AN INTRODUCTION TO DRY FASTING
by Esmée La Fleur
A dry fast is an absolute, true fast in which you abstain from both food and water. This is the type of fast that was practiced by Moses (Exodus 34:28 & Deuteronomy 9:18, both times for 40 days), Ezra (Ezra 10:6, length undisclosed), the Nation of Israel (Esther 4:16, 3 days), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8, 40 days), the Ninevites and their animals (Jonah 3:7-10), most likely Jonah himself when he spent 3 days in the belly of the whale (Jonah 1:17), the Apostle Paul (Acts: 9:9, 3 days), and Jesus Christ (Matt 4:2, 40 days). More than likely, dry fasting has been practiced by many cultures and religious traditions throughout history.
Dry fasting has been practiced by the Russians for a very long time. There is quite a bit of literature available on dry fasting in the Russian language. However, none of these writings has been professionally translated. I was first introduced to the concept of dry fast by Tanya Zavasta (a native Russian speaker) in her book Quantum Eating. I found the information fascinating, but did not really know where to go with it. Then I discovered the web community forum The Fasting Connection where I met Milena Albert (a native Russian speaker) who had been practicing dry fasting and was in contact with Dr. Sergei Filonov, a Russian medical doctor who has been conducting dry fasts with his patients for 20 years. Then, I was referred to a Google translation of his 400 page book Dry Medical Fasting: Myths & Reality. While the translation leaves much to be desired (being computer generated), enough of the essence comes through to make it a very worthwhile read for anyone who in interested in embarking on this path.
There are two kinds of dry fasts: hard and soft. With a hard dry fast, the faster does not allow any water to touch their body, i.e. no washing dishes, no taking baths or shower, no brushing teeth, etc. With a softer dry fast, the faster can allow their 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 will readily absorb moisture from the air. It is for this reason that Dr. Filonov highly recommends undertaking a long dry fast in the mountains where the air if fresh, moist, and pure. He encourages many of his patients to sleep outside next to a stream of running water during their long dry fasts.
While several of our Biblical forefathers fasted for 40 days, the longest dry fast on record in modern times is 18 days. However, most modern practitioners of dry fasting do not recommend dry fasting for longer than 12 days. Dr. Filonov always recommends doing several water fasts before ever attempting a dry fast. Then he recommends that a person start with very short dry fasts, 36-hours once a week. After doing this for a while, then a person can gradually do longer dry fasts of 2, 3, and 4 days. Finally, to affect deep cleansing of the tissues and healing of serious chronic illnesses, he recommends a protocol known as a “fractionated” dry fast in which the person does a dry fast for 5-7 days, re-hydrates for 3 days, then does a second dry fast for 9-11 days. He has found this method to be extremely safe over time.
In order to achieve permanent healing results, a person must traverse two separate “acidotic” crises, the first between 3-5 days and the second between 9-11 days. So, by breaking up the fast, the “fractionated” method allows the person to go through the first crisis during the first fast and the second crisis during the second fast, thus reducing the stress on the body from too many toxins needing to be eliminated at one time. It should be noted that Dr. Filonov never recommend doing a dry fast for longer than 5 days without supervision. The problem with this is that there is are no medical doctors with experience in dry fasting in the United States. So, we are pretty much on our own if we want to use this method of healing.
Another method of dry fasting that Dr. Filonov has found to be extremely safe and beneficial is a protocol he calls “cascade” dry fasting in which the person begins by fasting 1 day and eating 1 day alternately. Then, he has the person fast 2 days and eat 2 days alternately, then fast 3 day and eat 3 days alternately, then fast 4 days and eat 4 days alternately, then fast 5 days and eat 5 days alternately. With this protocol the person is literally fasting one half of every month. In his book, Dr. Filonov says he personally knows a medical doctor who cured himself of a blood cancer by doing 5/5 protocol for a full year.
