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Fasting as a challenge during Ramadan, but no water or any other liquid?

C

charlie000

Well-Known Member
Messages
439
I have a really good Muslim friend, and I told him I was interested in fasting for a better health and he told me about Ramadan. Muslims do not eat or drink between before Sunrise and at Sunset.

In the UK the timings are around 0330 - 2045 and adjust by two mins both ways everyday. So for example, it will change to 0332 - 2047 and so on.

The idea is not to eat or drink during these hours. Muslims do it for spiritual and health reasons. I'm doing it as a challenge to see where I get to after 30 days.

Some members on here have said no liquids is a really bad idea. I fail to understand why, because, I have around 2-3L of water before I begin my fast, and some nuts.

Why is no water bad?
 
charlie000 said:
I am in the UK. Can you really dehydrate and die from no water all day? I mean, I have 2-3L of water by the time I am in bed.
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Your body excretes nearly that amount each day so you have to replenish it during the day.
 
charlie000 said:
I am in the UK. Can you really dehydrate and die from no water all day? I mean, I have 2-3L of water by the time I am in bed.
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millions and millions of Muslims do this, in all part of the world, for a month. I cant see the problem as long as you make sure you are drinking enough during the hours of night. And not drinking the whole 2-3 litres in one go.
 
And you are supposed to have enough food to sustain the fast. People do longer fasts - multiple days but I have never heard of anyone doing dry fasts for health benefits alone. Religious fasting is different and the Muslim fasting period involves far more than just food intake. There are those who can be exempt from fasting and for good reasons.
 
as i understand it, the OP says he is only fasting from food and drink for around 17 hours a day. @charlie000
 
charlie000 said:
The max I do is 20 hours. Before I did 20 but with water this time it’s 20 without water and food.
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So, what are the health benefits/risks of going without fluids for 20 hours per day?
 
Can't see anywhere on your profile page what type of diabetes you have or what medication you are taking if any @charlie000 - it is difficult to give advice with such little information.

Also if you don't know the benefits/risks of not drinking why are you doing it? just curious
 

I am not a diagnosed diabetic and I think I am pretty diabetic awaiting hba1c. I take no medication
 
charlie000 said:
I am not a diagnosed diabetic and I think I am pretty diabetic awaiting hba1c. I take no medication
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Hi @charlie000,

If you complete the Personal Details section of your profile, then people won’t have to keep asking you your diabetic status and meds to understand your situation.

You can update the Details later, when/if you get a diagnosis.
 
charlie000 said:
I am not a diagnosed diabetic and I think I am pretty diabetic awaiting hba1c. I take no medication
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Ok thanks - maybe fasting food wise would be ok, not drinking and getting dehydrated can be bad for your kidneys or make us more susceptible to water infections- as you are waiting diagnosis and are not sure wether you are have diabetes but think you may have I'm presuming you have been testing with a meter and have had some numbers to cause you concern, in my opinion I think it's a bad idea to not drink, you don't know if you have any hidden complications or damage from high numbers, kidney function being one of them, for me it wouldn't be worth the risk
 
Antje77 said:
May I ask why you think you're diabetic?
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When I went to hospital I kept on getting high finger prick readings, and then the hospital doctor said my HBA1C was 105. But this can't be found in any other tests, just on the discharge letter
 

Replenish yourself in the non fasting time. This will be sufficient for the fasting time. After a few days, your body will get used to it. That’s what I’ve seen.
 
ZoomZ said:
Replenish yourself in the non fasting time. This will be sufficient for the fasting time. After a few days, your body will get used to it. That’s what I’ve seen.
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Perhaps you too would like to fill in your details on your profile page?
 
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