Waterfasting.org: Articles and Coaching for Water Fasts

Dr. Tallis Barker, D.Phil., holistic consultant

VIDEO FAQ’S

Is water fasting safe?

Many people are convinced that water fasting must be dangerous. Unfortunately, this is mostly based on fear, misinformation, and only a minimal number of actual cases. This video takes a look at all the facts, in order to help you decide whether water fasting might be for you.

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Can I work during a water fast?

This video addresses the potential problems of continuing your job as usual during a water fast, and covers (1) what to expect and (2) what to do about it.

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Should I fast to lose weight?

Many people consider using a water fast to lose weight. Unfortunately this often ends in failure, and sometimes even leads to weight gain afterwards. This video takes a look at the issues you should think about before beginning such a fast.

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Working out and exercise during a fast: is it safe?

A lot of people who exercise or work out in everyday life consider doing the same while water fasting. If you’re thinking about it too, watch this video first – before you damage your body in the process!

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How are water fasts different from juice fasts?

This video takes a look at how water fasts are different from juice fasts, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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Does healing continue after a fast?

This video looks at the way that the healing initiated during a water fast can actually continue long after the fast ends.

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Water fasts versus dry fasts: how are they different in terms of detox, cleansing and healing?

Water fasts and dry fasts work differently on the body, so understanding the reasons why you’re fasting can help you to decide which kind of fast is best for you.

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61 responses to “VIDEO FAQ’S”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Hi Tallis, I’ve been struggling with Achilles tendonitis and heel bursitis for 2 years now. I used to be a very active person and a runner, now I struggle to walk to the kitchen or get out of bed. This is so difficult for me as I have 4 young children. I feel I have everything to help it get better but it just gets worse.

    I’d love to know if you think fasting could help? Doctors think the problem is caused by a haglunds deforming where a small calcified bone spur on my heel is sticking into the Achilles and they say my only option is surgery. The surgery has a very long recovery period and is only effective in about 50% of cases, so I really don’t want to do it. I’ve heard stories of people healing the Achilles with fasting but maybe healing bone spurs is beyond fasting territory. I did a 4 day water fast and felt my inflammation improved a bit by day 3, however my blood glucose then dropped very low so I returned to eating and the inflammation, pain & stiffness immediately returned to my foot.

    Any guidance on if you think a longer water fast could work would be appreciated 🙏

    Sarah

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Sarah,
      Thanks for sharing, and sorry to hear about your Achilles tendonitis. Having suffered from it myself for over a year a decade or so ago, I know how debilitating it can be! Fasting can definitely heal both tendonitis as well as calcification issues. However, for me the main question is to understand what caused the problem in the first place, as this will provide the best information about whether or not fasting can help. Nothing happens by chance. In my case it was a protein-deficient vegan diet which ultimately caused the tendonitis, and therefore diet, not fasting offered the pathway back to health and running. If you need help in understanding your own case better, you can reach me for a consultation via the coaching page here:
      https://waterfasting.org/online-coaching-and-consultations-for-water-fasting/
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  2. Alex Peinado Avatar
    Alex Peinado

    Going to start a 3 day fast today for the first time.. just wondering, how often do you fast?

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Alex,
      Thanks for writing. There’s no simple answer to your question, and lot is going to depend on the reasons that you’re fasting. In time, I’d say the best thing is to be able to listen to your body about when it feels it needs to fast. This means getting past the point where there is no mental/emotional resistance to fasting, and it’s only natural this will take time – probably months if not years. Personally, my body usually leads me towards a 7-14 day fast 1-3 times a year, but that’s just me :-). When I first started fasting many years, mental resistance meant that I fasted maximum once a year at 7-10 days.
      Good luck with your first 3-day fast. May it be the first of many!
      Tallis