There was an interesting book published a few years ago called The Alternate Day Diet by Dr. James Johnson which advocates eating every other day for weight management and health maintenance. Although he did not have his patients fast completely on alternate days, but had them restrict their calories to 20% of metabolic requirements, his patient have experienced remarkable benefits and many have overcome severe inflammatory illnesses such as asthma (no longer needing medication). I don’t agree with his protocol of feeding on alternate days, and he even says that the results would be far greater if his patients did not eat anything on alternate days, but he feels that no one would be willing to fast every other day (perhaps he underestimates his patients?). His patients consume as much water as they desire.
I have communicated with a young man through The Fasting Connection who has suffered from severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for a number of years. He decided to start water fasting every other day and has experienced remarkable improvements. After four months of doing this, he says that his IBS symptoms are 70% less than they were prior to instituting alternate day fasting. He has not changed his diet which he tells me is far from optimal. I wonder if he would get even better results if he dry fasted?
In a dry fast, the body does not eliminate toxins in the same manner as it does during a water fast. Instead of removing toxins through the normal channels of elimination, skin, liver, kidneys, urine, and bowels, it actually turns each cell into a tiny incinerator and burns the toxins up inside of the cell. One thing I have noticed since I started dry fasting is that I have almost no body odor or bad breath during a dry fast, while I always experienced this during a water fast. Each day of a dry fast is said to be equivalent to 3 days of a water fast in terms of detoxification, so you accomplish much more in a shorter time. The good thing about this is that a person does not need to take a long absence from their normal life, so it costs less both for the fast itself (if you are going to a facility to be supervised) and for the time taken off from work. Also, you lose less muscle mass and more body fat with dry fasting, than you do with water fasting, and the recovery time is quicker. Returning to normal function after a 10 day dry fast is much faster than after a 30 day water fast.
Nevertheless, a person should plan for a re-building time of twice the length of the dry fast. So, for example, if you do a 7 day dry fast, you should plan for a 2 week recovery period. After my first 4 day dry fast, I had so much energy on day 2 of re-feeding that I decided to go dig up a garden bed I wanted to plant and ended up pulling a muscle in my forearm because I was not properly re-hydrated. It took a week to heal and I learned my lesson. Do not overestimate your capabilities after a dry fast and make sure you give your body sufficient time to recover before engaging in any strenuous physical activity.
How you exit a dry fast is extremely important. If you do it incorrectly, you can definitely harm yourself. In his book, Dr. Filonov says to drink two liters of pure water very slowly, holding each sip in your mouth as long as possible, over a two hour period. Then he says to continue drinking water for the next 12 hours a little bit at a time. After that you can start to reintroduce other foods and liquids. Dr. Filonov is not a practitioner of a Zero Carb diet, so he recommends making a fruit compote out of dried figs, prunes, apricots, and raisins (all unsulfured and organic) cooked in water to soften before eating, as well as vegetable soup, fish broth, and raw milk kefir. The way I would come off a dry fast is to rehydrate with water as Dr. Filonov recommends and then introduce bone broth. After that, I would begin eating meat again. My preference is for raw ground beef, but rare steak would be my next choice. The key is to not over eat. Just make sure to hydrate yourself well with plain water before trying to eat anything solid.
Dry fasting itself is not a “cure,” but it provides the right conditions to allow the body to activate all of its own, God-given, healing powers. Dr. Filonov has seen many illnesses heal through dry fasting; below is a list of the ones he mentions in his book:
uterine fibroids
endometriosis
infertility
mastitis
hot flashes
yeast infection
parasite infection
viral infection
bacterial infection
benign tumors
rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritis
ankylosing spondylitis
asthma
chronic pneumonia
pulmonary sarcoidosis
atherosclerosis
hypertension
sciatica
herniated disk
brain injury
migraine headaches
gastritis
stomach ulcer
duodenal ulcer
pancreatitis
cholecystitis
ulcerative colitis
irritable bowel syndrome
hemorrhoids
non-insulin dependent diabetes
gangrene
atopic dermatitis
chronic urticaria
eczema
psoriasis
interstitial cystitis
chronic pyelonephritis
prostatitis
prostate adenoma
inflammation**Please note: There are a number of conditions for which dry fasting is contraindicated; namely, malignant tumors or blood conditions, tuberculosis, hyperthyroidism and other endocrine diseases, cirrhosis of the liver, heart arrhythmia, circulatory failure degrees II & III, underweight, pregnancy and lactation, being younger than 14 or older than 70 years of age. And, as always, is best to check with a qualified medical practioner before deciding to embark upon fast of any kind.
