24-Hour Fasting For Health

Fasting isn’t just about skipping meals, it’s a powerful way to cleanse the body, renew the mind, and align with God’s design for health. In the Bible, fasting is often linked to spiritual growth, but modern science also confirms its benefits, from clearing out harmful cells to supporting a healthy weight. For women seeking a natural way to restore balance and well-being, a 24-hour fast can be a transformative practice, both physically and spiritually.

I first learned about fasting for health from The Daily Connoisseur on YouTube. She started intermittent fasting during the pandemic, and she lost almost 30 pounds. Over time I decided to give it a try and I was amazed with my own results. I lost nearly 30 pounds as well, and it was so easy to do.

How To Start Fasting For Health

My recommendation when starting to fast for health is to always ask your doctor. I asked my doctor and he was very pleased by my inquiry and told me he was in favor of me doing this simple change in my lifestyle. The change started with 16 hours of fasting, and 8 hours of feasting per day. This 16 and 8 hour period equals 24 hours in a day. It’s simply known as the 16:8 method to intermittent fasting.

My schedule went something like this:

Eat breakfast around 9 AM
Eat lunch at 1 PM
Eat dinner at 5 PM
Do not eat anything after dinner until breakfast the next morning at 9 AM.
Snacks are aloud, but keep it to a minimal.

This is how I started my journey and it went very well. I decided to then train my body to not eat breakfast until 10 AM to have a later dinner because of our after school schedule, and it’s working great. I make sure I’m done eating every night by 6 PM. No late night snacks, no cream or honey in my tea.

Take Fasting To The Next Level – Longer Fasts

I have been a consistent intermittent faster for 3 years now and I believe this is a healthy lifestyle for me to continue throughout my life. After reading the book “Fast Like A Girl,” I decided to try a 24-hour fast. I had bumped into my nephew-in-law at Trader Joe’s one day and we got to talking about fasting for about 30 minutes. He told me he has started longer fasts, 36 hours, to heal his health issues that had become a problem in recent years.

He challenged me to give it a try to help with my chemo brain fog. That challenge was all it took for me to give it a try. I scheduled on the calendar the best day for me to try a 24-hour fast, and I stayed very busy that day, so I didn’t think about food, and I got through it. I think the first time you ever try fasting, it’s hard. The body is not used to it and it takes time to adjust. Now if I were to do a 24-hour fast, like tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

List of all my best fasting resources can be found in one place

24-Hour Fasting For Health Schedule

When I first started the 24-hour fast, I did the dinner to dinner method. It’s quite simple, eat dinner, then when you finish your last bite, the fasting starts. You go to bed, wake up the next morning, and you don’t eat anything until dinner that night. Make sure it’s 24 hours from your last bite. Dinner to dinner is not my favorite method. I have also tried the lunch to lunch and breakfast to breakfast.

Optimal Fasting Schedule:

Sunday: eat lunch as a family after church.
Fast begins after lunch.
Only drink water and herbal hot tea during dinner time.
Go to sleep.
Monday: no breakfast, but you can drink tea or black coffee. I drink Matcha green tea, no cream or sweetener.
24-hours later, eat at lunch as normal. It’s that easy!

Favorite Fasting Drinks

Yerba Mate Tea: A wonderful fasting tea because it curbs hunger. If you want to fast for a longer period, 24+ hours, then give this a try. I buy it also in loose leaf form and brew it myself.
LMNT: It’s important to keep your electrolytes up when fasting, so that you don’t get headaches or feel dizzy. LMNT unflavored is my favorite choice because it doesn’t contain natural flavors or maltodextrin.
Matcha Green Tea: This staple tea is something I drink every single morning with breakfast because of its copious health benefits. It will not break a fast.
Salt: Need a simple pick-me-up while fasting, just drop a few crystals of salt on your tongue, let it dissolve, and drink some water. This helps keep you hydrated and satiated.

Fasting For Health In The Bible

It’s very common among different cultures and religions to fast. Fasting for health in the Bible is a command, not a suggestion. It’s hard for us, who have a bounty of food at the ready, to even consider fasting. However, as I have delved into the Biblical aspect of fasting, I have learned that there is great blessing when we turn our eyes towards Jesus during prayerful circumstances instead of food.

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

While the physical benefits of fasting are incredible, Jesus reminds us that the true purpose of fasting isn’t about the outward effects—it’s about seeking God’s presence with humility. When we are fasting for health in the Bible, we aren’t called to draw attention to ourselves or seek approval from others. Instead, we approach fasting with joy, knowing that our Father sees what is done in secret and will reward us—not just with spiritual growth, but also with the unseen benefits that naturally follow obedience to His design.

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16

Esther’s story teaches us that fasting for health, according to the Bible, isn’t about deprivation—it’s about preparing our hearts, minds, and even bodies for the breakthroughs God wants to bring. Whether we’re seeking wisdom, healing, or courage for a difficult situation, a 24-hour fast for health in the Bible can be a meaningful practice that aligns us with God’s presence while also renewing our physical health.

How To Break A 24-Hour Fast For Health

There are many ways to break a fast, but my favorite method is from the book Fast Like A Girl. Dr. Mindy Pelz is a wonderful resource for fasting, and I highly recommend her books and YouTube channel for additional support.

How I break my fast:

Start with 1 cup of warmed homemade chicken broth (store-bought bone-broth is also good like Pacific)
15 minutes later I will eat this simple combination: (1) cooked 100% grass-fed hamburger patty, 1 scoop (2Tbsp) fermented sauerkraut, 1/2 avocado topped with hemp seeds.
I eat this slowly, like over 20-30 minutes.

If you do not want to eat meat, then break your fast with lentils or tofu. The point is to get nutritional protein in the body.

A 24-hour fast can be a powerful tool for both spiritual renewal and physical healing, reminding us that God’s wisdom is woven into every aspect of our lives—including how we nourish and care for our bodies. Whether you fast for spiritual closeness, health, or both, the key is to do it with a heart focused on the Lord, rather than external recognition. As we fast with the right intention, we are not only refreshed in body but also spirit, drawing closer to the God who sees and rewards in secret.