Free
Fasting
Calc

Does it break a fast?

The honest answer depends on why you are fasting. A splash of cream barely touches blood sugar but adds calories; a diet soda has no calories but is a grey area for autophagy. So every item below is answered four ways. Search the item, then read the answer for your goal.

Weight loss

Rule of thumb, not an official limit: near-zero calories is fine.

Autophagy

The strictest bar: anything sensed as food may count.

Gut rest

Anything your gut has to digest counts.

Blood sugar

Anything that raises insulin or glucose counts.

Apple cider vinegar

Drinks · ~3 kcal per tablespoon (15 ml) in water

A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar has about 3 kcal. Diluted in water, it is safe for weight loss and blood sugar and grey for the other goals.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Aspartame

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per packet (1 g)

Aspartame adds almost no calories in the amounts used. Its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every fasting goal in this database.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

BCAAs

Supplements · ~20 kcal per 5 g serving

BCAAs break a fast for autophagy. At about 20 calories per 5 g with no sugar, they are a grey area for weight loss, gut rest and blood sugar.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Beer

Alcohol · ~150 kcal per can (355 ml)

Yes. A 355 ml can of regular beer has about 150 kcal from alcohol and carbohydrate, so it breaks a fast for every goal.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Black coffee

Drinks · ~2 kcal per cup (240 ml)

No. Black coffee has about 2 kcal a cup and no sugar, so it keeps a fast for weight loss, blood sugar and autophagy. Gut rest is a grey area.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Black tea

Drinks · ~2 kcal per cup (240 ml)

No. Plain black tea has about 2 kcal a cup, no sugar and nothing to digest, so it is safe for every fasting goal. Milk and sugar change that.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Bone broth

Drinks · ~40 kcal per cup (240 ml)

Bone broth has protein and about 15 to over 100 kcal a cup, so it breaks autophagy and gut-rest fasts. It is grey for weight loss.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Breath mints (sugar-free)

Oral care & other · ~1 kcal per mint (0.2 g)

A sugar-free mint has about 0.5 to 1 kcal and no sugar. Its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every fasting goal, blood sugar included.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Bulletproof coffee

Drinks · ~230 kcal per mug (1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp MCT oil)

Yes, for most goals. Butter and MCT oil take bulletproof coffee to about 230 kcal, which breaks weight-loss, autophagy and gut-rest fasts.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Chia seeds

Foods · ~58 kcal per tablespoon (about 12 g)

Yes. A tablespoon of chia seeds is about 58 kcal of fat, protein and fibre. That breaks a fast for weight loss, autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Cigarettes

Oral care & other · ~0 kcal per cigarette

Smoking adds no calories, so it does not break a fast by calories alone. This site never marks tobacco as safe for any fasting goal.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Cinnamon

Foods · ~6 kcal per teaspoon (2.6 g)

Not for weight loss or blood sugar. A teaspoon of ground cinnamon has about 6 kcal, and a sprinkle in coffee has under 2 kcal.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Coconut water

Drinks · ~45 kcal per cup (240 ml)

Yes, for most goals. A 240 ml cup has about 45 kcal and 6 g of sugar, which breaks a fast for blood sugar, autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Coffee with a splash of milk

Drinks · ~15 kcal per 2 tbsp (30 ml) milk

A splash of milk (about 15 kcal) is a grey area for weight loss and blood sugar. Any milk breaks a fast for autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Coffee with cream

Drinks · ~50 kcal per tablespoon (15 ml) heavy cream

A tablespoon of heavy cream has about 50 kcal. It is safe for blood sugar, grey for weight loss, and breaks autophagy and gut-rest fasts.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Collagen peptides

Supplements · ~35 kcal per scoop (10 g)

A 10 g scoop of collagen has about 35 kcal, all from protein. It is grey for weight loss and blood sugar and breaks autophagy and gut-rest fasts.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Creatine

