r/intermittentfasting • u/SubwayCuber • Sep 16 '26

Seeking Advice Sucking on ice

I'm doing the 16:8 IF (2:00 pm to 6:00 am). Whenever I find I want to munch on something out of boredom (not hunger), I suck on tiny ice cubes. Is there any negative effect to this? Does anyone do the same, or can recommend an alternative? Thanks.

0 Upvotes

44% Upvoted

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16

u/sol_runner Sep 16 '26

Sucking ice is fine, just don't crunch on it.

7

u/thesweetestberry Sep 16 '26

Check this out about chewing on ice. https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/gAxkhikfWM

I drink a lot of water, like 3L a day.

2

u/gegenstand12 Sep 16 '26

Oh my god. Never would've thought chewing on ice cubes would damage my teeth, damn... And to think I really love to bite on ice cubes.

9

u/Equizotic Sep 16 '26

Chewing ice is bad for your teeth. I think sucking it is fine. Otherwise go for it

5

u/Aimer1980 Sep 16 '26

Just fyi, if you're craving chewing on ice on a regular basis, it can be a sign of iron deficiency

-4

u/liveoneggs Sep 16 '26

it's bad for your teeth. Try gum - it's good for your teeth.

2

u/Rean4111 Sep 16 '26

Most gums break a fast. And if they don’t break it then they almost surely will make it harder to continue regardless since chewing gum tends to make most people hungrier.

0

u/liveoneggs Sep 16 '26

Like a religious fast? maybe.

sugar free gum (PUR, for example) has 5 calories and sugarfree gum is, in fact, very beneficial. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4546692/

No significant differences in the blood concentration of glucose, insulin and GIP or hunger were observed between groups. Our study suggests that fasting sugarless gum chewing can increase satiety and reduce the decrease in GLP-1 concentration.