Water fasting

Water fasting is a type of fasting in which the practitioner consumes only water. One may water fast for a variety of reasons, including medical and religious requirements.

Religious requirement

Jainism

Main article: Fasting in Jainism

Jains maintain a strict water-only fast for 8 to 10 (digambar & Swetambar) days, during the days of Paryushan.

Roman Catholicism

Main article: Fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church

Roman Catholics must engage in the eucharistic fast before receiving the Eucharist during the Mass. While no nutritional or caloric sustenance is permitted, practitioners may take medicine if required, and those whose health problems impede them from fasting are dispensed of the obligation.

Up until the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, this fast was required from the previous midnight, as it is in various Orthodox Churches. However, under Pope Paul VI, the obligatory fast was reduced to only one hour before receiving the Eucharist.

The Catholic Church has also promoted a Black Fast, in which in addition to water, bread is consumed. Typically, this form of fasting was only used by monks and other religious individuals who practice mortifications and asceticism, but all Catholics are invited to take part in it with the advice and consent of their spiritual director.

See also

• Juice fasting
• Calorie restriction
• Intermittent fasting

Further reading

• Leiper JB, Molla AM, Molla AM (2003). "Effects on health of fluid restriction during fasting in Ramadan". Eur J Clin Nutr (Review). 57 Suppl 2: S30–8. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601899. PMID 14681711.