I dry fasted for the first time a few days ago for 40 hours. I ended it not because I was thirsty but because I couldn’t handle not showering. Otherwise I could have and would have kept going. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with the showering aspect?
If you shower, you are doing a soft dry fast rather than a hard dry fast.
I just started my fasting today and it would be dry for three days. due to the nature of my job can I sip just water or eat fruits at the end of the day and it would still be called dry fasting?
No it would not.
Hi i was wondering what refeeding and rehydrating would look like after a 1 day dry fast?
Im just starting out and want to start slow. Ive been on a diet for acne for 2 weeks and 2 days now and i will continue this diet on refeeding days.. daily diet includes 1 sweet potato, 400g mince beef, a cup of butternut squash, 3 fruit, 2 or 3 tbsp of sauerkraut, half capsicum, handful spinach, cucumber, kidney beans, chickpeas, green beans.
Two quarts of water drunk slowly over two hours prior to refeeding. An all-meat, zero carb diet would likely be much more effective at eliminating your acne.
Is it possible to dry fasting on zerocarb? Somebody tried?
I’ve heard that keto-adapted people dry fasting is harder than ordinary, cause ketone removal requires a lot of water. Is it so?
Many of us have done dry fasting without issue from a zero carb diet.
I’m a T-8 paraplegic as a result of an injury in September 2014. I started doing a 4 day dry fast once each month and have experienced incredible results. I can feel heat and light touch above my right knee and am starting to feel light touch in my left leg as well. I am able to notice a measurable change about 3-5 days after each fast. Sometimes it seems like 2 steps forward 1 step back but something changes every time.
That’s remarkable! Please keep me posted on your progress.
That doesn’t surprise me…Research shows that fasting can foster stem cell growth. Stay positive and keep going at it. Peace
WOW!!!!!!! Were u told at all that you would never recover or was there a chance?
If you are referring to me, then no, there is no known cure for my condition.
‘Another method of dry fasting that Dr. Filonov has found to be extremely safe and beneficial is a protocol he calls “cascade” dry fasting in which the person begins by fasting 1 day and eating 1 day alternately. Then, he has the person fast 2 days and eat 2 days alternately, then fast 3 day and eat 3 days alternately, then fast 4 days and eat 4 days alternately, then fast 5 days and eat 5 days alternately. With this protocol the person is literally fasting one half of every month. In his book, Dr. Filonov says he personally knows a medical doctor who cured himself of a blood cancer by doing 5/5 protocol for a full year.’
As this seems the safest I would like to try this (unless theres safer)?
For the fasting days – do I drink as much water as I want – just no solids?
For the eating days – do I eat whatever want?
Thanks!
A dry fast means no food OR water on fasting days. Then on eating days, you consume both food AND 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 will readily absorb moisture from the air. It is for this reason that Dr. Filonov highly recommends undertaking a long dry fast in the mountains where the air if fresh, moist, and pure. He encourages many of his patients to sleep outside next to a stream of running water during their long dry fasts.’
Does that mean I can’t do the 5/5 alternating dry fast to eat anything protocol if I live in a urban environment, commuting to and from work?
Thanks
You would simply have to try it and see how you feel. You probably want to start with short dry fasts and gradually extend the time.
I did a 3 week fast and cured my tumour testicle. Now I’m doing dry to cure my thrombosed veins. I’ve had them for years and they stopped me from living, now I felt them twitch and change consistency for the first time in years thanks to dry fasting and massage with a sonic toothbrush lol. Funny how this didn’t happen on water though but my tumour was destroyed.
This is amazing. Did you end up fixing your veins?
Hi Esmee, hi everyone,
After one meal a day for three months and 1 day fasts per two weeks I attempted a dry fast. Hunger was not an issue. I lasted 38 hours only because of increasing chest pain. I got scared and broke the fast! It took a few days to subside and now I am doing another one. On day 1. Would you be able to shed light on why I had chest pain? Thanks
Do you eat salt on a regular basis?
