Why Would Anyone Water Fast, Just Drink Water?

My first water fast happened during my training to become a Tolman Health Coach. I’d already done juice fasts over the years, sure, but water only? That was a whole new level.

And let me tell you—it’s not crazy. It’s transformational. Not just on a physical level, but deeply emotional and even spiritual.

When you combine water fasting with healing rituals—like sun gazing, sunbaking in the nude (yep, really!), enemas, hot baths, dry body brushing, guasha (natural way to wash body – no soap), breathwork, sound therapy, hot/cold contrast, massage—the body comes alive. Blockages begin to release, inflammation disappears, and your eyes go wide and your mind, boom! Crystal clear! And the body can finally get on with the job it was designed to do: heal.

We’ll dive into the how, why and what of water fasting below. But first, a gentle word before you begin.

A Gentle Word Before You Begin
Before considering any form of fasting, especially water fasting, it’s important to have a good chat with your chosen health professional. This blog is here to educate and inspire, not to prescribe or replace professional medical advice. Everyone’s body and health story is different, and fasting should be approached with care, intention, and proper guidance.

Also worth mentioning—this practice is not about restriction in the sense of disordered eating. Fasting is a time-honoured, ancient healing tool rooted in cultural, spiritual, and now scientifically supported traditions. It’s about healing, not harm. When done correctly and with support, fasting doesn’t create disorders—it can actually help repair our relationship with food and our body by resetting systems and bringing awareness back to how we nourish ourselves. It’s a path of empowerment, not punishment.

So Why Would Someone Choose to Water Fast?

You might consider it if you want to:

💧 Get rid of inflammation, severe pain and soreness
💧 Heal from autoimmune conditions
💧 Reduce or remove tumours (Tyler Tolman has supported clients with late-stage cancers)
💧 Ease PCOS or endometriosis
💧 Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
💧 Rebuild cardiovascular health
💧 Reset your immune system 

Yep, in just 3 days you can reset your immune system!  Your Human Growth Hormone (HGH) peaks around day 3, which helps protect muscles and bones, regulate sleep, support sexual health, and even turn fat into energy. Your body enters autophagy, cleaning out damaged cells and regenerating new ones.

But—and this is key—fasting is not something to take lightly. Preparation is crucial. You don’t just jump in. The body is doing some seriously deep work, and it needs proper support. Why do we need to clean it out?

Water fasting, juice fasting, and even raw food resets give your body a much-needed chance to clean house. Let’s be honest—what we once thought was “healthy” often turns out to be loaded with sneaky additives, preservatives, artificial colours, and way too much cooked or processed food that lacks real life force. It all adds up over time and can leave us feeling pretty average.

But here’s the thing: once you feel how good your body is actually designed to feel—there’s no going back. That was me. I’m no purist (life’s for living!), but over the years I’ve totally changed what I choose to put in my body. And the difference? It’s massive. I’ve got more energy, I sleep like a baby, my digestion’s on point, no joint pain, no random aches—just a body that feels good when I’m treating it well.

A Practice Rooted in Ancient Wisdom

From the Egyptians to the Greeks, fasting has long been recognised as a powerful healing tool. Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras—they all fasted to gain clarity, health, and longevity. Ancient medicine men and women used fasting to treat disease.

Even today, the science backs it up.

Fasting, Stem Cells & Immune Regeneration

Researchers at the University of Southern California discovered that fasting for 72 hours can regenerate the entire immune system. Yes, literally. Your body clears out old, damaged cells and creates a fresh army of white blood cells.

Professor Valter Longo called it “a remarkable effect” that could revolutionise how we view healing, ageing, and disease prevention.

Want to Feel Younger? Here’s the Science of Rejuvenescence

Studies from the University of Chicago found that a two-week fast can reverse biological age. A 40-year-old showed cellular function more like a 17-year-old. Ghandi, at 64, was said to have the health of a 40-year-old on the 10th day of fasting.

Fasting ramps up your metabolism, clears the blood, renews the organs, and resets digestion. Your body gets a full makeover—inside and out.

It’s Not a Magic Pill—But It Is a Miracle Process

Fasting isn’t a cure. It’s a process that allows the body to do what it already knows how to do: heal, repair, regenerate.

As Dr Paul Bragg said,

“Fasting is probably the fastest and safest means of regaining health ever conceived by man.”

And I’ve seen this firsthand.

Right now, I’m working at the Tolman Health Healing Hub in Bali, guiding people through extended fasts. I’ve worked with people dealing with everything from cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune conditions, MS, anxiety, candida, food allergies, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), coeliac disease, lyme disease—you name it.

With the right environment, support, and protocols—colonics, enemas, salt flushes, movement, nature, sun therapy—people change their lives.

Ready to Dip Your Toes In?

You don’t have to jump into a long water fast to start feeling better. You can begin with intermittent fasting or juice fasting and work your way up. The point is—just start. Start where you are. Start learning, start feeling better, start reconnecting with your own healing power.

🌿 Curious About Water Fasting? Let’s Chat.

Want to explore whether fasting is right for you? I’d love to connect.

👉 Book a free 15-minute chat with me here
👉 Or be the first to know when we run our inaugural, in person, guided experience: Thirsty for Change – 3-Day Water Fast Challenge. A safe, supported way to begin your journey. Register your interest here.

You’re not alone in this—and you don’t have to go it alone either. Let’s get back to basics, together.