Topic Wiki

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 65471 times)

Offline coralsnake

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 4555
  • Total likes: 162
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #380 on: October 07, 2019, 10:41:39 AM »
The ones they sell In Lakewood/Brooklyn are made by a Kollel and they start releasing after 12 hours for 12 hours.
The science division of Lakewood Kollel?
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline Yonah

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2014
  • Posts: 608
  • Total likes: 386
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #381 on: October 07, 2019, 10:54:14 AM »
Suppository on Yom Kippur?

Years ago I remember visiting a shul a few weeks before R"H, and that was the topic of a shiur for the following week. I didn't go. If I had to choose between a suppository or a headache, I'd pick the headache.

It's funny, DW does a caffeine taper in the week leading up to YK (i.e. slightly less each day, so she is essentially getting a 1/3 cup on erev YK). I drink a regular amount, I also stay milchig on EYK until the seudah, so that I can drink coffee in the early afternoon. This way my headache is milder on YK.

I also do have cup of coffee when I break my fast.

As for hydration, I generally try to drink Powerade/Gatorade on the day of. Probably the equivalent of 3-4 liters worth. In the past, I'd try to drink 2 liters with the seudah - that isn't a good idea. You'll get bloated and it might lead your stomach to feel uneasy. Better to drink it throughout the day.


A side suggestion - If you are going to try some kind of electrolyte drink - don't drink it for the first time on EYK. (Too late for this year already). If you want to try one of these pills remedies, it's best to try them on a regular fast day so that you can see how your body reacts before trusting your body to it on YK. The last thing you want is to have this make you sick on YK.


Offline Yonah

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2014
  • Posts: 608
  • Total likes: 386
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #382 on: October 07, 2019, 11:03:29 AM »
I drink a regular amount, I also stay milchig on EYK until the seudah, so that I can drink coffee in the early afternoon...

As for hydration, I generally try to drink Powerade/Gatorade on the day of. Probably the equivalent of 3-4 liters worth.

I just wanted to point out that caffeine is known to be a mild diuretic - i.e. causes you to urinate, and possibly to lose hydration. While I do ingest caffeine on EYK, it's the normal amount I would drink on a regular day, and I greatly increase the amount of water/fluid/etc that I drink.

Offline stooges44

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 6454
  • Total likes: 2751
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 269
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #383 on: October 07, 2019, 11:05:42 AM »
If I had to choose between a suppository or a headache, I'd pick the headache.

Hahah, don't knock it till you try it.

I don't know how bad of a headache you get but for me the suppository is an absolute lifesaver and quite possibly a literal one.
If it's not free shipping it's not worth it.

Offline grodnoking

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 5847
  • Total likes: 767
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 17
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #384 on: October 07, 2019, 11:45:38 AM »
Hahah, don't knock it till you try it.

I don't know how bad of a headache you get but for me the suppository is an absolute lifesaver and quite possibly a literal one.
I have very bad memories of thermometers from when I was a little kid. I dont plan on ever doing that again, and definitely not willingly.
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline pointer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 1623
  • Total likes: 317
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #385 on: October 07, 2019, 11:59:23 AM »

As for hydration, I generally try to drink Powerade/Gatorade on the day of. Probably the equivalent of 3-4 liters worth. In the past, I'd try to drink 2 liters with the seudah - that isn't a good idea. You'll get bloated and it might lead your stomach to feel uneasy. Better to drink it throughout the day.

No point in drinking all these drinks, one usually gets more than enough electrolytes from foods you eat.

Now unless you find some time on erev YK for your killer workout, regular H2O is all you need.

Offline stooges44

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 6454
  • Total likes: 2751
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 269
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #386 on: October 07, 2019, 02:36:25 PM »
I have very bad memories of thermometers from when I was a little kid. I dont plan on ever doing that again, and definitely not willingly.

That's your moms fault, you're in control here  :D
If it's not free shipping it's not worth it.

Offline henche

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 4183
  • Total likes: 447
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #387 on: October 08, 2019, 09:38:21 AM »
The ones they sell In Lakewood/Brooklyn are made by a Kollel and they start releasing after 12 hours for 12 hours.

Yah, I got them. Had it mailed from NY.

If I had to choose between a suppository or a headache, I'd pick the headache.

Yah, pretty much.

Offline pointer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 1623
  • Total likes: 317
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #388 on: October 08, 2019, 09:40:48 AM »
I also stay milchig on EYK until the seudah, so that I can drink coffee in the early afternoon. This way my headache is milder on YK.
You sir, are no coffee addict.

Offline Yonah

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2014
  • Posts: 608
  • Total likes: 386
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #389 on: October 08, 2019, 10:24:39 AM »
You sir, are no coffee addict.
Hey, it's EYK, דן לכף זכות!

I drink roughly 1-1.5 liters of coffee per day. If that doesn't make me an addict, it's scary for me to think what would.

Offline pointer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 1623
  • Total likes: 317
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #390 on: October 08, 2019, 10:29:25 AM »
 
Hey, it's EYK, דן לכף זכות!

I drink roughly 1-1.5 liters of coffee per day. If that doesn't make me an addict, it's scary for me to think what would.

 :-X My bad....!
 

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67601
  • Total likes: 16913
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #391 on: October 08, 2019, 10:32:38 AM »
I enjoy an occasional latte, but don't drink it often specifically because I don't want the fast headaches.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline pointer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 1623
  • Total likes: 317
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #392 on: October 08, 2019, 10:39:28 AM »
I enjoy an occasional latte, but don't drink it often specifically because I don't want the fast headaches.
Decaf should do the trick.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67601
  • Total likes: 16913
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #393 on: October 08, 2019, 10:44:15 AM »
Decaf should do the trick.
What's the point of decaf?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline pointer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 1623
  • Total likes: 317
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #394 on: October 08, 2019, 10:46:45 AM »
What's the point of decaf?
Thought you meant you enjoy the taste of a latte, but don't like drinking it due to the headaches. 

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67601
  • Total likes: 16913
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #395 on: October 08, 2019, 10:50:59 AM »
Thought you meant you enjoy the taste of a latte, but don't like drinking it due to the headaches. 
I do, but usually I only drink one when I desperately need a pick me up. I don't like being dependent of stuff like that though.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline dealfinder11

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 556
  • Total likes: 305
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #396 on: October 08, 2019, 02:27:37 PM »
I enjoy an occasional latte, but don't drink it often specifically because I don't want the fast headaches.

Just pop a caffeine pill on the fast. Now you can enjoy your lattes whenever you want!

Offline CountValentine

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 15792
  • Total likes: 7320
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips -1
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Location: Poland - Exiled
  • Programs: DAOTYA, DDF Level 3, 5K Lounge
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #397 on: October 08, 2019, 02:41:31 PM »
How about you all eat chicken?  :P
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 17404
  • Total likes: 14342
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #398 on: October 08, 2019, 03:20:12 PM »
How about you all eat chicken?  :P
of course we do.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67601
  • Total likes: 16913
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: What do you eat before a fast?
« Reply #399 on: October 08, 2019, 03:26:32 PM »
How about you all eat chicken?  :P
Have to today.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.