How does dry fasting differ from water fasting in terms of fat loss?
I don’t think it is any different.
I’m struggling with dry hard stools and hemmeroids, can you offer me some advise please. How does meat only affect gut flora? I have dry fasted for two days before but when opening bowels stools were hard as usual.im losing this battle and doctor just prescribes fibre and laxatives. I’ve read fibre menace etc and taken hydro c that has even stopped working. Please help.
The general recommendation for constipation on a Zero Carb diet is more fat. Have you tried this?
Is it safe to alternate day dry fast? I want to live like this if possible but I wonder if it will be safe for kidneys and how much I should drink on non-fast days?
Please read this interview:
https://zerocarbzen.com/2017/02/20/zero-carb-interview-rustik-johnson/
Esmee! I think I used to read your posts and chat with you on fitnessthroughfasting. I was the one with the huge fibroids and was doing longer and longer water fasts. I also stumbled upon Dr. Filinov’s translated book and Milena. I knew dry fasting was what was missing. I’m so glad you have this page now! It seems that fear dominates the discussion at some forums about dry fasting. So I’ve been away. I’ve used Kefir to get my stomach back in shape for fasting. But over the last 2 weeks, I’ve been doing unplanned dry fasting. I caught a cold that moved to my sinuses and it made even homemade food taste like chemicals. I’ve tolerated little to no water. I’m ill, but not as ill as I would be if I were eating processed foods (or any food).
I dropped from 186 to 170 in under 10 days, so I decided that this is the perfect time to add dry fasting. My sinuses would be much worse if I were staying hydrated. My uterine bleeding slowed way down in the last few days as well. I took a bunch of before photos of my very pregnant looking belly. I just need to keep a log of what I’m doing. A log can help other people and scientists. American medicine needs to expand beyond hysteria and pharmaceuticals. Fasting is what many people need. I find it weird that fasting is another part of the Bible Christians ignore or dismiss. Fasting would definitely open their eyes to many of the lies we’re told daily. I have fasted since my teen years, so I feel more comfortable with the fractionated dry fasting over cascading.
Thank you, Esmee, for making this page! I look forward to being ovarian cyst and fibroid free!
Esmee, I am interested in a fasting retreat. I did some google searching and learned there are retreat centers in the USA where you can do extended water fasts. Do you know any places that will take someone on for an extended dry fast?
Not that I am aware of. Dr. Filonov in Russia is the only place I know. For water fasting, I highly recommend TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California.
I’m interested in exploring fasting in the hopes to improve and heal a lung scarring condition I have called bronchiectasis, I only have it to a very mild degree and am free of infectious pseudomonas. Wondering if anyone has any experience with fasting and lung conditions or whether fasting would be contraindicated for such a condition.. Any insights/info would be greatly appreciated! thanks..
I’m not specifically aware of a case history involving lung disease, but I cannot see why fasting would be contraindicated. I have a group on Facebook called Principia Lenta with some great resources in our group files that you can read. I especially recommend Triumph Over Disease by Dr. Jack Goldstein and Fasting and Eating for Health by Dr. Joel Furhman.
I can’t find the facebook group – does it go by any other names?
Thanks
No, are you sure you are spelling it correctly? Our other group is Principia Carnivora. See if you can find that one. Otherwise, send me a friend request and explain that you want to join my groups.
I just did an 18 hour dry fast. Do I need to worry about slowly reintroducing water and food? Thanks.
Do what is comfortable. Let your body guide you. Just make sure you are well hydrated before eating.
Namaste,
What about Oil Pulling during the fast, does it affect the fast anyhow? I have been doing it in both water and dry fasting without really knowing whether there might be any negative effect.
Love and Light
Marcos
I wouldn’t use it during a dry fast.
Hi, can I ask how your diet has affected your cholestoral?
