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Water only detox

245

Replies

  • Posts: 563 Member
    edited February 2016
    Your kidneys are very good doing the detox job
  • Posts: 2,467 Member
    Back in 1978 I did a 97 hour water only fast for the heck of it. I carried a gallon jug of water around in my car so that I could drink it whenever I got hungry ... but after about 48 hours I had to remind myself to drink the water.

    Have never done it again, but felt fine during it. Really kind of like on a high of some sort. Not thinking of ever doing it again.
  • Posts: 462 Member
    I believe in detoxing. Your probably right on track-I have only been able to do 1 25 hour stretch and I drink Fiji artesian-where I live water is *kitten* they put toxic chlorine in it and there are toxic chemicals present. Good luck add me I might join you if you do 5 days

    Ever use table salt? You know, sodium CHLORIDE? The levels that are added to water are not the least bit lethal. The thing everyone forgets about suspected toxins is that THE DOSE MAKES THE POISON. Water is LETHAL at a certain dose.
  • Posts: 563 Member
    ellieco wrote: »
    Your body doesn't need "detoxing" if you have a working liver. That's what a liver is for.
    The kidneys

  • Posts: 356 Member
    As long as you have a healthy liver and at least one healthy kidney, you don't need to do anything special to "detox" your body. That's what your liver and kidneys are for. The only time I have ever heard a doctor recommend "water only" for a long stretch of time is before you have surgery, but that's usually over a period of less than 24 hours.

    Juice fasts, water fasts, any kind of liquid-only diet is not good for you. You might experience weight loss, but it's because you're not eating solid foods or enough calories to maintain the natural functioning of your body.

    Don't do it. Stick to leafy greens, lean proteins, fruit, whole grains, healthy fats...and of course, plenty of water.
  • Posts: 2,238 Member
    AngelinaB_ wrote: »
    The kidneys

    Both, actually. The liver metabolizes a wide variety of toxic compounds into less toxic ones, the kidneys filter waste products out of the blood for excretion.

    Anyhow, if you're doing a water fast, do so for a better reason than "toxins" which are just the latest pseudoscience to emerge. Various religious ceremonies have used water fasting for many different lengths of time, and it's not typically going to cause long-term harm, but unless you're getting some spiritual benefit, you're not getting any physical benefits.
  • Posts: 563 Member
    edited February 2016
    Yes both although the primary function of the kidneys is detox.
  • Posts: 1,787 Member
    Just look online
    CDC.gov
    One of the two I am familiar with is mercury and arsenic,but there are so many more that we are exposed to on constant basis(think about what contaminants do to your hormonal health and fertility. Obesity is just the tip of the iceberg. Our water is a big contaminant. I am not 100%sure but it does feel like fasting gives the body a rest so it can get its strength immunity to these toxins back up. I could be wrong but I do it not for long just day or 2 and I have noticed some energy changes

    This is absolutely ridiculous. Drinking water for a day or two isn't going to remove heavy metals from your system. And your "feelings" that fasting is doing so are worthless as proof that detoxing works. It's called the placebo effect.

    If you've found proof to the contrary on the CDC's site, please post a link. You can't throw out the CDC as "proof of anything and expect everyone here to do your research for you. So where's your proof outside whatever BS is being posted on the internet by detoxers and those selling them products?

    Scientific proof means there have been repeated studies that something is so, the results are published with sufficient detail so others can reproduce them, and researchers other than the original team have been able to reproduce the results. The feelings of the researchers (and of DancingDarl) have nothing to do with the reality of the results.

    This sort of nonsense is the reason why I can only handle these forums for a few weeks before I get totally disgusted with them.
  • Posts: 2,238 Member
    Just look online
    CDC.gov
    One of the two I am familiar with is mercury and arsenic,but there are so many more that we are exposed to on constant basis(think about what contaminants do to your hormonal health and fertility. Obesity is just the tip of the iceberg. Our water is a big contaminant. I am not 100%sure but it does feel like fasting gives the body a rest so it can get its strength immunity to these toxins back up. I could be wrong but I do it not for long just day or 2 and I have noticed some energy changes

    If you did have mercury or arsenic poisoning, you're right you need to "detox", but that doesn't involve drinking water, it involves going to a hospital and having chelating agents intravenously administered under the supervision of a doctor. The agents themselves can be quite toxic, but in the case of severe heavy metal poisoning it can be worth the risk.

