting. |
| Period of time | More than 52 hours | You might be surprised to learn that therapeutic dry fasts last as long as five, seven, nine or even eleven days are not unheard of.The longest period that is known is 18 days! |
| Mechanisms | Water aplenty helps your body flush toxins out at a rapid rate. Additionally, because this is a zero-food fast, you’re not putting any toxins back in while you cleanse. This frees your body to use 100 percent of its metabolic energy in cleansing. Because your digestive system is given a near-complete rest, extra energy will also go to healing functions. | During a dry fast, the body survives on so-called endogenous or metabolic water, produced internally as a result of metabolizing fat tissue. Unlike any exogenous water, this metabolic water is of superb quality, produced by the hard work of our own cells. It literally erases any negative information imprint which the body had before the fast, allowing cells to experience a kind of a rebirth taking in any available water from the air and supplying it to healthy cells. Besides water, the body during a dry fast absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide and nitrogen to manufacture its own amino acids. Since there is no water to flush out the endogenous toxins, these are eliminated by means of a unique mechanism, dormant during less rigorous modes of fasting: Each cell, in effect, becomes the furnace that burns up its own waste. |
| Results | Our digestive system works without any rest, day and night. A water fast will give much needed rest to the entire digestive system to repair and heal itself.The body has a natural mechanism to throw out toxins from the body during the healing process. These toxins are mostly thrown out through the digestive system and right into the intestines. At this time, one gets a thick white coating on the tongue. The coating may remain even after scrapping the tongue. This is a sign that the toxins are being eliminated.A large colon cleansing is advised by the doctors during this time to speed up the removal of toxins, which are accumulated in the large intestine. The health and vitality improves. You’ll feel more energetic after the fast. When you start fasting, the body triggers the pituitary gland to release the HGH (human growth hormone). This hormonal surge causes your body to use more fat for energy, instead of breaking down muscle. Long term fasting is known to alleviate many conditions like eczema and other skin problems, migraine, sinusitis, chronic body aches, asthma, allergies, arthritis, etc. Fasting can reverse the aging process and boost up immunity. It gives a clearer skin and better sleep. It clears the mind and helps you to feel light and energetic. You’ll likely feel a certain increase in energy. For many, there’s a spiritual angle as well, as they realize how little we really need to survive.Fasting is a time for intense cleansing at physical and mental level. | Inflammation cannot exist without water. Microorganisms need water to survive. Dry fasting is a highly effective tool to address acute health issues and degenerative conditions. Such a fast stimulates the immune system, activates the body’s anti-inflammatory mechanisms, purifies the blood and clears the blood vessels, as well as cleanses the GI tract and renews its mucosal lining. Dry fasting also eliminates parasites and promotes regeneration of healthy tissues. And this isn’t even a complete list of benefits. Every cell of the body literally cleans itself. Only the strongest and healthiest of cells survive in such extreme conditions, while cysts and benign tumors dissolve as a result of autolysis, a process by which the body sacrifices its sickest cells for its own survival. |
| Doubts | When there is sudden lack of food intake, you may feel weakness, dizziness, nausea, etc., which is quite normal. There may also be a drop in blood pressure and slight headaches. One need not get frightened with these reactions. You should take rest or lie down and do the colon cleansing to get rid of toxins that causes such symptoms. | Unlike other types/styles of fasting, dry fasting has not been studied to the same extent, so is lacking in supportive evidence of its efficacy to physical health. Some of the symptoms/effects reported include extreme weakness and lethargy, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, and feelings of depletion. |
| Evidence | All known religious faiths in the world have encouraged the practice of fasting. Ancient philosophers like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Pythagoras did with water fasting. Fasting is a time of introspection and emotional cleansing. | This is the type of fast that was practiced by Moses for 40 days, Ezra, the Nation of Israel, the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church’s absolute fast begins Saturday night and ends Sunday morning. In Chinese history are examples of men (masters) living from the pure energy of Chi, and not from the energy of food or water. |
| Recommendations | A three-day or more water fast can be taken up by those who are well versed with the one-day fast. Longer (3-21 day) wet fasts are recommended for its various health benefits. The fasting should be done under the professional supervision. If you have a serious illness, consult your physician first, before you attempt fasting. Those with certain contraindications like tuberculosis and other deficiency diseases should not take up long term fasts. Also pregnant women should avoid long term fasts. | You really should detoxify your body and gain experience of the fasting process before attempting such an extreme fast as dry fasting. |
Now, what is the better choice? Which Fasting Diet is the right one for you? Learning from this article, for beginners it is often advisable to begin with a Water Fast before even attempting a Dry Fast. If you find yourself having physical conditions, illnesses or undergo pregnancy, the best is to consult with your doctor or physician before endeavoring down the route of Fasting.
