Do not drink much water because it distends the abdomen and raises abdominal pressure; even when thirsty during long fasting hours just wet the lips; fasting three days in a row each week without food and drink is not harsh.
Original statement
وعدم الإفراط في شرب الماء حتى لا يتمدّد البطن ويرتفع ضغطه
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
Do not drink much water because it distends the abdomen and raises abdominal pressure; even when thirsty during long fasting hours just wet the lips; fasting three days in a row each week without food and drink is not harsh.
Origin
- Source status
- Archive editors
- Attribution
- Archive editors summarising Elawady's view (homepage summary; not the quote box)
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/
- Attribution uncertainty
- Homepage summary written by the archive operators describing Elawady's views; partly cites his 'statement of the theory' video (aEbRfVSJIOw), otherwise no video reference.
- Claimed mechanism
Water raises intra-abdominal pressure.
- Claimed health effect
Avoiding abdominal pressure
- Population concerned
General population
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Diverging source versions
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live! شريحة في الدماغ (Open source)
- Published
- 1 February 2026
- Timestamp
- not available (transcript has no timings)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); no timestamps; 'published' is the date listed by the archive and may be the upload date. Live-stream transcripts can contain viewer comments read aloud; the quoted passage was checked in context to be spoken by Elawady.
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr.D Clinics - Diaa Al Awady is live! الكلي (Open source)
- Published
- 20 May 2025
- Timestamp
- not available (transcript has no timings)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); no timestamps; 'published' is the date listed by the archive and may be the upload date. Live-stream transcripts can contain viewer comments read aloud; the quoted passage was checked in context to be spoken by Elawady.
Scientific assessment
Mostly false – Essential parts of the statement are not supported by the evidence or are strongly exaggerated.
Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
Avoid drinking water; wet lips only; multi-day dry fasting is acceptable.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Excessive water intake far beyond needs is unnecessary (I-FAST-08) and extreme volumes can cause hyponatraemia (not reviewed here).
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
High water intake prevents stone recurrence (I-FAST-09). Withholding water when thirsty, especially during long fasts or in heat, causes dehydration. Dry fasting for three consecutive days is not comparable to Ramadan (daily fasts with nightly fluid intake), and even during Ramadan guidelines stress adequate fluid intake between sunset and dawn (I-FAST-11). In people with diabetes, dehydration contributes to hyperosmolar states and DKA (I-INS-07).
4. What remains unclear?
Whether any group benefits from deliberately low water intake.
5. Which studies support it?
I-FAST-08 (no need for fixed high intake; limited).
6. Which studies contradict it?
I-FAST-09, I-FAST-11, I-INS-07.
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
Not region-specific.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Hot summers in Egypt make deliberate water restriction particularly risky.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Drink when thirsty and more in heat, illness or exercise; do not suppress thirst. Multi-day fasts without water are dangerous.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
No evidence that normal water intake raises intra-abdominal pressure in a harmful way; water is absorbed rapidly. Restricting water when thirsty and multi-day dry fasting cause dehydration with risks of kidney injury, stones and circulatory problems, especially in heat. Certainty moderate because direct studies of the 'abdominal pressure' hypothesis do not exist; the harm of dehydration is physiologically certain. The 3-day statement is from a live stream where a viewer's question is followed by a short answer; attribution of 'not harsh' as an answer is probable but not certain.
- Source quality
Homepage paraphrase plus own words in live streams.
- Regional transferability
Hot climate increases risk.
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
There is no evidence that normal drinking harms the belly. Ignoring thirst, only wetting the lips, or going several days without food and water can lead to dehydration, kidney problems and, in people with diabetes, dangerous blood sugar crises.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (1)
-
Do we need eight glasses of water a day?
Valtin H. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2002 · PMID 12376390 · DOI 10.1152/ajpregu.00365.2002Narrative reviewindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedNo proof for 8 glasses in healthy adults in mild climates, but more is needed in heat, hard work and some diseases.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Is there evidence for '8 x 8' glasses of water a day?
- How was the study done?
Narrative review
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
not applicable; Healthy adults
- What was actually found?
No evidence for 8 x 8.
- How large was the observed effect?
not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Thirst usually suffices if healthy and in mild climate.
- What are the study's limitations?
Narrative; Old
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports C-FAST-09; partly C-FAST-10 (no fixed high intake), with stated exceptions.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Temperate climate applies to Germany.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Advice for hot climates or patients.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (3)
-
Drinking more water to prevent kidney stones
Borghi L et al.. J Urol 1996 · PMID 8583588Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedOver five years, stones came back in 12% of those drinking a lot vs 27% without advice.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
High water intake and calcium stone recurrence
- How was the study done?
Randomised prospective 5-year study
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
199 patients; First-episode idiopathic calcium stone formers (plus 101 controls)
- What was actually found?
Recurrence halved.
- How large was the observed effect?
12% vs 27%
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Stone formers should drink more.
- What are the study's limitations?
Not blinded; Single centre
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Italian; directly applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Benefits in people without stones.
-
IDF-DAR Ramadan guidelines 2021
Hassanein M et al.. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022 · PMID 35016991 · DOI 10.1016/j.diabres.2021.109185Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedPeople with diabetes who fast need individual risk assessment and medical guidance.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Management of diabetes during Ramadan fasting
- How was the study done?
Practical guideline (IDF and DaR International Alliance)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
not applicable; People with diabetes who fast
- What was actually found?
Guidance on risk stratification.
- How large was the observed effect?
not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Fast only with a medical plan.
- What are the study's limitations?
Abstract only read
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable to fasting Muslims in Europe.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Specific thresholds (not in abstract).
-
International guideline on diabetic ketoacidosis
Umpierrez GE et al.. Diabetes Care 2024 · PMID 39052901 · DOI 10.2337/dci24-0032Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyInsulin, fluids and potassium are the core treatment; with this, fewer than 1% of adults die.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Diagnosis and management of DKA and HHS in adults
- How was the study done?
International consensus report based on systematic examination of literature since 2009 (ADA, EASD, JBDS, AACE, DTS)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
not applicable; Adults with diabetes
- What was actually found?
Insulin is the cornerstone; glucocorticoids worsen hyperglycaemia.
- How large was the observed effect?
Mortality <1% with treatment
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Ketoacidosis needs hospital treatment with insulin.
- What are the study's limitations?
Consensus, not trial
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Directly contradicts C-INS-08; supports danger in C-FAST-03; contradicts C-INS-07, C-INS-10.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
EASD and JBDS (UK) co-authored; directly applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Outcomes of untreated DKA quantitatively.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
Not region-specific.
Egypt
Hot summers in Egypt make deliberate water restriction particularly risky.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Mostly false Restricting water against thirst and multi-day dry fasts are risky and unsupported.
This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.
References
- "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day." Really? Is there scientific evidence for "8 x 8"?. Valtin H. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2002 · PMID 12376390 · DOI 10.1152/ajpregu.00365.2002
- Urinary volume, water and recurrences in idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis: a 5-year randomized prospective study.. Borghi L et al.. J Urol 1996 · PMID 8583588
- Diabetes and Ramadan: Practical guidelines 2021.. Hassanein M et al.. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022 · PMID 35016991 · DOI 10.1016/j.diabres.2021.109185
- Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults With Diabetes: A Consensus Report.. Umpierrez GE et al.. Diabetes Care 2024 · PMID 39052901 · DOI 10.2337/dci24-0032