Everyone is different. It depends on your genetics. But my cholesterol came up which was a good thing because it has been too low all my life. Total cholesterol is irrelevant. What maters is HDL and Triglycerides and the ratio between the two:
https://www.drsinatra.com/the-most-important-cholesterol-ratio-to-watch
There are lots of great books and interviews explaining the real story of cholesterol. Check out my Resources page:
http://zerocarbzen.com/resources/
I’ve done many 3, 5, & 10 day water fasts, but ready to try the Dry Fast…my only concern is I need to take pills at night. I could get all pills down on one gulp of water, would that ruin the Dry Fast completely. Not sure what else I could do….any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
No, never dry fast if you have to take medication. It’s not safe.
Dry-fasting is done by Moslims from Sunrise to Sunset. They are ordered to do it for one complete month every year, and they have the choice to do it as often as they wish in the remaining months. The ideal way to break their fasting is by eating fresh dates, and if there were no fresh dates they would eat dried dates; if there were no dried dates, they would have a few sips of water.
Do they then drink wayer with their food?
Hi Esmee! Do you think dry fasting would be beneficial with hormonal problems amongst women such as PCOS?
Yes, it’s supposed to help hormonal problems according to Dr. Filonov.
I have witnessed a few females with problems (eg endometriosis, period pains, migraines) doing dry fasting with very positive results. I am thinking of taking a tour of females with problems to Filonov’s retreat in Russia.
I am investigating the potential to take a group of women with gynecological and hormone problems, especially endometriosis, to Dr Filonov’s retreat. Recently there was a media report that said there are over 700,000 women in Australia with endometriosis. That is a huge percentage of our population (total 24 million). A group of about 10 women would justify a translator, and they could be mutually supportive of each other during a medically supervised dry fast. I have had a little experience in helping some women with their problems – with dry fasting.
Lmao. The “how do I break the fast” comments are ridiculous. Just think about it for a moment. Your Grok. You haven’t had any water in a few days or food in a few weeks. You happen upon a fresh carcass next to a river. Does anyone really believe Grok wouldn’t have drunk as much water and eaten as much meat as he could have right then and there? I always break my dry fasts (the longest I’ve done is 5 days) by drinking a ton of water and eating a bunch of steak. Never had even the slightest problem. Come on people use your brains. We are animals. We were built for this.
I also have skin condition for 10 years. ZC 8 Months.
I only managed to do water fasting for 24h, weekly. Is this enough?.
Also 8 months zc, now strictly beef and water. i cannot tolerate pork chicken or some others meats. No coffee.
only some green tea.
I feel better, better digestion, no bowel problems , still the skin doesn´t change.
What should I do?
besides i have histamine problems
The only thing I can think of would be longer fasts.
Does dry fasting eliminate heavy metals in the body?
I think one of the root causes of my many symptoms may be heavy metal toxicity.
Thanks
I’m not aware of any research on that.
To sleepwalkingwell:
Regarding heavy metal toxicity – there is an old saying, “Mad as a Hatter.” This is because the hat-making process used to use a chemical containing Mercury, and the Hatters exposed to this toxic heavy metal over the course of their careers would exhibit symptoms of insanity.
I say this to make the following point: you might be able to find the info you’re looking for by googling about the symptoms that Hatters used to get from this poisoning. Good luck!
Very interesting!
plss can dry fasting remove worms and parasite
It would seem possible, but I really don’t know. You would have to try it and see.
Hi Esmee, I really appreciate what you do here. I’ve read through a good deal, including the comments. I was wondering if dry fasting does a better job at “emptying the bucket” of histamines than water fasting? Or is it better to be urinating more to get the histamines out? It would be more motivation for me to dry fast if the former is the case. And I am curious. As you said: “Each day of a dry fast is said to be equivalent to 3 days of a water fast in terms of detoxification.” That is impressive.
I currently don’t have access to a fresh source of meat to substitute for the meat I’m getting now.
Also, how long are your fasts that let you empty the bucket of histamines? Thank you
I usually have to water fast for about 15 days in order to be able to eat beef again without reacting too badly. Unfortunately, my life doesn’t always allow this and so I often end up postponing it as long as possible until I can no longer avoid it, which is not ideal. But fasting really requires the ability to rest as needed.
It’s scary when you feel like you’re running out of food options. 🙁
I guess you have to just keep on trying, and maybe fast lengthily. It’s kind of hard.
Thanks for the good information, Esmee!
