Fasting for a cold?

(What The Fast?!) #1

Hey guys. I spent the weekend back in Michigan for a family wedding and woke up today with a gnarly cold. I have an event Friday and I CANNOT be sick! I’ve got 3.5 days to recuperate. I was thinking a 2-3 day fast might help with cell recovery via autophagy.

Thoughts? Better to eat lots of nutrients or better to let my body heal while giving it a break from digestion?

(Arlene) #2

In my opinion, fasting is almost always a great idea when we are sick. All your energy can go toward your healing, not digestion. I hope you get well quickly. Sleep is essential too.

(Duncan Kerridge) #3

My wife and her sister recently got a cold at the same time, my wife fasted and was over it in a couple of days. Her sister eats a regular diet and still had it a week later.

(What The Fast?!) #4

Thank you!! I also feasted all weekend, so I could use a fast anyway. :slight_smile:

(What The Fast?!) #5

PS I gained SIX lbs over the long weekend, but only ate keto foods. I’m hoping it’s water weight from my body retaining fluid because I’m sick???

(Arlene) #6

Andrea, this same thing happened to me this last weekend, as we had a big family get-together. I ate only keto foods. I made a very low carb cheesecake, and I enjoyed a slice. Still well under my 20 grams of carbs for the day, yet I gained 3 pounds. I wondered about water retention too. It’s now Tuesday, and I’m still up 2 pounds. I’m baffled. I didn’t over eat, but I ate items I don’t normally eat, so I wondered if that might have contributed to the weight gain. I’m going to drink lots of water today. That’s the one thing that’s been lacking these last two days.

#7

My first extended fast was actually at the tail end of a bad cold. My first and only this season. I felt great during the whole fast (minus that 18 to 24 hour mark). I don’t know if it helped, but it certainly didn’t hurt! Good luck.

(What The Fast?!) #8

How long did you fast that first time?

I feel awful today…just had some bone broth, gonna see how I feel at the 24 hour mark and may eat dinner - or go til tomorrow.

#9

I was just under 89 hours. I started mine after I knew I was on the mend.

(What The Fast?!) #10

Great job!!

I just ate a bit of the meat from the bone broth I made and a little avocado - I’m about to take some Afrin and DayQuil, plus pain medicine for a toothache and didn’t want a stomach ache on top of everything else…