7 Intermittent Fasting Friendly Drinks

What Can You Drink During Intermittent Fasting? – Overview

Obesity is rising at alarming levels globally. As per the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), between 2000 and 2018, obesity in American adults rose from 30.5% to 42.4%.

Among all other diets available, most Americans tend to pick intermittent fasting. It has been practiced globally for thousands of years but has made a massive comeback recently.

Intermittent fasting is a regimen that alternates eating periods with periods of taking minimal calories or not eating at all. It underscores when you eat rather than what you eat.

The intent of intermittent fasting isn’t to restrict calorie intake only but to allow your body to focus on recovery and upkeep rather than digestion.

Therefore, one of the most common questions is ‘What can you drink during intermittent fasting?’ There are some dos and donts, so stick around to find out more.

What Can You Drink During Intermittent Fasting – Dos and Don’ts

7 Drinks You Can Have During Intermittent Fasting

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has several healthy properties, such as boosting digestion, a healthy gut microbiome, improving insulin sensitivity, increasing satiety, and lowering blood sugar.

Apple cider vinegar mainly comprises acetic acid, gut-loving probiotics, and water.

As a result, it has a very low-calorie content and won’t break your fast. It will quench your thirst and help mute your cravings. So add 1-2 tablespoons in sparkling or still water and enjoy.

2. Bone Broth

Bone broth is rich in minerals and will help replenish electrolytes usually lost during intermittent fasting.

It also has collagen, which will repair and restore the stomach lining.

Note that bone broth has proteins that can cause an insulin rise and break your fast. However, it’s low in calories and will keep you in ketosis.

3. Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproofing is an excellent plan to boost your morning cuppa with fats such as butter, coconut oil, ghee, and MCT oil.

This creamy, delicious, and fat-rich beverage will mute your hunger for hours, helping you reach your intermittent fasting goal.

4. Coffee

Coffee is on the list for the relief of many. Coffee is an active hunger suppressant and can be used instead of meals during breakfast or lunch.

Studies have shown that coffee can boost ketone production and regulate blood sugar, enhancing metabolic health.

However, some individuals are susceptible to caffeine, which can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Also, drinking coffee on a void stomach can make you more susceptible to caffeine.

Therefore, you may experience acid reflux, anxiety, jitters, sleepless nights, and even stomach upsets. So try and avoid coffee or use Swiss water decaf coffee.

5. Lemon Water

Who doesn’t enjoy the flavor of citrus fruits? Well, not many. Lemon water has zero carbs and a few calories only.

Therefore, it can enhance metabolism, just like water. Both lemon and plain water have similar potential effects that help boost your metabolic health.

Lemon water boosts your metabolic health by improving hydration and satiety. As a result, this helps reduce calorie intake and stops your body from gaining more weight.

6. Tea

Tea offers great relaxation and can be taken in copious amounts as you fast intermittently. You might feel colder than usual as you fast, and it’s normal.

Tea will help keep you warm and make you feel full without the caffeine hit you usually get from coffee.

You should drink black, green, herbal, and oolong tea without adding anything else. But, do not forget that tea contains tannins, which can cause nausea if ingested on an empty stomach.

7. Plain Water

Plain water is one of the finest beverages to take during intermittent fasting. Plain water will keep you hydrated, and it doesn’t have an enzymic effect.

Ensure you only take sparkling or still water. You can add flavor by infusing it with slices of berries, cold tea infusion, cucumber, or lemons.

You must stay hydrated as you fast, so take 1-3 liters of plain water daily.

See Also: 30 Day Water Fast

Drinks to Avoid During Intermittent Fasting

1. Alcoholic drinks: Alcoholic drinks such as beer, cocktails, spirits, and wine are no-go zones. Even if you take alcohol in moderation, it still is in the eating window. Alcohol will break your fast because it contains calories that replace food.
2. Diet and regular sodas: Diet sodas are advertised to be calorie-free. However, they contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose, which increase blood sugar levels. As a result, both diet and regular sodas are not ideal for fasting.
3. Smoothies and protein shakes: Smoothies and protein shakes have calories and will trigger an insulin response, breaking your fast.
4. Sweetened coffee or tea: Any drink that has a sweet taste most likely has calories. Therefore, if you add artificial sweeteners, cream, flavored syrup, milk, or sugar to your coffee or tea, you consume many calories and break your fast.

What Are the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting?

Studies show that intermittent fasting does more than burn fat. When changes happen due to a metabolic switch, it affects the body and brain.

As a result, some of the advantages of intermittent fasting include:

1. Diabetes and obesity: Studies show intermittent fasting can prevent diabetes. These studies also prove that adults can lose weight due to fasting intermittently.

2. Heart health: Intermittent fasting advances blood pressure, latent heart rates, and other heart-related measurements.

3. Memory and thinking: Studies also indicate intermittent fasting can boost verbal memory and thinking in adults.

4. Physical performance: Studies show that young adults who adopt intermittent fasting lose fat and maintain muscle mass, which is suitable for physical performance.

5. Tissue health: Intermittent fasting helps reduce tissue damage.

Final Thought

To sum it all up, when fasting, it’s vital to know which drinks you can take during that period, after which you decide if you’ll take them during or between fasting periods.

Moreover, once you’re ready to break your intermittent fasting, ease back into your regular diet; don’t take foods or drinks with high amounts of carbs and fiber because they can be hard to digest.

See Also

7 Day Intermittent Fasting Diet Plan

Best Intermittent Fasting Apps

Intermittent Fasting for Beginners