Yes, it’s very scary. Fasting definitely reduces my reactivity to food. It has been shown to stabilize mast cells, so I expect this is why. However, fasting will never heal the underlying cause for my food reactions which I now know are due to mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). I did a long 40 day water fast last year, with two dry fasts during it (5 & 7 days respectively) and, while it reduce my reactions enough to allow me to resume eating again, I remain extremely reactive to all food. Many people with food intolerances who read my story have contacted me privately from various places in the world seeking help. It’s a relief to know that I am not alone, but the growing prevalence is really quite frightening.
I wish I could give you a hug. A big problem for me is accepting all the changes happening and moving forward, and accepting dashed expectations really. I don’t know the root cause of my food intolerances, but I don’t think I heard of MCAS till I read here.
MCAS is a new diagnosis. It’s only been in the medical literature about 8 years. Most doctors have never heard of it. If you want more information, let me know.
https://www.mastocytosis.ca/en/diagnosis/signs-symptoms
Hi Esmee
It’s Karen. We have spoken before thru messaging. I am the one that has NO large intestine and has multiple food intolerances. Basically I live on 2 proteins. Things are getting worse for me recently and not sure if Hormonal also being 47.
Heart palpitations, very low blood pressure, major confusion, fatigue is always bad but I always keep moving as I feel better when I do.
anxiety (which I haven’t had like this before) Amd othter things. Poor circulation, red fingers etc…
Anyway, how do I know if MCAS is something I should check for?
Amd how did you find out?
Thanks
Getting a diagnosis for MCAS is very difficult. I sawctwo specialist, immunologist and gastroenterologist, at UCSF, and neither were familiar with it enough to be able diagnose me. I do not have the money to see an MCAS doctor. Nevertheless, I am 99% convinced, based on my history and symptoms, that this what’s wrong with me. If you want more info, message me privately and I will give you more links to explore.
It’s a great question and I honestly don’t know the answer. When I am unable to find a soirce of beef low enough in histamines, I will turn to whole chickens vacuum sealed in plastic. I have access to “Sonoma Red” pasture-raised Step 5 chickens by Petaluma Poultry. I cook the whole bird on low simmer in one cup of water for 3 hours and then allow to cool for 2 hours and I do pretty good with this. I just don’t find chicken to be as satisfying as beef, but it’s better than nothing. I consume the liquid with the fat and all the meat I desire (depending on the size of the bird), except for the breast which is way to dry and lean for me.
Thank you so much, and I will continue learning what my body can handle. It’s nice to learn from others who’ve already figured this stuff out. I like beef myself, too :). Thanks for the chicken recipe.
It has taken me a long time to figure oit what works and what doesn’t. Beef is so complicated because it’s aged. I do terrible with grassfed beef because it’s all dry aged for 1-2 weeks before the butcher gets it and i recent learned that it’s also sprayed with citric acid which is made from Aspergillis mold and I have reacted to that for years before I ever knew why. I seem to so better with beef that has been cryovac’d withing 48 hours after slaughter and is freshly opened for me. You might have a butcher cut you several steaks from a newly opened cryovac’d package of New York Strip or Ribeye and freeze them immediately and then thaw just before cooking and eating and see if you do any better with these.
I would’ve never guessed grassfed beef or any of the beef I buy is sprayed. That should be put on the packaging… These are great tips. I’ll be doing more asking around. I’m still sort of new, having been on this diet for almost 2 months and gone through hurdles because of food intolerances and have been eating only beef lately, including grassfed beef from Publix. Thank you.
I was told that dry aged beef is sprayed with citric acid, and grassfed is usually dry aged. But it’s always good to call the grower and the slaughterhouse they use if necessary. However, even if they don’t use citric acid, histamines are much higher on dry aged beef and I have reacted extremely poorly to every source of grassfed beef I have tried and they have all been dry aged for 1-2 weeks. So, it could be one or both. It’s very discouraging if you eant to support naturally raised and humane growers.
You are an inspiration 🙂
🙏💗
Hi Esmee, I’ve been devouring your website articles ever since I finished Bear’s book. Lots of good information here, but in particular I want to thank you for your extensive writing on dry fasting.
