Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has almost no calories and may have some significant health benefits, which makes it a logical supplement to use during fasting.  But does apple cider vinegar “break” a fast?   The short answer is no.  For most people in most situations, apple cider vinegar will not break your fast, and it’s probably …

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The most common question I see from people new to fasting is, “Does _____ break a fast?” Here’s the trouble: It’s not a simple yes or no answer, because every situation is different.   Today I’ll walk you through some general guidelines that can help you decide for yourself if something will “break” your fast. Then …

What Breaks a Fast? [How to Figure Out + Specific Examples] Read More »

Alcohol is popular, and fasting is getting more popular….but do they go together? Or does alcohol “break” a fast?  Here’s the bottom line. Most alcoholic drinks have some type of sugar, which means they’re not ideal for fasting.   Alcoholic drinks without sugar are probably ok in very small quantities while fasting.   For the whole story, …

Does Alcohol Break a Fast? [The Full Story, Backed by Science] Read More »

I used to chew a lot of gum while fasting. I don’t anymore, because a few months ago I quit artificial sweeteners. Chewing gum didn’t seem to cause any problems for me while fasting. It didn’t really make it harder, or easier. I just liked the sweet taste. That’s my experience, but everyone is different. …

Can You Chew Gum While Fasting? [The Full Story, with Examples] Read More »

In the strictest sense, fasting means not eating anything at all. By that definition, anything you eat would break a fast. But many of us do a type of “fasting” that allows certain supplements, and isn’t super strict.  We still get a ton of health benefits from this modified fasting, and using a few supplements …

Does MCT Oil Break a Fast? [The Full Story, and How to Use It] Read More »

Drinking black coffee while you fast is a pretty reasonable thing to do. It has no calories, and in most cases doesn’t “break” a fast.   But what if you add a bunch of fat to your coffee, and call it “Bulletproof” Coffee… Does Bulletproof Coffee break a fast? Here’s the short version:   In general, coffee …

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People love their diet soda these days, so it’s no surprise they want to keep drinking it while they fast.  But does diet soda break a fast?  Naturally, that depends on what you mean by “break”. If you’re just trying to avoid calories, then perhaps you can get away with drinking diet soda. But if …

Does Diet Soda Break A Fast? [The Full Story, + Personal Experience] Read More »

Sucralose (brand name Splenda) is the most popular artificial sweetener in the United States. Sucralose / Splenda says it has zero calories, so it makes sense you’d want to use it while fasting.  But does sucralose break a fast? After researching this topic, here’s my take: You may do okay fasting with sucralose in the …

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Stevia is a “natural” sweetener (from a plant, but still highly refined) that has become very popular starting about a decade ago.   Since stevia has zero calories, many people like to use it when they’re fasting, to sweeten coffee or tea, for example. But does stevia break a fast? For most people, the answer is …

Does Stevia Break a Fast? [Explained In-Depth, with Examples] Read More »

Some people drink lemon water when water fasting because it has a nice flavor and very few calories.  It may also help control hunger.  But does lemon water “break” a fast?   The short answer is no.  In most situations, lemon water will not break your fast, and it’s probably worth using if it helps you …

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