I plan to start a water fast tomorrow morning (Wednesday morning) and this is my first fast. I will not break the fast until Saturday morning, but I plan on attending a party on Saturday night and there will be alcohol involved. I initially planned to drink, but after deciding to fast, I had to rethink that. I know you obviously have to re-introduce food slowly (I’ve done enough research on this) and keep it low-carb to avoid refeeding syndrome, but when would it be okay to start drinking alcohol? Would it be risky to drink the same day I broke my fast even if I was on a full stomach?
EDIT: Thank you everyone for your input as it is much appreciated. So far I am 30 hours into my water fast and I feel great. I stopped feeling any hunger around the afternoon of yesterday and my energy levels are stable. No feelings of fatigue or crankiness.
At 3 days, refeeding may not be any sort of issue for you. I do not have issues eating after 3 or 4 day fasts, and I know others have no issues, too. But, if this is your first fast then better play it safe.
Obviously an unpopular opinion, but you have just shown that you can go three days without alcohol. Why would you introduce it back into your diet?
We fast to become more insulin sensitive. Alcohol contributes to insulin resistance.
We fast to allow our livers to function properly. Alcohol overburdens our liver do it cannot perform any other functions until after it finishes metabolizing alcohol.
We fast to help regulate sleep. Alcohol disrupts sleep by forcing an abundance of serotonin-subsequently blocking the secretion of melatonin.
We fast to lose fat. Alcohol is one of the primary factors in weight gain due to its role in insulin resistance.
We fast to heal. Alcohol is poison.
I think as long as you eat during the day on Saturday you will be ok. At 72 hours there isn’t a need to worry about refeeding syndrome, I eat normal meals after that long a fast with absolutely no concern. The only people I can think of that would have to worry about refeeding syndrome after 3 days of fast would be those who are severely malnourished or have electrolyte imbalances due to disease and shouldn’t be fasting in the first place.