Supplements · ~0 kcal per 3 to 5 g dose (site estimate)

No. Plain creatine monohydrate adds no sugar, fat or protein, so the database marks it safe for all four fasting goals. Sugary blends differ.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Cumin (jeera) water

Drinks · ~8 kcal per tsp of seeds (2.1 g) if eaten; strained drink less

Plain, strained cumin (jeera) water has very few calories, so it is safe for weight loss and blood sugar. Honey or sugar in it breaks a fast.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Decaf coffee

Drinks · ~2 kcal per cup (240 ml), black

No. Black decaf coffee has 0 to 2 kcal a cup and no sugar, so it is safe for weight loss, blood sugar and autophagy. Gut rest is a grey area.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Diet soda

Drinks · ~7 kcal per can (355 ml), aspartame-sweetened

A can of diet soda has 0 to about 7 kcal, too few to matter much for weight loss. Its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every goal.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Erythritol

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per teaspoon (4 g)

Erythritol counts as 0 kcal and barely affects blood sugar. Like every sweetener on this site, it is a grey area for all four fasting goals.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Fish oil

Supplements · ~9 kcal per 1 g capsule

A 1 g fish-oil capsule has about 9 calories of fat. It is fine for weight loss and blood sugar, breaks an autophagy fast and is grey for gut rest.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Fruit

Foods · ~95 kcal per medium apple (182 g)

Yes. A medium apple has about 95 kcal and 19 g of sugar, so whole fruit breaks a fast for every goal. A banana has about 105 kcal.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Green tea

Drinks · ~2 kcal per cup (240 ml)

No. Plain green tea has about 2 kcal a cup and no sugar, so it is safe for every fasting goal. Sweetened bottled green tea is a different drink.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Herbal tea

Drinks · ~2 kcal per cup (240 ml)

No. Plain herbal teas such as peppermint, chamomile and hibiscus have 0 to 2 kcal a cup, which makes them safe for every fasting goal.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Honey

Sweeteners · ~64 kcal per tablespoon (21 g)

Yes. A tablespoon of honey has about 64 kcal and 17 g of sugar. That breaks a fast for every goal, even stirred into hot water or tea.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Ibuprofen

Medications · ~0 kcal per tablet

Ibuprofen tablets have no calories, so they do not break a fast. Take them ideally with or after food, as ibuprofen can upset the stomach.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Kombucha

Drinks · ~50 kcal per cup (240 ml)

A 240 ml cup of kombucha has about 40 to 60 kcal and 7 to 12 g of sugar. It breaks most fasts and is a grey area for weight loss.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Lemon water

Drinks · ~1 kcal per juice of one wedge

A squeeze of lemon adds about 1 kcal, so lemon water is safe for weight loss, blood sugar and gut rest. Autophagy is a grey area.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Levothyroxine

Medications · ~0 kcal per tablet

No. A levothyroxine tablet has no calories and does not break a fast. It is taken on an empty stomach, so it sits easily inside a morning fast.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Magnesium

Supplements · ~0 kcal per tablet or capsule

No. A plain magnesium tablet or capsule has almost no calories and no sugar, so it keeps you fasted for every goal.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

MCT oil

Foods · ~130 kcal per tablespoon (15 ml)

Yes, for most goals. A tablespoon of MCT oil is about 130 kcal of fat, so it breaks a fast for weight loss, autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Metformin

Medications · ~0 kcal per tablet

Metformin tablets have no calories and do not break a fast. Most people take it with food, so take it as prescribed and fit the fast around it.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Monk fruit sweetener

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per packet (1 g)

Monk fruit sweetener has 0 kcal, but its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every fasting goal. Many packets are mainly erythritol.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Mouthwash

Oral care & other · ~0 kcal per one rinse, spat out

No. Mouthwash used as directed and spat out does not break a fast. You swish it and spit it, so nothing reaches your stomach.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Multivitamin