      Reply
  3. Cassie Avatar
    Cassie

    Hi! I’ve tried a few shorter water fasts which has lasted between 1-3 days. I want to heal my PCOS, psoriasis and IBS and I think water fasts are great for all those. I want to do an extended fast now, about 3 weeks or so. But my only concern is do I loose hair when embarking on a longer fast like that? I eat a big variety of food, I am vegetarian but I eat fish maybe once a month and I eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, not a lot of processed food but there are some here and there like vegetarian alternatives to meat. So I should not have any big deficiencies from before but I know that having gut issues and hormonal issues can sometimes cause deficiencies. But do you think it’s risky or not so likely? Or do you suggest any supplements to help ease my nerves?
    Hugs, Cassie

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Cassie,
      Thanks for writing. There’s no question that extended fasting is probably the best thing you can do for your PCOS, psoriasis and IBS. With multiple health issues in the background, though, it’s important to be realistic that this could well be a journey involving more than just one fast. There’s only so much healing energy in any one fast :-).
      In terms of hair loss, this relates more than anything to adrenal stress, which can and often does occur during fasting. However, it is largely a temporary issue for most people. Hair loss can occur either during or after an extended fast, depending on the length of the fast and the extent of adrenal stress (which is determined largely by pre-fasting factors). Don’t let this put you off, though, because almost without exception hair ends up growing back thicker than before.
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Cassie Avatar
        Cassie

        Thank you so much for your reply! It’s really super helpful for me. I just have one more question! How often can a person do a water fast? Would it maybe be better to do one 5 day fast per month or a longer one (14-21 days) every second month? How often can the body generally handle water fasting?

        Reply
        1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
          Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

          Hi again Cassie,
          There’s no simple answer here about the frequency of fasting. Suffice it to say that usually the rate-limiting factor isn’t physical but rather psychological, so long as you’re diet is healthy and nutritious.
          Tallis

          Reply
  4. Juanita Avatar
    Juanita

    Hi Dr. Barker,
    Thank you for your water fasting content. I have been in on my fasting journey since March 27th. I embarked on a 7 day waterfast w/ 2 days of juicing afterwards. I then had a week break and decided to continue my water fast, going 8 days, but now transitioning in to a waterfast. I was wondering how low of a BMI is too low with fasting. I am looking for deep healing; my original plan was to do 21 days waterfast, but was stopped due to a high heart rate. Now, with knowledge of my electrolyte needs, I’ll like to continue into a shorter extended waterfast (possibly 14 days- taking it a day at a time), but didn’t want to go into starvation mode. I’m 5’8″ and 141 lbs.
    Thanks in advance for your insight on BMI/weight.

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Juanita,
      Thanks for writing. Today’s body image of ‘normal’ is very different from what it has been historically. With obesity at an all-time high, many people panic at the idea of losing weight to a level which would have been completely average just a couple of generations ago. From a medical point of view, you run no risk of going into ‘starvation mode’ until you reach approximately 100lbs or lower. So purely in physical terms, you could easily manage a 40-day fast – although whether you would ‘want’ to lose that much weight is an entirely different question!
      Also, please be aware that high heart rate can have many possible reasons, and that in most cases it relates to a totally normal reduction in blood pressure, blood-glucose level and release of toxicity. If this is the case, electrolytes are unnecessary and actually interfere with the full cleansing potential of the fast. It’s an important issue which comes up a lot when coaching clients!
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  5. Benoit Anand Avatar
    Benoit Anand

    Hi Tallis,

    I wanted to ask you a quick question regarding the refeeding process of fasting.

    Why is meat not advisable to eat following a fast, particularly a longer one? I know this might sound like a stupid question but I’m just thinking back to our ancestors- maybe they wouldn’t eat for a whole week until they finally managed to kill a gazelle and would then feast on that without having to worry about the digestive issues that would follow.

    I know you advise us to break fasts, especially longer ones, gently and with easily digestible fruits and vegetables but I’m not sure our ancestors would have had such a luxury and I wonder if our biology would account for this too. I would at least assume that meat and fish are much more preferable to gluten and processed sugar when breaking a fast. Maybe if our ancestors had gorged on a stuffed crust pizza after a week of famine, this would be inadvisable!

