The human being is perfectly equipped to fast for several weeks but during the retreats we will never exceed 11 days...
One of the people who lasted the longest was certainly Andreas Mihavecz, an 18-year-old Austrian. Accidentally left by the police in a detention cell in 1979, he spent 18 days without access to water or food. He was not weakened at all after 18 days but relieved that his cell was open
Faster Detoxification and Autolysis
The urgent need for water during dry fasting pushes the body to rapidly shift into fat consumption (lipolysis) much sooner than during water fasting. This accelerated process also brings the body into a deep detoxification phase more quickly, as much of the body's metabolic waste is stored in fat. It is estimated that dry fasting triggers fat usage within approximately 36 hours (or even less), compared to around 3 days in water fasting. Additionally, since protein breakdown is less efficient at producing water than fat, lean muscle tissue is better preserved during dry fasting. Beyond using fat for water production, the body also taps into stored water from edema and, after a few days, can even absorb moisture from the air, as Russian studies have shown.
Endogenous Water Production
The body loses water daily, and it is widely known that dehydration can be fatal. This belief makes dry fasting seem impossible or dangerous to the general public and even to some proponents of water fasting. However, the body is capable of producing water endogenously in the absence of external sources. Camels, for example, don’t store water but fat in their humps, and migratory birds fly nonstop without drinking water. Scientific research shows that fats combine with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide, with 100 g of fat yielding approximately 110 g of water. This water, known as metabolic water, is created within the body by oxidizing fats. By comparison, proteins produce only 42 g of water per 100 g. Fat cells (adipocytes) not only provide energy in the absence of food but also serve as a critical metabolic water source when external fluids are lacking. This accelerated internal process is what makes dry fasting so efficient.
Healing Fever and Waste Management
Most people who undergo dry fasting report experiencing an intense feeling of heat early on. This sensation is a stark contrast to water fasting, where a feeling of cold is commonly observed. The fever-like heat during dry fasting is a hallmark of its effectiveness, reflecting a strong boost in immune response and a rapid acceleration in waste processing. Some practitioners even use cold baths to elevate body temperature to 40.2°C. This raises one of the key questions surrounding dry fasting: how is waste eliminated? In water fasting, adequate hydration is often emphasized to support the kidneys, as the intestines are no longer active due to the absence of food. Nobel laureate André Lwoff’s research focused on the role of fever in detoxification, explaining that the heat generated internally allows for the destruction of waste within the cells themselves. Thus, waste is not excreted but is endogenously neutralized, as noted by specialists in dry fasting.
Enhanced Kidney Function
One of the main concerns surrounding dry fasting is the potential risk to kidney health. How can the kidneys function without water, and isn’t there a danger of damage? Both scientific research and practical experience show the opposite. A study involving adults who dry fasted for 5 days demonstrated a 167% improvement in creatinine clearance, a key marker of kidney filtration efficiency. Contrary to popular belief, the kidneys do not require an excess of fluids to function properly; instead, they filter and process the body’s fluids. The more liquid intake, the more the kidneys are strained. By abstaining from liquids, dry fasting gives the kidneys a chance to rest, naturally decongest, and regenerate. During dry fasting, the only water the kidneys process is metabolic water, which does not require additional transformation work, reducing their workload significantly.
The urgent need for water during dry fasting pushes the body to rapidly shift into fat consumption (lipolysis) much sooner than during water fasting. This accelerated process also brings the body into a deep detoxification phase more quickly, as much of the body's metabolic waste is stored in fat. It is estimated that dry fasting triggers fat usage within approximately 36 hours (or even less), compared to around 3 days in water fasting. Additionally, since protein breakdown is less efficient at producing water than fat, lean muscle tissue is better preserved during dry fasting. Beyond using fat for water production, the body also taps into stored water from edema and, after a few days, can even absorb moisture from the air, as Russian studies have shown.
Endogenous Water Production
The body loses water daily, and it is widely known that dehydration can be fatal. This belief makes dry fasting seem impossible or dangerous to the general public and even to some proponents of water fasting. However, the body is capable of producing water endogenously in the absence of external sources. Camels, for example, don’t store water but fat in their humps, and migratory birds fly nonstop without drinking water. Scientific research shows that fats combine with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide, with 100 g of fat yielding approximately 110 g of water. This water, known as metabolic water, is created within the body by oxidizing fats. By comparison, proteins produce only 42 g of water per 100 g. Fat cells (adipocytes) not only provide energy in the absence of food but also serve as a critical metabolic water source when external fluids are lacking. This accelerated internal process is what makes dry fasting so efficient.
Healing Fever and Waste Management
Most people who undergo dry fasting report experiencing an intense feeling of heat early on. This sensation is a stark contrast to water fasting, where a feeling of cold is commonly observed. The fever-like heat during dry fasting is a hallmark of its effectiveness, reflecting a strong boost in immune response and a rapid acceleration in waste processing. Some practitioners even use cold baths to elevate body temperature to 40.2°C. This raises one of the key questions surrounding dry fasting: how is waste eliminated? In water fasting, adequate hydration is often emphasized to support the kidneys, as the intestines are no longer active due to the absence of food. Nobel laureate André Lwoff’s research focused on the role of fever in detoxification, explaining that the heat generated internally allows for the destruction of waste within the cells themselves. Thus, waste is not excreted but is endogenously neutralized, as noted by specialists in dry fasting.
Enhanced Kidney Function
One of the main concerns surrounding dry fasting is the potential risk to kidney health. How can the kidneys function without water, and isn’t there a danger of damage? Both scientific research and practical experience show the opposite. A study involving adults who dry fasted for 5 days demonstrated a 167% improvement in creatinine clearance, a key marker of kidney filtration efficiency. Contrary to popular belief, the kidneys do not require an excess of fluids to function properly; instead, they filter and process the body’s fluids. The more liquid intake, the more the kidneys are strained. By abstaining from liquids, dry fasting gives the kidneys a chance to rest, naturally decongest, and regenerate. During dry fasting, the only water the kidneys process is metabolic water, which does not require additional transformation work, reducing their workload significantly.
Des études expérimentales ont confirmé: tissu adipeux, kystes, tumeurs, abcès
diminuent rapidement et disparaissent souvent complètement avec une abstinence alimentaire stricte et prolongée.
En s'abstenant de nourriture et de liquide en même temps, les processus de régénération du corps se produisent beaucoup plus rapidement et "mieux", c'est-à-dire le corps guérit de lui-même dans près de 100 cas sur 100.
diminuent rapidement et disparaissent souvent complètement avec une abstinence alimentaire stricte et prolongée.
En s'abstenant de nourriture et de liquide en même temps, les processus de régénération du corps se produisent beaucoup plus rapidement et "mieux", c'est-à-dire le corps guérit de lui-même dans près de 100 cas sur 100.