    Drinking water or juice is not going to do anything to filter heavy metals from the blood.
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    Nikion901 wrote: »
    Back in 1978 I did a 97 hour water only fast for the heck of it. I carried a gallon jug of water around in my car so that I could drink it whenever I got hungry ... but after about 48 hours I had to remind myself to drink the water.

    Have never done it again, but felt fine during it. Really kind of like on a high of some sort. Not thinking of ever doing it again.

    Which is why it is often done for religious reasons: 1) You can devote the time you would be eating to prayer and 2) you get "closer to God"
  • Posts: 5,132 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »

    Which is why it is often done for religious reasons: 1) You can devote the time you would be eating to prayer and 2) you get "closer to God"

    It has more to do with self denial (demonstrating a willingness to put God above our own needs) and putting the desires of the flesh into subjection of the spirit.
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    Carlos_421 wrote: »

    It has more to do with self denial (demonstrating a willingness to put God above our own needs) and putting the desires of the flesh into subjection of the spirit.

    That is the official reason, along with setting aside time for prayer. The reality is that the "high" you get when fasting can lead to all kinds of interesting things when combined with religious fervor.
  • Posts: 18,781 Member
    "water fasting" is an attempt to make "starving" socially acceptable.
  • Posts: 5,132 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »

    That is the official reason, along with setting aside time for prayer. The reality is that the "high" you get when fasting can lead to all kinds of interesting things when combined with religious fervor.

    What is this supposed "high" from fasting? I've never heard of it until this thread and I've certainly never experienced it. I have experienced quite the opposite of what I'd call a "high."
  • Posts: 1,787 Member
    edited February 2016
    earlnabby wrote: »
    That is the official reason, along with setting aside time for prayer. The reality is that the "high" you get when fasting can lead to all kinds of interesting things when combined with religious fervor.

    If you're not the member of a religion that uses fasting as a discipline, what makes you an expert on the motive of its practitioners? I'm Eastern Orthodox and we fast because it helps us discipline ourselves to manage our desires. If you can manage your desire for food, you can manage your desire for other things. Most people I've known who have fasted have struggled with it as a discipline (we essentially eat vegan more than half the year), but your claim about a "high" being the "real" motive is complete nonsense.
  • Posts: 5,132 Member
    vingogly wrote: »

    If you're not the member of a religion that uses fasting as a discipline, what makes you an expert on the motive of its practitioners? I'm Eastern Orthodox and we fast because it helps us discipline ourselves to manage our desires. If you can manage your desire for food, you can manage your desire for other things. Most people I've known who have fasted have struggled with it as a discipline (we essentially eat vegan more than half the year), but your claim about a "high" being the "real" motive is complete nonsense.

    Exactly. If I can control my desire for food, I can overcome the temptation to turn away from someone in need, etc.
  • Posts: 13,575 Member

    AWWW! You beat me to it earlnabby! :) Also, a water detox is a bad idea because too much water causes things like hyponatremia (low sodium) which is deadly, not to mention throwing off the delicate balance of other electrolytes like potassium (which the heart uses to conduct muscle contractility), and magnesium (which the body uses for protein synthesis, among other processes).

    So . . . just . . . NO!

    Why would you assume that someone doing a water detox/fast would intake too much water?
  • Posts: 4,696 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »

    Adding chlorine to the drinking water makes it safe to drink.

    Yes, this. @DancingDarl There are people in this world who do not have access to safe water who would love to have some of your "toxic" chlorinated water. I know, personally, that if I had to choose between giardia and chlorine, I'd take the chlorine every day.

    Your Fiji water is a luxury item (and is all pure marketing - there is nothing really "luxurious" about Fiji water, just a pretty bottle and a hefty price tag, but I digress) that most in this world can not afford.
  • Posts: 4,696 Member

    Why would you assume that someone doing a water detox/fast would intake too much water?