    Would really love your thoughts and expertise on this as I don’t really understand the process of digestion which takes place.

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Benoit,
      Thanks for your question. You’re absolutely right to bring up the historical perspective. Yes, there certainly would have been times of the year when our ancestors would have broken fasts on meat – and since we’re here to tell the tale, clearly they managed just fine. However, there are two issues that are worth considering:

      1. Compared to vegetables, meats require a lot more digestive energy to break down. So it’s ALWAYS going to be a smoother transition during refeeding by starting with a plant-based diet. In other words, just because you might have the capability to digest meat, this doesn’t mean it’s the best place to start!
      I agree, you don’t want to throw in processed sugar when refeeding!!! However, gluten is fine for people with a healthy gut. When this is the case, grains are still more easily digestible than meats, which require a lot more work from the stomach, liver and pancreas to get the job done.

      2. Until you’ve fasted to the same degree as our ancestors, it’s unlikely that your digestive system will be able bounce back as quickly as theirs. This means that starting with animal-based protein usually puts an unnecessary strain on your digestive system.

      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Benoit Anand Avatar
        Benoit Anand

        Hi Tallis,

        Thank you for your reply. That all makes sense, I’ll bear that in mind when refeeding in the future.

        Another question I had is that people talk a lot about electrolytes and salt intake and that these can get depleted during fasts. I’m not quite sure what electrolytes are exactly so I wondered if there were times when you recommended to clients that they intake something other than pure water, especially in fasts that are longer than 3 days.

        Thanks,
        Benoit

        Reply
        1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
          Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

          Hi Benoit,
          Electrolytes are a big issue – and cause of a lot of anxiety in the fasting world. I’m going to be writing an article which covers the issue in depth. For now let’s just say that it’s very rare actually to NEED electrolytes when fasting. Think about it: humans had been successfully fasting for millions of years before electrolytes became a million-dollar industry…
          All the best,
          Tallis

          Reply
  6. Aniket Varma Avatar
    Aniket Varma

    Hi again. I completed my 22 day water fasting for cfs. I felt no releif in my cfs symptoms. Should i continue my fasting or restart it after 40 days of refeeding. Also could you tell me why did i not heal my cfs in 22 days with water fasting (no electrolytes , complete bed rest).
    Its really discouraging for me to see everyone going about their life and i am here lying in bed.

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Aniket,
      Congratulations on your 22-day fast! Without having worked together through daily coaching, it’s almost impossible for me to answer your question about why your fast didn’t lead to any overt improvement. What I can tell you is that your current fast will certainly contribute to the efficacy of any future fasts.
      One other possibility about the lack of relief concerns the emotional level. Many cases of CFS ultimately originate through extended stress or trauma. If this is true for you, then it’s also important to be open to the fast facilitating both physical as well as emotional release!
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  7. Aniket Varma Avatar
    Aniket Varma

    Hey! I posted couple of comments about cfs/me. Could you tell me if 30 day fasting would be enough to heal cfs/me with full on pem/brainfog.. also did your clients felt relief after 10 days in their fatigue or it took them nearly 21 days?

    Reply
  8. Jilly Lawson Avatar
    Jilly Lawson

    Hi, I have ME/CFS and adrenal fatigue and currently intermittent fast. However I would like to push this to longer fasts for Multiple Sclerosis and an additional degenerative brain disease. I sucessfully completed a 3 day water fast in January, but recently did 24 hours but I struggled as I felt so incredibly weak. SHould I even be fasting with the ME/CFS? Many thanks

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Jilly,
      Thanks for sharing. I’ve worked with numerous clients suffering from CFS, and extended fasting ultimately leads to a full healing in almost all cases. However, depending on the severity, this may have to involve a couple of extended fasts spread out over several months. It’s also important to understand that a full healing also involves allowing the fast to open you up to emotional detox as well. In other words, it’s important not to treat this is purely a physical exercise. I’m afraid extremely low energies while fasting are normal when someone suffers from chronic fatigue – but there will be improvement once you reach the end of your extended fast!
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
      1. Aniket Varma Avatar
        Aniket Varma

        Did these people have PEM?? Without pem(post exertion malaise). it’s just chronic fatigue not chronic fatigue syndrome.

