Daniel Fast
This is a partial fast that provides many attributes to the idea of denying self and seeking God, but with less discomfort than a juice or water fast. Here are some guidelines for the Daniel Fast:
Foods to eat: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, 100% juice, natural oils, and water.
Foods to avoid: Meat, dairy, all-natural and artificial sweeteners, all leavened bread, refined and processed foods, fried foods, solid fats, coffee, tea, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
Here is a thorough Daniel Fast Plan & Guide – complete with a list of foods and a full 21-day meal plan.
Comfort Fast
Fasting from comfort items is a great option if fasting is a new experience for you or if you have any health limitations regarding food-based fasts. Here are some ideas of things you can fast from:
- Electronic Entertainment
- TV Shows, Movies, Netflix, Hulu, Video Games, etc.
- Social Networking Apps or Sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Pinterest, Blogs, etc.
- Any major thing you find comfort in.
Keep in mind the goal of comfort fasting is to allow space for your hunger to drive you to God, and to not satisfy ourselves with other things. Be intentional about your fast and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Juice Fast
In this fast, abstain from food and only drink water and 100% juice for a period of time. Drink mildly acidic or non-acidic fruit juices such as apple, grape, peach or pineapple juice, which are excellent sources of natural and necessary sugar to stabilize blood sugar and keep energy levels up. Raw vegetable juices such as carrot, celery, beet or green vegetable juice combinations are excellent as well.
You can do normal daily activities on a juice fast.
Water Fast
This type of fast is abstaining from food and only drinking water for a period of time. Drink plenty of water, at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Distilled water is most beneficial, but filtered and purified water also works well. A water-only fast is, by far, the most difficult fast due to the detoxification process that the body goes through and the lack of energy that is experienced as a result of not eating. Many people who are experienced in fasting have fasted this way for 40 days or more. Long-term water fasts are possible, but definitely not comfortable.