Supplements · ~0 kcal per tablet (under 5 kcal)

No. A standard multivitamin tablet has almost no calories (under 5), so it keeps you fasted. Gummy vitamins made with sugar do break a fast.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Nicotine gum

Oral care & other · ~5 kcal per piece (estimate, as for sugar-free gum)

Nicotine gum adds only a few calories, too few to matter much for weight loss. Its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every fasting goal.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Oat milk

Drinks · ~23 kcal per splash (50 ml)

A 50 ml splash of oat milk has about 23 kcal and some sugar. It is grey for weight loss and breaks blood-sugar, autophagy and gut-rest fasts.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Olive oil

Foods · ~120 kcal per tbsp (13.5 g, 15 ml)

Yes. A tablespoon of olive oil has about 120 kcal, so it breaks a fast for weight loss, autophagy and gut rest. It barely touches blood sugar.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Paracetamol (acetaminophen)

Medications · ~0 kcal per tablet

No. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) tablets have no calories and can be taken with or without food, so they keep you fasted for every goal.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Pickles

Foods · ~3 kcal per dill spear (28 g, about 3 kcal)

A dill pickle spear has about 3 kcal, so it is safe for a weight-loss fast. It is still food, so it breaks a fast for autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Pre-workout

Supplements · ~0 kcal per scoop of a sugar-free formula (labels may round under 5 kcal to 0)

Pre-workout can break a fast. A sugar-free caffeine formula is grey at worst, sugar breaks a blood-sugar fast and amino acids break autophagy.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Salt

Foods · ~0 kcal per quarter teaspoon (about 1.5 g)

No. Salt has no calories, sugar or protein, so a pinch in water is safe for every fasting goal. It still counts towards your daily sodium.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Sparkling water

Drinks · ~0 kcal per can (355 ml)

No. Plain sparkling water has 0 kcal, no sugar and no sweetener, so it is safe for every fasting goal. Tonic water is a sweet drink and breaks a fast.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Spirits

Alcohol · ~55 kcal per single measure (25 ml, 40% ABV)

Yes. A 25 ml measure of vodka, gin or whisky has about 55 kcal from alcohol, so spirits break a fast. No level of alcohol is safe for health.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Statins

Medications · ~0 kcal per tablet

No. Statin tablets have no calories and do not break a fast. Simvastatin and atorvastatin can be taken with or without food.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Stevia

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per packet (1 g)

Pure liquid stevia has 0 kcal, but its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every fasting goal. Some packets add up to about 4 kcal of dextrose.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Sucralose

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per packet (1 g)

Sucralose adds almost no calories, but it is a grey area for every fasting goal. In trials it changed blood-sugar responses in some people.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Sugar

Sweeteners · ~16 kcal per level teaspoon (4.2 g)

Yes for blood sugar, autophagy and gut rest. A teaspoon is about 16 calories, so for weight loss it is a grey area that adds up fast.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Breaks fast
Full answer & why →

Sugar-free coffee creamer

Drinks · ~15 kcal per tablespoon (15 ml) liquid

Sugar-free creamer has about 15 to 20 kcal a tablespoon, mostly from fat. It is a grey area for weight loss and breaks a strict fast.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Sugar-free gum

Oral care & other · ~5 kcal per piece

A piece of sugar-free gum has about 3 to 5 kcal, too few to matter much for weight loss. Its sweet taste makes it a grey area for every goal.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Sugar-free syrup

Sweeteners · ~0 kcal per 2 tbsp (30 ml) coffee syrup

Sugar-free coffee syrup is about 0 kcal per 2 tbsp, but the sweet taste makes it a grey area for every goal. Pancake syrups have about 15 kcal.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Toothpaste

Oral care & other · ~1 kcal per pea-sized amount (0.25 g), spat out

No. Brushing your teeth does not break a fast. You spit the toothpaste out, and even a swallowed pea-sized amount would be under 1 kcal.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Unsweetened almond milk