        Reply
        1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
          Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

          Hi Aniket,
          Oh yes, we’re talking about full-blown CFS with PEM and energy crashes! It’s chronic fatigue SYNDROME.
          Tallis

          Reply
          1. Aniket Varma Avatar
            Aniket Varma

            I am suffering from cfs/me. Just broke my 5 day dry fast. Notice nothing major in my symptoms reduction both chronic and pem. I thought dry fasting was more powerful. Do i need to do 21 day water fasting for some relief. I can’t bear this dense brain fog.

            Reply
            1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
              Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

              Hi again, I find extended water fasting to be much more powerful in permanently healing CFS than dry fasting. Certain illnesses respond better to time, rather than to intensity over a shorter period (ie dry fasting).
              Tallis

            2. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
              Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

              Hi Aniket,
              I’m afraid it doesn’t surprise me that a 5-day dry fast had little effect on your CFS. Dry fasting can certainly turbocharge a water fast, but its efficacy also depends on the health issue you’re trying to heal. In my experience, time is the best healer when it comes to CFS – and to that extent a water fast allows you to go longer.
              Hope this helps,
              Tallis

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Hello. I had a SCC removed from my tongue 2/2022. In 5/2022 a single lymph node on the same side has enlarged and am currently battling the healing of this lymph node. According to imaging it is ‘necrotic’ in nature. Have you seen water fasting shrink an enlarged lymph node with SCC? I’m wanting to avoid surgery or any other conventional medical invasive treatments.

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi David,
      Thanks for writing. It sounds like you have a lot going on in your body at the moment. Almost invariably, cancer responds well to extended water fasting – but, as with all serious illness, you need to make sure that you’re doing everything to put the odds in your favour with the fasting protocol – and we’ll talk a lot more about that in our consultation tomorrow :-). To answer your question: yes, I’ve seen extended water fasting shrink enlarged lymph nodes with Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
      All the best,
      Tallis

      Reply
  10. Julie Davis Avatar
    Julie Davis

    I am a Covid long hauler and heard about you on forums where others have healed themselves through water fasts. I have 3 concerns: 1. I tend toward hypoglycemia, unless I stick to keto/low carb. 2. Does fasting increase cortisol levels? I have Covid induced anxiety and being sick for nearly 2 years has caused added stress. 3. Covid also gave me SIBO and clogged Eustachian tubes. Any suggestions as to feasibility of water fasts for me would be much appreciated. I am SO ready to be free of Covid in my body.

    Reply
    1. Tallis Barker, D.Phil. Avatar
      Tallis Barker, D.Phil.

      Hi Julie,
      Thanks for writing, and apologies for the long delay in writing. (I’ve had a care issue with my elderly parents the last couple of weeks and have been tied down…) To get straight to your concerns:
      1. Hypoglycemia is a concern for many clients, but I’ve had only one client in the last several years for whom it has actually necessitated stopping the fast.
      2. Yes, fasting increases cortisol levels during the fast as a crucial metabolic function of drawing out fatty acids from adipose tissue and into the blood. However, after the fast cortisol levels will return to a level lower than pre-fast. In fact, fasting is hugely effective at restoring adrenal fatigue.
      3. Fasting is the best possible thing you can do to heal from SIBO!
      Hope this helps,
      Tallis

      Reply
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Waterfasting.org: Articles and Coaching for Water Fasts

DR. TALLIS BARKER, D.PHIL., HOLISTIC CONSULTANT

I’ve been water fasting as part of a healthy lifestyle and path of self-discovery for many years now – and I’ve helped countless others do the same. I hope the various programs and online support, as well as the articles and videos offered on this website, deepen your own journey into water fasting.

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