Health experts slam Instagram influencers’ bizarre ‘no water’ diet

Fitness trainers and dietitians have revealed the potentially deadly results of a ‘no water’ diet spruiked by Instagram influencers.

Gym owner Fred Liberatore has slammed a fad 'no water' diet known as dry-fasting. Picture: David Geraghty

Fitness trainers and dietitians have slammed a ‘no water’ diet spruiked by Instagram influencers that has had deadly results.

Gym owner and fitness guru, Fred Liberatore, labelled the fad diet as “very, very dangerous” after it was linked to the death of a Russian model earlier this year.

Mr Liberatore, who is the twin brother of Bulldogs legend Tony Liberatore, said he noticed “there was a fair bit of activity” on social media about ‘dry fasting’.

“The hashtag on Instagram showed like 19,000 people doing dry fasting,” he said.

“People are posting about how good it is but we obviously need water.”

Followers instead ‘eat’ their daily H20 intake through fruit and veggies and Mr Liberatore said some bodybuilders used the technique for a “shredded look”.

Mr Liberatore, who owns and operates RealFit gym in Malvern East, said he advocates food fasting for clients but no longer than 24 hours and never without water.

Instagram photo from health influencer Sophie Partik (@pimpyourprana)'s page.

Influencer Alise Mango.

“Fasting only requires your time and your belief.

“But this dry fasting is another level and so that’s really concerning.”

Influencers who have promoted the dangerous diet include Bali-based Sophie Partik telling her more than Instagram 60,000 followers she isn’t against water but “how we hydrate is the key”.

According to a post from 2019, Ms Partik went without water for four months instead subsisting on squeezed lemon and orange juice, smoothies and “high water content fruit”.

The 36-year-old also claims there is a “fourth phase of water” known as H302 that is “more viscous, dense and alkaline” than regular H20.

Another believer is Alise ‘Mango’, who in a post last year, claimed she hadn’t had a drop of water in nearly two days yet felt “full of energy”.

Dietitians Australia’s Joel Feren said he was concerned by influencers promoting dry fasting as it was “particularly dangerous”.

Mr Feren said risks include dehydration, constipation, poor mood and sleep and kidney damage.

“Just because somebody is on reality TV, or in a big Hollywood blockbuster, it doesn’t automatically qualify them as being an expert on matters related to health and nutrition,” he said.

“Always go see an accredited practising dietitian.”