Rachel Hynd

What is fasting and can it be beneficial?

Many of us know fasting as a protocol the doctor prescribes before blood tests. For others, it may mean giving up a favorite food for a period of time, or not eating food at certain times of the day or year out of respect for various religious holidays. Strictly speaking, fasting is the voluntary absence of food. Although the idea of missing a meal may make most of us miserable, fasting does have many benefits for the body.

Give your body a rest

We take vacations, we have weekends off from work, we rest our tired bodies through sleep, and we "take a break" to rejuvenate from stress. One thing that we hardly ever do, however, is take a break from food for any length of time. Our digestive system is a very hard-working and busy system which requires high amounts of energy; in fact, the digestive system can even drain energy needed for healing, repair and general maintenance of the body. Therefore, it makes sense to give our digestive system a vacation occasionally.

An ancient tradition

The art of fasting is an ancient one, practiced for thousands of years for curing many types of illness, rejuvenation, clarity and decision making, cleansing and strengthening. Have you noticed that when we're sick, our appetite diminishes? Similarly, when animals are ill, they lie down and don't eat or drink. Our innate wisdom does this so we can fight off germs and heal quickly. Energy goes toward healing our bodies instead of digesting food.

Fasting also allows for our bodies' enzyme systems to focus on detoxifying and breaking down toxins in the body quickly and efficiently without the job of heavy food digestion. During fasts, toxins are being circulated in the body in order for our organs to de arm them. Therefore, it's not always wise to detoxify quickly because a flood of toxins being released at once can cause serious distress to the body that can do more harm than good.

Effective ways to fast

If you've never fasted before and would like to experience a fast, have no fear. Fasting should be gentle and nurturing and can range from a one day fast to as long as a week. More rigorous fasts, such as a water-only fasts, should only be done by those with experience in fasting and detoxification. A gentle fast is great way to start, without even having to go hungry.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Eating a raw food diet of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts

2. Eating a "mono" diet of one food (for example a fruit or rice gruel)

3. Consuming mineral-rich bone and vegetable broths

4. Drinking green smoothies

5. Drinking only fresh pressed vegetables/fruit juices

6. Eating salads exclusively

7. Eating kichadi (a traditional Indian rice/vegetable dish full of healing herbs and spices)

8. Having an early dinner and refraining from food for a 16-hour period before eating breakfast

Fasting may seem overwhelming or daunting, but if you simply choose one day per week and practice any of the above tips, you'll get used to this healing practice. When fasting, always remember to listen to your body, letting it decide when and how long fasting should last. If you still have doubts, seeing a Naturopathic Doctor or Holistic Nutritionist, may help ease your hesitation and motivate you to get started.

Fasting is a message to your body that you're making a new beginning, flushing out the old and bringing in the new. Fasting is the perfect way to introduce new healthy habits and foods into your life.

Benefits of Fasting

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food or reducing food intake for a certain period of time. There are various forms of fasting, including intermittent fasting, alternate-day fasting, and extended fasting. Some of the benefits of fasting include:

    - Weight loss: Fasting can lead to a reduction in calorie intake, which can result in weight loss.

    - Improved insulin sensitivity: Fasting has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels, which may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

    - Reduced inflammation: Fasting has been linked to reduced levels of inflammation in the body, which may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

    - Increased longevity: Some studies suggest that fasting may help to extend lifespan by promoting cellular repair processes and reducing oxidative stress.

    - Improved brain function: Fasting has been shown to improve cognitive function and protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

It's important to note that fasting should be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional, especially for individuals with certain medical conditions or who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

Available at Amazon.com:

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

No More Digestive Problems

 

 

NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS ...

WORLD | AFRICA | ASIA | EUROPE | LATIN AMERICA | MIDDLE EAST | UNITED STATES | ECONOMICS | EDUCATION | ENVIRONMENT | FOREIGN POLICY | POLITICS

 

Health - Fasting Can Have Many Benefits for the Body