Drinks · ~15 kcal per 100 ml

Unsweetened almond milk has about 15 kcal per 100 ml. A splash is grey for weight loss, blood sugar and gut rest and breaks an autophagy fast.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Unsweetened electrolytes

Supplements · ~0 kcal per serving of an unsweetened mix in water

No. Salt, magnesium and unsweetened electrolyte mixes have no meaningful calories and are safe for every goal. Sugary sports drinks break a fast.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Vaping

Oral care & other · ~0 kcal per any amount

Vaping has 0 kcal, so it adds no calories to a fast. Nicotine is addictive and harmful, so this site never rates vaping as safe.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Grey area

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Vitamin D

Supplements · ~0 kcal per tablet or softgel (under 5 kcal)

No. A vitamin D tablet or softgel has under 5 calories, so it keeps you fasted. It is absorbed better with a meal that contains fat.

Weight loss

Safe

Autophagy

Safe

Gut rest

Safe

Blood sugar

Safe
Full answer & why →

Whey protein

Supplements · ~120 kcal per scoop (about 30 g)

Yes. A 30 g scoop of whey has about 120 calories and 24 g of protein. It breaks a fast for weight loss, autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Wine

Alcohol · ~125 kcal per glass (150 ml)

Yes. A 150 ml glass of red wine has about 125 kcal, mostly from the alcohol. It breaks a fast for weight loss, autophagy and gut rest.

Weight loss

Breaks fast

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Breaks fast

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

Xylitol

Sweeteners · ~10 kcal per teaspoon (4 g)

Xylitol has about 10 kcal a teaspoon. That makes it a grey area for weight loss and blood sugar, and it breaks a strict autophagy fast.

Weight loss

Grey area

Autophagy

Breaks fast

Gut rest

Grey area

Blood sugar

Grey area
Full answer & why →

How to use the database

Type a food, drink, supplement or medicine into the search box. It matches other names too, so “acetaminophen” finds paracetamol. The buttons under the box narrow the list to drinks, sweeteners, supplements, medications, foods, oral care or alcohol.

Each card shows the item’s calories, a short answer and four verdicts, each one “Safe”, “Grey area” or “Breaks fast”. Read the verdict for your own goal. “Full answer & why” opens the item’s own page, with the reasons, what to watch out for and common questions. If nothing matches, the page offers a link to ask us to add it.

Why what breaks a fast depends on your goal

Every answer in the database is given for four goals, which are autophagy, weight loss, gut rest and blood sugar. We built this framework for the site, and no medical body uses it. Each goal sets a different bar.

  • Weight loss looks at calories.
  • Autophagy, the way cells break down and reuse their own worn parts, is the strictest. Anything your body may sense as food can count.
  • Gut rest counts anything your gut has to digest or that gets it working.
  • Blood sugar counts anything that raises glucose or insulin.

So one item can pass one goal and fail another. Coffee with a tablespoon of heavy cream carries about 50 calories. For weight loss it sits in the grey area, and for autophagy it ends the fast, yet the database marks it safe for blood sugar. Diet soda is a different case. Its few calories hardly count for weight loss, yet the database gives it a grey verdict on every goal because it tastes sweet.

How the verdicts are decided

For weight loss, the verdict follows the calories in one serving:

Calories in one servingWeight-loss verdictExamples from the database
Up to about 10SafeBlack coffee, black tea, a pickle spear, a fish-oil capsule
About 15 to 50Grey areaCoffee with milk, a teaspoon of sugar (16), coconut water (45), collagen, bone broth
Over about 50Breaks fastA tablespoon of honey (64), whey protein, beer

The popular “under about 50 calories” line is a rule of thumb, and the weight-loss column is stricter than it. Small amounts also add up. Four coffees with 2 tablespoons of milk each, at about 15 calories a time, come to 60. Some items break the calorie pattern. Diet soda, sugar-free gum and every sweetener have close to 0 calories, but a sweet taste is marked grey for weight loss. Cigarettes have none and are marked grey too, because smoking is harmful. Tobacco kills more than 7 million people a year.

