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The Segal Guide to Fasting For Yom Kippur
(from a Medical Perspective)
By: Michael M. Segal, MD, PhD
An earlier version of this article appeared in the Jewish Advocate <http://www.thejewishadvocate.com/>  (Boston, USA) in 1989. Copyright © 1989 - 2011 Michael M. Segal, MD, PhD.  This document may be reproduced freely on a non-profit basis, including electronically, during 2009 as long as the source at www.segal.org/kippur/ <http://www.segal.org/kippur/>  is indicated and this copyright notice is included.

Each year on Yom Kippur, Jews wish each other a khatima tova (a good seal in the Book of Life) and tolerable fast.  The route to a khatima tova is beyond the scope of this article; the route to an easy fast is simpler to describe.  The following are the essentials of human physiology that will help you have a tolerable fast on Yom Kippur:

Don't get thirsty:
Most people think the difficulty about fasting is feeling "hungry".  However, avoiding thirst is much more important for how you feel. Not only do you avoid the discomfort of thirst but you are also well hydrated and swallow frequently, so your stomach does not feel as empty.

One important way to remain well hydrated is to avoid drinks or foods that cause your body to get rid of water.  Such foods and drinks include alcohol, tea, caffeinated coffee and chocolate.  Another important rule is to avoid consuming much salt.  Salt causes a person to feel thirsty despite having a "normal" amount of water, because extra water is needed for the extra salt.  For this reason you should avoid processed foods containing lots of salt such as pickles, cold cuts, or cheese.  Most tomato sauces,  canned fish and smoked fish have a lot of added salt.  Since Kosher meat has a high salt content it may be best to choose a main course such as fresh fish, canned no-salt tuna fish or a de-salted meat such as boiled chicken.
 

By avoiding these types of foods and drinks in the several hours before a fast, you can avoid either losing water or needing extra water. Other actions that cause the body to lose water, such as perspiring in warm clothing, should also be avoided during the fast.

Don't start the pre-fast meal on a full stomach:
The pre-fast meal often begins at 5 PM, so a large lunch could prevent you from eating enough immediately before the fast.  It is best to have a small lunch, or no lunch at all.  A large breakfast early in the day based on cereals, breads and fruits can provide the energy you need during the day, yet these high-fiber foods will be far downstream by the time of the pre-fast meal and will not keep you from eating enough food at the pre-fast meal.  A large breakfast is also helpful because it stretches the stomach.  After eating breakfast, it is best to consume beverages during the day.  This will not fill you up, since liquids are absorbed quickly, and this will ensure that you have absorbed enough fluids during the day to start the pre-fast meal being well hydrated.  Be sure to avoid beverages with alcohol or caffeine.  You should also drink at least a glass or two of fluids with the pre-fast meal because many foods need extra water to be digested properly.

Eat foods that are digested slowly:
Include some foods high in oils and fats in the pre-fast meal, since such foods delay emptying of the stomach and effectively prolong your meal.  However, beware of fatty meats or salted potato chips that could load you up with too much salt.  Salads and other high fiber foods that are so important in one's normal diet should be de-emphasized for the pre-fast meal since they travel quickly through the digestive system.  Fruit, despite its high fiber content, is worthwhile since it carries a lot of water in a "time-release" form.

Don't get a headache:
Withdrawing from caffeine produces a headache in people who drink several cups of coffee a day.  If you consume this much caffeine in coffee or other foods or drinks you should prepare yourself for the caffeine-free period by reducing or eliminating caffeine from your diet in the days or weeks before Yom Kippur.  Don't try to get through the fast by drinking coffee right before Kol Nidre, since this will cause you to lose a lot of water.

Make the meal tasty enough so people will eat:
The pre-fast meal doesn't have be bland.  Spices such as lemon or herbs are fine for fasting, but salt and monosodium glutamate should be reduced as much as possible.

Don't do a complete fast if you have certain medical problems:
People with medical conditions such as diabetes should consult their doctors and rabbis before fasting. Certain medications need to be taken during Yom Kippur, and it is important to swallow them with enough water to avoid pills getting stuck on the way to the stomach and damaging the esophagus.  Fasting by women who are pregnant or breast feeding can also be dangerous. If a young person who has not fasted much before has unusual difficulty fasting you should discuss this with your doctor since this happens in some serious metabolic problems <http://www.genereviews.org/query?dz=mcad> in which fasting can be very dangerous.

Don't eat improperly after Neila:
Even people who have prepared well for fasting will be hungry after Neila. Be sure not to eat food too quickly at the post-fast meal.  Begin the break-fast meal with several glasses of milk or juice: these put sugar into the bloodstream and occupy space in the stomach, discouraging you from eating too rapidly.  Also be careful about eating high salt foods such as lox, since you will still be a little dehydrated and will need to drink a lot of fluids to avoid waking up extremely thirsty in the early morning hours.  If you take vitamin C, be sure that you are fully re-hydrated beforehand, because one of the vitamin's breakdown products can precipitate out in your urine if you are dehydrated, causing kidney stones, which are painful and dangerous.

