What Breaks A Fast: Everything You Need To Know

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat someone can and cannot eat and drink while fasting

Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT — Written by Veronica Zambon — Updated on April 28, 2025

Types of fast
What will not break a fast?
Unsuitable foods
Suitable foods
Breaking a fast
Fasting and its benefits
FAQ
Summary

In many cases, people will only consume water during periods of fasting. However, some fasting methods may allow people to consume certain foods and drinks.

Fasting is a dietary practice in which people do not consume food or beverages that contain calories for a certain period.

There are many different kinds of fasting, while certain food and drinks may be less likely to break a fast than others, depending on the fasting diet a person practices.

Different types of fasting

what breaks a fast varies, sometimes a person can't have any calories as shown here by an empty plate with cutlery — annabogush/Getty Images

While there are many different types of fasting, people can choose the method that best suits their needs. Some examples of fasting methods are below.

Alternate day fasting

This form of fasting involves alternating fasting days with eating days.

During fasting days, people tend to avoid consuming food and drink that contains energy or calories. On eating days, they can consume as many calorie-containing foods and beverages as necessary.

Modified alternate day fasting

On fasting days, people will typically only consume 20% to 30% of their calorie needs and consume as many calories as they need on eating days.

A popular version of this form of fasting is the 5:2 diet. People who follow this diet fast for two nonconsecutive days per week.

Time-restricted eating

Time-restricted fasting involves restricting the window in which a person can eat. For example, some people may have an eating window between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. and fast outside of these hours.

Ramadan fasting

Ramadan is a holy month that people following Islam celebrate. During Ramadan, people may fast between dawn and sunset.

A common dietary practice of Ramadan fasting is to consume a large meal after sunset and a lighter one before dawn.

Other religious fasts

People who follow other religions may take part in specific fasts. For example, people following the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may not consume food or drink for extended periods.

Others who follow the Seventh-day Adventist Church may have their last meal in the afternoon and fast until the next morning.

What is it okay to consume during a fast?

For most people, anything they consume during a fast should have minimal or zero calories unless they take part in a modified fast, such as the 5:2 diet.

Fasts may also allow the following beverages:

Water

Water contains zero calories, so a person can drink as much of it as they wish during fasting periods.

Both still and sparkling water do not contain any calories. Flavored water also may not carry any calories, but people may wish to check the beverage’s nutrition label first.

Black coffee and tea

Black coffee and herbal teas contain very few calories per cup.

Certain teas, such as green tea, may decrease appetite and increase the feeling of fullness.

List of supplements and foods more likely to break a fast

Certain foods and supplements may increase a person’s likelihood of breaking their fast, including the below.

Branched-chain amino acids

Some people may take branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements while fasting. Manufacturers may label and market some of these as calorie-free or very low calorie.

However, most BCAA supplements may actually contain higher levels of calories.

BCAA supplements may show zero — or very low — calories due to a labeling loophole in supplement industry regulations.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines state, “Protein shall not be declared on labels of products that, other than ingredients added solely for technological reasons, contain only individual amino acids.”

This means that although BCAAs contain calories, manufacturers will not list those calories on the packaging.

Food and drinks that contain calories

Strictly speaking, any amount of calories will break a fast. If a person follows a strict fasting schedule, they may need to avoid any food or drinks containing calories.

Those following a modified fasting diet can often eat up to 30% of their daily calorie needs while fasting, though the exact amount may vary.

With this in mind, it is important to know how many calories a person needs while avoiding food and drinks that exceed their total daily limit.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has a free body weight planner that can help people calculate how many calories they need daily.

List of supplements and foods less likely to break a fast

Some certain supplements and foods are generally within the limits of several fasting methods, including the below.

Multivitamins

Some multivitamin brands do not contain any calories. However, people may wish to check nutritional labels or review the manufacturer’s website before purchasing.

Some people may prefer to consume multivitamins and other supplements during periods of eating.

Low calorie food and drink

Certain fasting diets, such as the modified fasting plan, allow people to eat a limited amount of calories on fast days, often up to 30% of their usual daily caloric intake.

For example, a person requiring 2,000 calories per day could consume up to 600 calories daily if they follow this method.

List of what foods and drinks to eat to break a fast

Below are some foods people can use to break a fast.

Dates

People often break their fast during Ramadan with sweet foods, such as dates, before eating a main meal that may be high in carbohydrates. This may be due to the belief that the Prophet Mohamad reportedly broke a fast with water and dates before a small meal.

Food and drink with low glycemic load

Food low in glycemic load is slowly absorbed in the gut, which may make people feel full for longer and provide a gentle way to break a fast.