For more information regarding Fasting and its overall health benefits, please give us a call, make a booking, or simply fill out the form below if you should have a general enquiry!
Contact Us
Santosa Detox & Wellness Center
Phuket, Thailand
+66 (0) 76 330 600
andrea@santosaphuket.com
3 Soi Plak Che2, Patak Road, Karon,
Amphoe Muang, Phuket, Thailand, 83130
Full Fast Program
Full fast is a full cleanse program specially designed to enable maximum results. You will have no food / no juice but only drink water with cleanses drinks and nutrition supplements. Participants of this program will be subjected to the most powerful, yet natural, body detoxification processes. This program is suitable for those who have detoxification experience and are determined to go deeper for cleanse. A thorough pre-cleanse is also important for the full fast.
Juice Fast Program
Juice fast is a cleanse program to nourish and detoxify the body by drinking fresh fruits and vegetable juice. The key is to hydrate and nourish your cells with the correct vitamins, enzymes, minerals
Raw Fast Program
Raw food fast brings together nutritional science and holistic therapies. This program is recommended for guests looking for a
Request for volunteer.
Do u accept internship there?
Thanku
yes, please send your cv to colleen@santosaphuket.com
How many kgs will i loose while I dry fast for 3day because I dry fasted for two days but did not lose any pound?
Hi Aisha,
Individual is very different. Fasting is not only for losing weight, if you want to lose weight, you need to understand more what causes it and find the right solution.
Best Regards,
Colleen
Hi Sab,
Please send you CV to andrea@santosaphuket.com
What is the email address for 2019 please?
Thank you for your Interesting information of the health benefits of fasting. I’m amazed that there is no mention of the fact that millions of people around the world do a 30 day dry fast every year in the islamic month of Ramadan! The dry fast is for both health and spirituality and was prescribed for their who have the ability to do it, over 1300 yrs ago. Just thought I’d add that if you where unaware.
Half day fasts are not NOT fasting any more that sleeping in for longer periods of time. Just thought I would add since you don’t know!
Thanks. This is the best ever comparison between water fast and dry fast.
Can hard dry fasting for 15 hours a day in summers of mean temperature 37 degree Celsius… fasting for 15 days can cause dryness of any of mucous membranes of body? Eg stomach
Hi Abbas,
It depends on many conditions, will be good if you have a consultant who can talk to you in face to understand your current health first.
Best Regards,
Colleen
how often can i dry fast for 36 hours?
It depends on your body condition.
I have done 10 day dry fast before and the results are amazing I need to do one now to get rid of some infectious processes in my body, I plan to do 3 days dry every week for a month and I eat vegan pretty clean, do you think this will work, is just that this time I have to work 12 hours a day and cant really do more than 3 days dry straight away….i would really appreciate your responce, thanks
Hello Colleen,
I did a 10 day water fast with great results about a year ago. I’m considering doing a dry fast. What should I expect?
I have done long Juice fasts of 40 days, and 3 day water fasts, and fast on Vegetable Juice 2 days a week plus have 4 seasonal fasts of 10 to 21 days per year. The rest of time I eat organic raw vegan mostly, 80 percent. The rest is some cooked veges like sweet potatoes or steemed collards (1 min). I regularly run barefoot on the grass 20 min and do yoga. I am 66 and d not take any medicines. I am doing my first dry absolute fast for 36 hours and wondering if I should extend it a bit more. I started with orange juice, then next day water and now absolute dry. Shud I complege 3 days? what will happen to my good bacteria in the gut? will it be depleted as the pathogenic? Many thanks.
In most orthodox monasteries and especialy in those in mount Athos they do 3day dry fast once a year
50 days before Pascha they have a diner alltogether on Sunday night
After they can drink water until midnight
But on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday morning they dont eat or drink nothing
On Wednesday noon they eat a special sweet soup with honey dry fruits and nuts
I am really interested in doing a sustained wet fast for 3-7 days. My fear is that, as a diabetic, my blood sugar levels will drop too low. I used to be hyperglycemic but it flipped around about 6 years ago. When I drop low, I get physically ill (vomiting, nausea, fainting). How can I do the fast without encountering this issue?