In the autophagy column, anything with protein breaks the fast. The reason comes from cell and animal work. There, leucine and other amino acids activate mTOR, a sensor of nutrients, and mTOR holds autophagy back. Most of what is known about autophagy comes from animal and lab studies, so treat the strict column as caution. Science has not settled it.

For blood sugar, sweeteners such as stevia, sucralose and aspartame are a grey area. Research has not shown whether these sweeteners lift insulin, and people may respond differently. For gut rest, black coffee is grey because coffee triggers stomach acid and moves the bowel along.

Common items, four ways

ItemWeight lossAutophagyGut restBlood sugar
Black coffeeSafeSafeGrey areaSafe
Coffee with 2 tbsp milkGrey areaBreaksBreaksGrey area
Bulletproof coffeeBreaksBreaksBreaksSafe
Diet soda or steviaGrey areaGrey areaGrey areaGrey area
Bone brothGrey areaBreaksBreaksSafe
CollagenGrey areaBreaksBreaksGrey area
Sugar-free gumGrey areaGrey areaGrey areaGrey area
Apple cider vinegarSafeGrey areaGrey areaSafe
Oat milk, a splashGrey areaBreaksBreaksBreaks
Unsweetened electrolytesSafeSafeSafeSafe
A teaspoon of sugarGrey areaBreaksBreaksBreaks

Foods and drinks that don’t break a fast for any goal

If you would rather not think about goals, stick to plain water and the items marked safe for all four. Those include sparkling water, plain black, green and herbal tea, unsweetened electrolytes, salt, toothpaste and mouthwash. Black coffee passes three goals and is a grey area only for gut rest. Our drink-by-drink fasting guide goes through them one at a time.

There is a practical test as well. For some people a sweet taste brings on hunger, although studies disagree. A calorie-free drink that sends you looking for food an hour later may be making the fast harder. If so, move it to your eating window.

Religious fasts

This database answers questions about intermittent fasting for health goals. Religious fasts follow the rules of each faith, and this site doesn’t rule on them. For suhoor and iftar times where you live, use the Ramadan fasting schedule.

Coffee with milk, cream, sweeteners or butter is covered in our coffee-by-coffee breakdown. Why the autophagy column is so strict, and what the hour claims get wrong, is in the autophagy guide. If small extras might be why the scale has stopped moving, read the guide to weight-loss stalls.

Frequently asked

What breaks a fast?

It depends on why you are fasting, so the database answers every item for four goals. Honey and beer break a fast for all four. A teaspoon of sugar and a cup of coconut water break three and are a grey area for weight loss. Sparkling water, herbal tea and unsweetened electrolytes are marked safe for all four.

How many calories break a fast?

No health body or published study has fixed a calorie number. You will often read that under about 50 calories won't matter, which is only a rule of thumb. The database is stricter for weight loss. Items up to about 10 calories are safe, and most items from about 15 to 50 calories are a grey area.

What breaks a fast for autophagy?

Autophagy has the strictest bar in the database, so anything your body may sense as food counts. Protein sources such as collagen, bone broth and BCAAs break it even though they are light in calories. In lab work, amino acids hold autophagy back. Nobody yet knows if a little protein during a fast does the same in people.

Does fruit break a fast?

Yes. A medium apple has about 95 calories and 19 g of sugar, and a medium banana about 105 calories and 14 g of sugar. That is far past any calorie rule, and the sugar raises blood glucose. Keep fruit for your eating window.

Do medicines break a fast?

The tablets in the database, such as statins, ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen), metformin and levothyroxine, add no calories and are marked safe. Some still need food. Metformin is usually taken with meals, and ibuprofen ideally with or after food. Never skip or move a medicine to fit a fast without asking your doctor or pharmacist.