Can I have _______ while fasting?

 There are lists in my book, Delay, Don't Deny, that are quite specific about things you should and shouldn't have while fasting.  Black coffee, plain water, unflavored sparkling water, plain teas...all are safe.  Anything that tastes sweet is NOT safe.  But would it surprise you to know that there is a grey area in the middle?  This blog post is about the "Maybe..." section that we call the grey area.  

The issue is that we are all different, and our bodies may not all release insulin in response to the exact same things.  Some items are never a good idea:  anything that tastes sweet is an immediate no-no.  We know that we should avoid all artificial sweeteners, and even "natural" sweeteners that proclaim that they are "GREAT FOR DIABETICS!" or "Low-glycemic!" or "Won't raise blood sugar!"  (Remember:  we are worried about raising insulin, not blood sugar.  That confuses a lot of people.  Sweet tastes raise insulin levels, not blood sugar.  In fact, if your body releases insulin, you would actually expect to see your blood sugar go DOWN as insulin does its job--which is to lower your blood sugar.  I have had many people argue that a particular artificial sweetener is fine for them because they tested their blood sugar after consuming it and their blood sugar didn't go up.  Of course it didn't!  Insulin lowers blood sugar.  It also stops the fat burning process, which is why we want to avoid it during the fast.)

The items in the grey area include these things:

• peppermint essential oil for breath freshening only (make sure to select food-grade essential oil, and this is not recommended for use as a water-enhancer)
• herbal teas with a bitter flavor profile
• vitamins and supplements

Here is how you can be absolutely sure about what works for you and what doesn't, specifically when talking about herbal teas, peppermint oil, and vitamins/supplements.  First, you need to fast "clean" for awhile.  By fasting "clean", I mean nothing but plain black coffee, plain water, plain sparkling water, and plain black or green tea during your daily fasting time.  This is explained here, in my blog post, Does a "Clean Fast" Really Matter.  Give yourself several weeks to see how your body feels during the daily fast (6 weeks to 2 months would be even better...the goal is to really know how your body feels during the clean fast, and it can take 6-8 weeks for your body to adjust).  At the end of that time period, you will be familiar with how your body feels during the day while fasting, including your daily levels of hunger. (And NO, I do not mean that you should fast nonstop for 6 to 8 weeks straight..I'm an intermittent faster, NOT an extended faster.  What I mean is that you should follow your preferred intermittent fasting routine for at least 6 weeks, fasting clean during the fast and then enjoying your eating window each day.  That should be enough time for you to know how your body feels during the fasted part of the day.)

At that point, try whatever it is from the grey area that you are questioning.  

If the item is okay for you, you won't notice any difference in hunger or energy levels.  You'll feel the same as you did when fasting clean.  If that happens, congratulations!  That item is fine for you. 

If the item is not okay, you will know very soon.  You'll feel shaky or hungry within about an hour (if not sooner), and it will be harder to fast. This is why it is so important to fast clean for enough time first.  When your body is used to fasting clean, you can tell when something doesn't work for you because you are in-tune with your body. 

Once, I had a very noticeable reaction to some strawberry flavored mineral water.  The only ingredients were mineral water and "natural strawberry flavor."  Within an hour, I was shaky and STARVING.  I knew right then that my body is very sensitive to fruit flavors, and I have avoided them ever since.

The moral of the story is:  when it comes to items in the grey area, no one can tell you 100% what will work for YOU during the fast.  You have to learn that for yourself. 

And NO--this is not an excuse to try to work in your favorite Diet Soda or other items from the "no" list.