I’ve read the New Testament straight through, 4 times, but of course John didn’t use the term “dry fasting” when he wrote of Jesus’ temptation after 40 days of it. So I had never heard this term before, nor did I even know people did such a thing nowadays. I am really looking forward to trying it, as I have have multiple issues that might be reduced in severity or even eliminated.
Other than 16/8, I haven’t done any fasting since 2012. But I did about 150 days of 16/8 last year. Am I ready to try a 36-hour dry fast now, or should I work in a few 24~26 hour water fasts first?
Your body will guide you. If you still feel okay ay 24 hours, then go for 36. It hard at first, but the body learns how to do it.
HI Michael. May i ask what changes you have noticed and improvements with your intermittent fasting so far? 🙂
Hi Karen Pate, It’s easier to get to work on time because I don’t cook & eat breakfast. Also, I lost some extra fat that I couldn’t lose before IF, even without changes in types of food I eat.
I went full carnivore on 1/28 and got the infamous zero-carb flu. In order to adapt quickly, I didn’t try any fast longer than 16 hours. That was for about 3 months. Then I started practicing longer water fasts, the longest being 72 hours.
I did my first dry fast yesterday. I started with a water IF of 16 hours and converted to a dry fast for 6 additional hours. The difference in hunger was amazing. Generally I don’t get too hungry on water fasts, but the dry fast gave me ZERO hunger! Like night and day. Now I understand why so many people like dry fasting. I will start doing longer dry fasts soon.
Michael, thanks for your comments. What you say about having no hunger on a dry fast is my experience as well. Water stimulates the digestive system.
Great article. I’ve been Carnivore and water fasting for awhile. I’m about to start dry (soft) fasting. My concern now is breaking it. Have you heard that adding salt to water is better than plain water to break it?
(I may just do as I have been since 2016, do my own experiments as to what works best.)
Thank you!
No, plain water is best. Filonov says to be extremely careful about salt consumption after a dry fast. Of course the longer the dry fast, the more cautious you need to be when you break it.
I had my electrolytes tested after 6 days of dry fasting and it was potassium that was marginal, not sodium. I now add potassium. Everyone is different. On my last dry fast (without potassium) I experienced gout for the first time. I have read that potassium citrate is an antidote.
Hi, are there retreats I could go to, to do a 21 day dryfast, preferably in the UK? I feel drawn to do this but feel a bit apprehensive to do this on my own. I’ve managed to do a 3 day dryfast and felt ok, but my body needs a total reboot and 21 days sounds just about right.
many thanks
Angelika
No one does a 21 day dry fast. The longest dry fast recommended is 11 days according to Dr. Sergey Filonov. He has a place in Russia where people can go an do supervised dry fasts. His website should come up if you google him.
When doing fractioned protocol of:
3-5 days…3 days rehydration…9-11 days?
What should I drink during 3 days of rehydration?
I’m experienced with water fasts..I do IF for 1 year and OMAD for some time.I’m vegan + bee productas (honey+pollen)..Currently I’m doing my first dry fast and it will be 3.5 days…So far I’m in 2d18h and it’s easy. I’m not thirsty nor hungry nor weak. Weird.
Anyway,
My wife has endometriosis, she tried once 10 day water fast but it didn’t help her.
She has same experience and diet as same.
She wants to try 3-5 days next week..and then after 3 weeks we want to both do fractioned protocol of:
3-5 days…3 day refill…9-11 days..
but we don’t know what we can consume in those 3 days? Coconut juices + low sugar freshly squizzed juices from veggies and apples will be fine (we have angel juicer)?
I have a cyst behind my left knee that doesn’t want to go away for few months, that’s why I want to do dry fast and my wife finally want to heal endometriosis (she has 5cm cyst near one of her ovary)
You can download and read a Google translation of Filonov’s book Dry Medical Fasting from the files in my Facebook group Principia Lenta.
A year ago my hormone levels were totally out of whack. I had a blood test and my prolactin was just over 200 (4-15 normal) and my testosterone was 50 (350-1200 normal). The doctor said a growth on my pituitary gland was causing the prolactin to be so high and that in turn was causing my testosterone to be so low. I had an MRI but no growth was found. I was put on medication that brought the prolactin down but I would have to keep taking it and so I looked for other solutions.
