Thanks, Steve, for your honest feedback. I appreciate it. The "Seriously?" series is intended as much for the readers as it is for me: a humorous relief valve.

To your question: I'm not a fan of the water-only type of diet, but that's as much due to me not being able to adhere to it as it is to questionable health benefits. A three-day course does probably no harm, but when it gets to muscle protein breakdown, I'd be careful. That's an issue particularly for men aged 60+. You also need to keep in mind that these types of fasts may lead to an insufficient supply of essential micronutrients and electrolyte imbalances. A downstream effect can be a weakened immune system. All these need to be considered carefully if you intend to extend the fast beyond three days.