    I'd imagine some would drink more water to feel more "full" and would not be taking in any sodium during this fast. I can see how it could happen.
  • Posts: 13,575 Member

    I'd imagine some would drink more water to feel more "full" and would not be taking in any sodium during this fast. I can see how it could happen.

    Well sure it could, or it could not. I'd be curious to see what the statistics on cases of hyponatremia are on fasting vs. non-fasting.
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    vingogly wrote: »

    If you're not the member of a religion that uses fasting as a discipline, what makes you an expert on the motive of its practitioners? I'm Eastern Orthodox and we fast because it helps us discipline ourselves to manage our desires. If you can manage your desire for food, you can manage your desire for other things. Most people I've known who have fasted have struggled with it as a discipline (we essentially eat vegan more than half the year), but your claim about a "high" being the "real" motive is complete nonsense.

    I am a former Fundamentalist and, yes, I have fasted (up to 4 days) as encouraged by my church and yes, I have experienced a feeling of "religious euphoria" (aka a high) when doing it, which have included hearing "Gods" voice out loud. The Bible passages used to encourage it (it has been 20 years since I left the church so I would need to look them up) and the preaching from the pulpit explained that it was done for the exact reasons I mentioned: don't eat so you have more time to spend with God and can get closer to him.

    I guess there are more reasons than those two, depending on the religion being practiced, but having a personal experience with whatever deity you believe in is the most common one, which cuts across all religions.
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited February 2016
    Carlos_421 wrote: »

    What is this supposed "high" from fasting? I've never heard of it until this thread and I've certainly never experienced it. I have experienced quite the opposite of what I'd call a "high."

    You start hallucinating, both auditory and visual. Read some of the biographies of the "saints" and you will see all kinds of crazy things they cam up with while fasting. The best one is the life of Hildegard von Bingen, who would fast for as much as 40 days and wrote all kinds of stuff while in her fasted, euphoric state.
  • Posts: 5,132 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »

    You start hallucinating, both auditory and visual.

    LOL!!! In 3 days??????

    No, no you don't.
  • Posts: 5,132 Member

    I'd imagine some would drink more water to feel more "full" and would not be taking in any sodium during this fast. I can see how it could happen.

    Actually, the "slimy throat" effect and empty stomach make drinking water sort of unpleasant. At least for me, it becomes a forced practice to get enough water not to be dehydrated.
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited February 2016
    Carlos_421 wrote: »

    LOL!!! In 3 days??????

    No, no you don't.

    I did, and so did many of the other church members (at least they said they did). When you expect something to happen, it will. Yes, it is all created by you in your mind but that is what the power of suggestion does (we also spoke in tongues, prophesied, got "slain in the spirit" (aka blacked out)and all kinds of other things). I am glad I got out of that
  • Posts: 3,498 Member
    Isn't "detox" just code for "I will starve myself to achieve quick weight loss but starving oneself is seen as socially unacceptable so I will give it a vague health related title so I get a free pass on criticism?"
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    Isn't "detox" just code for "I will starve myself to achieve quick weight loss but starving oneself is seen as socially unacceptable so I will give it a vague health related title so I get a free pass on criticism?"

    Yup.
  • Posts: 3,498 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »

    Yup.

    Well that's one subject sorted then.

    Shall we tackle world poverty next ;)
  • Posts: 8,171 Member
    msf74 wrote: »

    Well that's one subject sorted then.

    Shall we tackle world poverty next ;)

    Go for it
  • Posts: 5,132 Member
    edited February 2016
    earlnabby wrote: »

    I did, and so did many of the other church members (at least they said they did). When you expect something to happen, it will. Yes, it is all created by you in your mind but that is what the power of suggestion does (we also spoke in tongues, prophesied, got "slain in the spirit" (aka blacked out)and all kinds of other things). I am glad I got out of that

    I've never hallucinated. I've expected lots of things that didn't happen. I've had lots of things happen I didn't expect.
This discussion has been closed.