Why No Herbal Tea or 100% Juice!
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive about the Daniel Fast concerns herbal tea. People have a hard time understanding why they can’t have it on the fast, especially if it’s caffeine-free and organic. The same question is asked about fruit and vegetable juice.
The answer is really quite simple and it’s found in Daniel 1:12 where the Prophet’s words are recorded:
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
This is the anchor text that says we drink only water on the Daniel Fast. Tea and juice aren’t off the list because they are bad for you. They are off the list because there is no room for juice or tea in “drink only water.”
I hope this helps solve some of the confusion as to why no other beverages are allowed on the Daniel Fast. When you think “beverage” during the Daniel Fast, you think “water.”
Now, let’s move to a little bit of a complicated matter, and that has to do with “juiced fruit and vegetables” that are allowed on the Daniel Fast. The reason they are listed is because many people have meals of juiced produce. It’s not a beverage . . . it’s a meal. One woman wrote to me today and told me she uses juiced meals when she’s traveling and at work. But she also accompanies the juiced meal with a beverage . . . which is filtered water. So if you are making meal replacements by juicing fruits and vegetables, then they would be acceptable. It’s a fine line. Juice as a beverage is not allowed . . . liquid meals like smoothies and other plant-based protein drinks are okay.
Water has many benefits . . . including thwarting hunger, helping with detox headaches and cleansing the body. The average adult should drink at least 1/2 gallon of filtered water every day. If this is a new practice for you, you will be very surprised by the benefits you experience.
The Daniel Fast 
Hi Charlie,
Thanks for our comment. Actually, the Daniel Fast is based on the fasting experiences of Daniel along with Jewish fasting principles. The references in Daniel 1 and 10 form the guidelines for the fast.
Be blessed on your fast.
Funny how you went to that verse when that verse doesn’t reference the 21 day fast that we all know as the daniel fast. That was a completely different situation. The 21 days of fasting is actually Daniel 10: 2-3.
Yes, all healthy oils are allowed on the fast.
is avocado and coconut oil allowed?
A smoothie would have fruits and/or vegetables, nuts, grains, and plant-based milk.
My favorite is with frozen raspberries and blueberries, almond butter, unsweetened soymilk, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and some warm water (it makes the smoothie thinner, plus keeps the frozen fruit from turning into a frozen mass). I use a Magic Bullet and it’s ready in less than 5 minutes. Very tasty and packed with nutrition!
What is in the smoothies?
Yes, if you add no sweeteners and use plant-based unsweetened milks if that is how you eat it.
Be blessed!
Hi Susan
I believe you doing well. Thank you for all your answers to the questions. I just want to ask you, can you eat maize porridge?
Carbs, yes, but very low on the GI.
If you need to have more protein, such as eggs, fish or chicken due to your health condition, then alter the fast appropriately. Most folks with type-2 diabetes are able to control their blood sugar with food only while on the fast. Be wise and prudent and follow the advice of your earthly physician while praying to the Great Physician.
Be blessed on your fast!
The foods that are ok for the fast are mostly carbs, including a lot of grains and starches. How does someone with diabetes manage this safely?
HI Christa,
The “fine line” is to make sure you can still call it water. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast where you “restrict food for a spiritual purpose.” So there is some sacrifice involved. We want to make sure we’re not efforting to satisfy the flesh. Again, fine line. I encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on this for you. He will show you what is best.
Be blessed
we can have fruits and vegetables on the fast, can we infuse our water with the fruits and vegetables?
Dorothy,
You are fasting, but you are not using the Daniel Fast as you method. So you can decide which liquids you want to include or exclude.
Good morning, I started Fasting on Ash Wednesday 2-18-15 in (3) phases – 1st 21 days – seafood vegetables fruits water juice, NO BREAD, NO MEAT, NO SWEETS, NO SODAS. 2ND 18 DAYS SAME AS PHASE 1 BUT NO SEAFOOD AND FINAL 7 DAYS (HOLY WEEK) – NO SOLID FOODS! So what liquids are allowed, smoothies? What kind? Thank you and Pray for my strength!
No, the only beverage on the Daniel Fast is water (see Daniel 1).
Am I allowed to take Black tea while fasting besides water
Some stores have bulk food sections where you can make nut butters. These are sugar free, salt free and preservative free. These are (in my opinion) much better tasting and 100% nuts so they are a great source of nut butters. Check you local stores to see if they have nut grinders. One word of caution though, don’t get honey roasted nuts.
Regarding Daniel not anointing himself – that was because he was mourning and the Jewish custom for men at that time was to use oils and perfumes in their hair and on their bodies. Because Daniel was mourning, this would not be appropriate. So he was in simple dress and simple hygiene. For a deeper study on fasting I encourage you to get a copy of the Daniel Fast book. Be blessed on your fast!
What does he mean in Dan. 10:3 – “I did not anoint myself at all for the full three weeks?
Thank you.
No, the only beverage on the Daniel Fast is water. See Daniel 1
Yes. I have a well, so my water is really good. You may want to use a filter on your water if it’s municipal.
Be blessed