I came across something called “Detka” that says to dry fast for 42 hours every week. I did it for a month and really liked it. I read more about dry fasting and tried a couple of 3 day dry fasts and loved the way it made me feel. After reading the translation of “Dry Medical Fasting: Myths & Reality” and the doctor that cured himself of blood cancer, I decided to try the 5/5 protocol. I did it for 70 days. I had another blood test about 1 week after I finished and my prolactin levels were actually low at 0.5 and my testosterone was at 250. It’s back to normal now.
Healthwise, dry fasting is one of the best things I ever did.
That is an awesome testimonial! Thank you so very much for sharing it here.
Can this help with tinnitus?
There are many causes of tinnitus. You would need to try it and see.
I did a 35 day water fast with a 4.5 and a 2 day dry fast during that 35 day time span from Aug. 18th to Sept 22nd of this year. I have done several extended water fasts since 2014 and a few short dry fasts.
I am working to heal a pituitary tumor and the condition is quite intense and serious.
I started a dry fast and am currently on day 6. I planned to go 11 days but am now thinking perhaps I should do this fractioned method, instead. I am wondering if you think that would be too much fasting in the course of just over 3 months, having done the 35 day water fast, and then now a 7 day dry with the 3 days re-hydrating, followed by an 11 day dry fast. Also, for those 3 days is it just hydrating or do you eat as well? If it’s supposed to be a 3 day water fast in between, I want to follow this to a T. I desperately need my health restored. I am hoping for some coconut water in those 3 days but will do whatever is recommended. Thank you so much for your time!
I admire your strength and will in doing this kind of fasting in an effort to heal your body. What an accomplishment so far! However, I do not feel in anyway qualified to advise you on specifics. I do know that with both the fractionated method and the cascade method, the faster re-feeds in between dry fasting days. The foods should be light and easy to absorb. Filonov recommends foods like broth, yogurt, juices, fruits, steamed vegetables, soft boiled eggs, etc. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much. That does help. Thanks, again!
I lost my middle finger of my left hand in an industrial accident when I was 19 working in a Sydney brewery. I am now 64. I have committed to nine day dry fasts (without withdrawing contact from water on my skin I must say) off and on over the last 15 years, based on Russian practices. In the last two years I and reconstructive surgery specialists have been amazed at the emergence of tissue in the finger socket and one, a fasting practitioner, is prepared to put it down to the stimulus to cell reconstruction generated during the chemical change brought on in the fast. At this stage, being subjected to further study. He is advising that it be taught in schools.
That’s fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
I didn’t mean to speak like an authority I’m actually looking for a body or someone to help me decide yet body or someone to help me decide what to do my health is very fragile and also a this is a very fragile I’m also looking for spiritual renewal I never heard of hearing I never heard of urine before but that caught my attention I’m just got caught my attention I’m disgusted with Western medicine and pharmaceuticals I’m a combat it’s dutiful I’m a combat veteran that wants to completely start over in my health ver in my health is deteriorating
I am very sorry for your suffering. I cannot possibly advise you on what you should do for the health of your body and mind. I and many others have found help by following a carnivore diet. You can read more about it here: http://zerocarbzen.com/zero-carb/
I have also found fasting to be highly beneficial for me personally, but I cannot know how it will affect you personally.
Thank you for your service. May God bless you abundantly.
i believe joy and healing with humility and dry fasting and a life outside the USA are my immediae goals pleae asking God for renewa thru Jesus Christ and His graces. but dry fasting all brand new for me. first hears of it thru Phoenix Protocol. Thank God for the Russians!!
On Facebook, I have a group called Principia Lenta which is a fasting group for carnivores basically. But in our files, there is a PDF Google translation of Dr. Filonov’s book which you can download and read.
Haven’t seen any comments of those dry fasting with ms… you come across anyone dry fasting with ms?
Yes, this man used alternate day dry fasting in combination with a carnivore diet.
https://zerocarbzen.com/2017/02/20/zero-carb-interview-rustik-johnson/