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Electrolyte Strategy for Extended Fasting - What Actually Works?

6 months ago (edited)

I practice 18:6 intermittent fasting daily and do occasional 48-hour fasts for autophagy benefits. The fasting itself feels fine, but I’ve noticed headaches, fatigue, and brain fog creeping in around hour 36 - classic electrolyte depletion signs.

I’ve tried adding pink Himalayan salt to water, but I’m not sure if I’m getting the right sodium/potassium/magnesium ratios for fasted states. Some people swear by snake juice recipes, others say commercial electrolyte powders work better.

What’s your protocol for maintaining electrolyte balance during extended fasts? How much sodium do you actually need per day when not eating? Any specific products or DIY mixes you’d recommend?

@anne-latz @hillary-lin @karol @dr-markus-badwal @alessandro-mambrini @brgmn

Intermittent Fasting
Magnesium
Electrolyte Balance
Autophagy
Fasting
Salt
Water
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· 4 months ago

I have found the LMNT packets to be the right ratio for me regardless if I am fasting or not. I do need to adjust my sodium intake based on my activity level during the fasts, though. The easiest way to do that for me is to use salt tablets. I also supplement with magnesium on top of the LMNT. This is possibly going off on a tangent that might be heretical to traditional fasting followers, but I have found exogenous ketones to help with the headaches as well. This benefit is more evident when I'm doing a longer fast without dipping into ketosis.

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