Last year I spent many a weekend learning and accumulating information. The subject matter, nutrition for the chiropractor. Why was I interested in taking a rather long and very indepth chiropractic nutrition course with the academy of chiropractic nutrition I hear you ask. Looking after thousands and thousands of clients over the last 2 decades, I have observed and seen that the health status of the client is paramount to the healing process.
What do I mean by that?
If the human body in front of me has high inflammation and cells that are slow to regenerate, with a nervous system that is wired and sensitive, then it makes my job a LOT LOT harder, and occasionally impossible (even when the actual tissue condition should respond easily to manual therapy).
After listening and learning a ton, I decided to follow one of the recommendations myself. A water fast. For 4 straight days. That’s 96 hours of not eating anything! If you know me, you know that I don’t give out advice or suggestions if I have not implemented or tried it FIRST.
Why is this recommended for certain individuals?
It is well known that gut health and inflammation can trigger and cause symptoms such as bloating, headaches, migraines, stiff and sore joints, and high sensitivity within the body. It has also been shown that allowing the gut to heal without the constant onslaught of food to digest, can allow the cells, gut junctions, and tissues to heal and symptoms coming from the gut can improve. In fact, some symptoms can even be eliminated once food is taken out of the digestive system for a short period of time. Fasting has also been shown to kick start cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and reverse insulin sensitivity, ultimately improving metabolic health.
Leading into this I was worried, I have never gone more than 12-16 hours without food. I can get ‘hangry’ and not particularly nice when I need food lol how would my clients and team take me 
What I do know is that the mind is way more powerful that we give it credit for. So I also wanted to do this as a mental challenge to myself. If others have completed it (and there is no medical reason why I should not do it), then let me see how I go…..
I did not do anything special ahead of the fast date. I decided to do it over Monday- Thursday. They do suggest to be gentle and to not to push yourself during the fast e.g. no high intensity exercise. I was working and seeing clients and doing a coaching session for the team.
Here is the prep needed to keep your energy and blood sugar level balanced:
Maple syrup
Lemons
Water
Sunday evening was the last meal before the fast. I didn’t eat anything particularly different than usual.
Monday I got through the day but towards the end of the day I wasn’t feeling great, with the start of Tuesday feeling hungry and tired (even though I slept well Monday night). As Tuesday continued any negative symptoms slowly abated. Come Wednesday I started feeling more energetic, more than I have ever felt, so much so that my brain was going faster than my mouth could keep up. Thursday I literally forgot about food, and I felt like I could have kept going with the dry fast. Poor Rufus had to chuck his food bowl at me as I had forgotten to feed him too!
What benefits did I gain from completing the 4 day food fast?
Mental challenge smashed! I could do it, even when I didn’t know if I would be able to.
Less puffiness around my hands and ankles
I didn’t get any soreness or stiffness or tummy or skin conditions when I introduced gluten or dairy (a fast is a great way of starting a food elimination diet, and when you re-introduce food groups, seeing what symptoms you get the following morning).
When I started eating Thursay evening, I could only eat a few mouthfuls before feeling full and queasy. By Friday and Saturday, I felt fine again.
So I challenge you (under the supervision of a health professional), why not try a water fast? Try it for 24 hours, 48 hours? See how you feel? Whether it be for a mental challenge like myself, or whether you want to see how your aches and pains and symptoms change, improve or even disappear.