Food and drinks low in glycemic load include:

oats or wholegrain cereals
nonstarchy vegetables
milk
nuts
sweet potatoes
most fruits

High protein food and drink

High protein foods and beverages may improve satiety, allowing people to feel fuller without eating so much that they shock their digestive system after a period without food.

High protein foods include:

nuts, such as almonds
nut butter, such as peanut, cashew, and almond
dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt
poultry, including chicken and turkey
lean meats
fish, including salmon and cod
protein powders and shakes
tofu
beans

What is fasting, and what are the benefits?

Fasting is a dietary practice where people voluntarily avoid consuming food and drink containing calories for a set period. People have practiced fasting for hundreds of years. Various fasting methods exist, including a wide range of religious fasts.

According to a 2024 review, fasting may offer various health effects, including:

improving markers of cardiovascular health, including:
- blood pressure
- cholesterol levels
- triglyceride levels
increasing insulin sensitivity
supporting weight loss
improving metabolic health
boosting immune function
reducing inflammation

Frequently asked questions

How many calories break a fast?

The amount of calories necessary to break a fast may depend on the type of fast someone is practicing. For some types of fast, consuming any number of calories breaks the fast.For modified alternate day fasting, people may be able to eat up to 30% of their usual caloric intake on fasting days.

The amount of calories necessary to break a fast may depend on the type of fast someone is practicing. For some types of fast, consuming any number of calories breaks the fast.

For modified alternate day fasting, people may be able to eat up to 30% of their usual caloric intake on fasting days.

What is dirty fasting?

Some people use the term “dirty fasting” to describe fasting that allows a person to consume small amounts of calories during fasting periods. This may contrast with “clean” fasting, which restricts all caloric consumption during fasting periods.

Summary

Fasting may have health benefits, such as reducing body weight and lowering the likelihood of developing certain health conditions.

There are many different forms of fasting, and people can choose the type of fast that best suits their needs.

Some fasts require people to consume zero calories during fasting periods, while others allow people to consume a percentage of their daily caloric needs.

Cancer / Oncology
Nutrition / Diet
Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Seniors / Aging

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Body weight planner. (n.d.).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/bwp
Code of Federal Regulations: 101.36 Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements. (2025).https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-C/section-101.36
Glycaemic index and diabetes. (n.d.).https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/eating/carbohydrates-and-diabetes/glycaemic-index-and-diabetes
Lessan N, et al. (2019). Energy metabolism and intermittent fasting: The Ramadan perspective.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6566767/
Mackieh R, et al. (2024). Unlocking the benefits of fasting: A review of its impact on various biological systems and human health.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38018193/
Moon J, et al. (2020). Clinical evidence and mechanisms of high-protein diet-induced weight loss.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539343/
Osman F, et al. (2020). Effects of time-restricted feeding during Ramadan on dietary intake, body composition and metabolic outcomes.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7468808/
Pascual PE, et al. (2022). A meta‐analysis comparing the effectiveness of alternate day fasting, the 5:2 diet, and time‐restricted eating for weight loss.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10098946/
Shatila H, et al. (2021). Impact of Ramadan fasting on dietary intakes among healthy adults: A year-round comparative study.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.689788/full
Sirotkin AV, et al. (2021). The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8820582/
Stuby J, et al. (2019). Appetite-suppressing and satiety-increasing bioactive phytochemicals: A systematic review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6769678/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT — Written by Veronica Zambon — Updated on April 28, 2025

Latest news

6 depression symptoms in midlife linked to almost 50% higher dementia risk
Eating more ultra-processed foods linked to higher Crohn's disease risk
FDA approves daily pill to treat low libido in women after menopause: What to know
Fibroids may be a risk factor for heart disease, study suggests
Do high-fat cheese and cream help keep the brain healthy? What to know

Related Coverage

Can fasting cause diarrhea?
Diarrhea during fasting is uncommon since a person will not consume any food during this time. Still, some people may have diarrhea and may need…
READ MORE
How to begin intermittent fastingMedically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, RDN, CDCES
Intermittent fasting has many potential benefits. Tips to start include having a goal and choosing a suitable method. Learn how to start in this…
READ MORE
Eating more ultra-processed foods linked to higher Crohn's disease risk
New research shows that diets high in ultra-processed foods may be connected to a higher risk of Crohn's disease.
READ MORE
Lower-calorie diet could help keep the brain young, animal study says
A new study suggests that diet and caloric intake may affect the brain's aging.
READ MORE

Tag » How Many Calories Does Fasting Burn

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us