Eat one tablespoon of coconut sugar every day before bed. No water.
Are there documented cases where fasting showed improvement in ALS patients.
Which is better for skin health?
While fasting, how do you know if you are actually starving yourself and nearing death? Should you stop fasting if you are having certain symptoms?
hi dear
i want to ask if we wet fast between the supper and the next days lunch, will it be help full or it must be for three consecutive days?
Muslims dry fast during Ramadan for an excess of 15 hours during some years.
Hello
I had been on vegeterian diet for 3-4 months and 1month of raw vegan diet + cooled buckweet prior to my water fast. Also prepared myself by eating from 12:00-18:00 daily for several days before starting.
I am on my 5th day of water fast and considering shifting to a hard dry fast after 5 days or so. Do you have experiance with shifting water fast to dry fast? It sounds logical to me, based on my research but would appretiate a more professional opinion.
I would recommend the opposite. Do 5 days’ dry and when your body has healed give it some water. Drink plenty for 5 more days to have all toxins washed out. After a total of 10 days you can resume your normal diet, but on the first day start with small amount, be gentle on your digestive system!
‘Dry fast has not been studied to the same extent’???
There are thousands of peer reviewed articles studying the effects of Ramadan in Muslim populations, a month of intermittent dry fasting. Far more than I have found on water fasting.
There is no scientific evidence to support any difference between a ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ dry fast other than one leaves you smelling terrible from a mixture of body odor, keto breath and halitosis.
Can I water fast for 7days though I have gastric ulcer
The p roblem is that the dryfast is usually for 12 to14 hours.This is to short to gain autophagy benefits which is a major benefit of dryfasting. Also during the eating window they tend to overeat and eat unhealthy.
I am a 72 yr old female with a history of stroke as well as some unexplained neuropathy symptoms. My prescriptions are only Elloquis and atorvastatin. I need to drop at least 30 lbs to feel good again. My biggest challenge is an addiction to sweets. I have arthritis and muscle inflammation that is out of control. How do I start my fasting routine and with a dry fast can I take my meds?
By an act of a debilitating menopause comprising vanquishing repeated vomiting, I started fasting. Initially the voracious hot flash- induced thirst( by effect on my hypothalamus) i would gulp 3 glasses at a draught and my thirst would not be quenched. As menopause ameliorated, my fasting strategy even eliminated water altogether. This has been going on for ten years( yes, you read it right), continuous, uninterrupted fasting-no food, or water, until around 8:00-9:00pm.
Aside from fending off the suffering of vomiting, I lost weight and edema( induced by menopause), my bloating improved, and I felt greater energy. Most importantly, i rarely had any flu or any infection, and any skin abrasion or burn heals in hardly three days.
Even more, reading about improvement of cyst formation, in rats with polycystic kidney disease-which I have, I kept on with fasting to save myself from dialysis; I am already 65 with no evidence of kidney dysfunction clincal indication.
Dr Hana Fayyad
Maria Jasmine Freeman
Can you dry fast whilst in the midst of a 10 day water fast? I’m 6 days in and wondering if I will boost the benefits by having a water free day?
I greatly appreciated this article. Do you have any additional articles about or comparing dry and water fasting? Any articles, videos, books that you would recommend? Thank you very much!
Hi James,
There’s a book named “7-day detox miracles” we would like to suggest to you.
I am currently in the middle of a 72hour water and herbal tea fast then 48 hours off, then 5-7 day water and herbal tea fast.
I am trying to rid myself of HSV1 and I am close to detoxing it out, my titer level is only 4.09.
Would the water and herbal tea fast be best or would the Dry Fast be better…and for how long?
Thank you in advance for your response.
We think water fast is good for your condition for treating HSV1, 5-7 days should be enough, please be more careful of how to break the fast.
Best Regards,
Colleen
I’m not looking to treat, I am looking to eradicate permanently. I’ve seen some of our members eradicate it and their tests show negative. I am looking to speed up the process and see which is more beneficial, the water/herb tea fast or a dry..?
Hello, I have end stage renal failure, so I do dialysis. I also have systemic lupus. I want to know if I would still benefit from either the water or dry fast for at least 3 days? Would you give me advice on what to try to heal naturally please. I am a young single mother of 3 and I want to heal for my babies. Thank you♥️