Fasting & Water Consumption

Food Has a Water Footprint

Water is one of the less visible resources behind food.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.

Water is used for:

• Irrigation
• Livestock
• Crop production
• Processing
• Cleaning

Consequently, changing food consumption can potentially influence water demand.

Does Fasting Save Water?

The answer is potentially — but indirectly.

If fasting reduces total food consumption, fewer agricultural resources may ultimately be required.

But the size of the effect depends heavily on the foods being consumed.

Water Footprint Is Complicated

Water use is not equivalent to greenhouse-gas emissions.

A food can have a relatively low carbon footprint but a significant water footprint, depending upon how and where it is produced.

Local climate matters.

Irrigation matters.

Production methods matter.

Therefore, environmental impact cannot be reduced to one number.

Fasting and Water

There is also a common misconception worth correcting.

Fasting does not mean that a person should stop drinking water.

A food fast and a water fast are very different practices.

When discussing the environmental consequences of fasting, the question concerns reduced food production and consumption, not deliberate dehydration.

A Broader Perspective

Fasting may potentially reduce the amount of agricultural water required if it genuinely reduces food demand.

But dietary composition can be just as important — or more important — than fasting duration.

The environmental equation is therefore:

How much do we consume?

plus

What do we consume?

plus

How is it produced?