Nutrition5 min read

How to Break an Intermittent Fast Correctly

Muhammad UsamaUpdated 2024-03-08

After 16 to 24 hours of digestive stillness, your stomach enzymes, pancreatic juices, and gut microbiome have down-regulated. How you break your fast sets the tone for digestion and energy for the remainder of the day.

1. Start With Gentle Foods

Warm bone or vegetable broth with a pinch of sea salt.

Soft-boiled or scrambled eggs with a slice of avocado.

Steamed greens with extra virgin olive oil and wild-caught salmon or grilled chicken.

Key Rule: Prioritize warm, easily absorbed whole foods rich in amino acids and clean lipids.

2. What NOT to Break With

Avoid high-glycemic carbohydrates like croissants, donuts, or sweetened smoothies. These provoke reactive hypoglycemia, leaving you sleepy and famished within 90 minutes.

Avoid very spicy or deep-fried foods which can irritate the resting stomach lining.