These preparations for the fast of Yom Kippur will be different from your normal routine, but they can serve as a concrete reminder of the approaching Day of Atonement.

« Last edited by mevinyavin on March 21, 2024, 06:01:13 AM »

Author Topic: What do you eat before a fast?  (Read 74125 times)

Offline sky121

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #160 on: February 22, 2013, 12:59:58 PM »
Well, I just ate my pickles. A doctor told my brother that it makes sense, that since you want to drink extra water, you also need extra salt to hold it in. Otherwise, you just pish it all out.

If you believe it, it already helps!
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline henche

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #161 on: February 22, 2013, 03:30:29 PM »
It totally worked also. I'm usually really dehydrated at the end of a fast, but this time, not much at all.
You say placebo? Maybe, but who cares.

Offline Feivish

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What is the food to eat before a fast??
« Reply #162 on: July 14, 2013, 07:46:02 PM »
What is the food to eat before a fast??

Offline Centro

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Re: What is the food to eat before a fast??
« Reply #163 on: July 14, 2013, 07:47:28 PM »
A lot of protein.

Offline sammy n

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #164 on: July 15, 2013, 12:34:14 AM »
Does anyone know if theres such a thing as caffeine release pills?

Offline myb821

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #165 on: July 15, 2013, 10:00:53 AM »
So what do people eat for prefast meal for Tisha B'av

Offline AsherO

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #166 on: July 15, 2013, 01:43:10 PM »
So what do people eat for prefast meal for Tisha B'av

Egg with ashes, duh :P
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline Homeandl

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #167 on: July 15, 2013, 01:54:57 PM »
Watermelon, hands down!

Offline myb821

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #168 on: July 15, 2013, 01:59:00 PM »

Offline sammy n

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #169 on: July 15, 2013, 02:17:37 PM »
all these watermelon and grape things r overrated!! even water is overrated! just do ur regular thing and eat/drink b4 and everything will b good! now the coffe is NOT overrated! does anyone have an idea for me?

Offline moko

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #170 on: July 15, 2013, 02:23:26 PM »
all these watermelon and grape things r overrated!! even water is overrated! just do ur regular thing and eat/drink b4 and everything will b good! now the coffe is NOT overrated! does anyone have an idea for me?
I think the coffee is overrated and drinking is important, but I just have experience to back it up no scientific knowledge.

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #171 on: July 15, 2013, 02:33:33 PM »
all these watermelon and grape things r overrated!! even water is overrated! just do ur regular thing and eat/drink b4 and everything will b good! now the coffe is NOT overrated! does anyone have an idea for me?
Quit with the overrated and you'll have an easy fast!

Offline sammy n

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #172 on: July 15, 2013, 02:34:47 PM »
lol! but im serious!

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #173 on: July 15, 2013, 08:40:30 PM »
Any halachists care to supply sources for or against swallowing a dry caffeine pill on tisha beav to prevent (not treat) an oncoming headache.
TIA

AFAIK most LOR permit, looking to get to the bottom of this.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2013, 08:43:37 PM by churnbabychurn »

Offline Centro

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #174 on: July 15, 2013, 09:01:02 PM »
Any halachists care to supply sources for or against swallowing a dry caffeine pill on tisha beav to prevent (not treat) an oncoming headache.
TIA

AFAIK most LOR permit, looking to get to the bottom of this.
I'm not sure about a caffeine pill but my ruv said that if you have a headache you're allowed to swallow tylenol etc without water.

Offline Homeandl

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #175 on: July 15, 2013, 09:04:28 PM »
Wishing you all an easy fast  >:(

Offline shmuelb

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #176 on: December 29, 2013, 05:03:23 PM »
Start getting off of coffee a week(s) before the fast so you do not need a coffee. Tha Luach Davar B'ito usually writes a reminder note a week or so before the taanis.
siyag lachachma :-)

Offline raphy781

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #177 on: December 29, 2013, 05:08:44 PM »
Start getting off of coffee a week(s) before the fast so you do not need a coffee. Tha Luach Davar B'ito usually writes a reminder note a week or so before the taanis.
I'd rather be miserable for a day than a week.

Offline shmuelb

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #178 on: December 29, 2013, 05:10:13 PM »
I hear, I cut down slowly, very slowly, so no pain, BH!
siyag lachachma :-)

Offline whacked1

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Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #179 on: December 29, 2013, 05:11:29 PM »
Start getting off of coffee a week(s) before the fast so you do not need a coffee. Tha Luach Davar B'ito usually writes a reminder note a week or so before the taanis.
what fast are you starting to prepare for now? ???