by Steve and Darren
EnerHealth BotanicalsAt different times of year certain traditions observe a period of fasting. Jews and Muslims have experienced that recently this year with Yom Kippur and Ramadan. When I lived in Egypt, many Christians there also fasted. Some traditions abstain from certain foods for a given period, yet all traditions talk about the benefit for our physical, mental and spiritual selves that fasting provides. Let's face it, most of the great spiritual teachers of all time are noted for the periods of mind and spirit enlightening fasting that they engaged in. In our world of such great disparity, noticing how hard it can be to stop eating for a while can help us appreciate the plight of those who so often go without around the world and even on our own doorsteps.
One of the great things about nourishing ourselves well with the nutrients we really need is that we do not tend to overeat. This can also have some financial benefits in less spending, which if we so choose can be passed on to those who are less fortunate. Just think of it, we can feel healthier and we can also feel better by helping others avoid the constant pain of hunger. When we look at many of the conflicts in the world, in addition to money and power at the top, when people are hungry they do not think straight and often choose badly when it comes to leaders. Few westerners have ever truly known persistent hunger. Fasting in this regard is very enlightening.
From a health stand point fasting can help our bodies greatly. When you consider that 60% of our energy goes to digesting food and the rest to repairing our bodies, it makes sense that periodic fasting can free up valuable energy to assist our bodies in healing diseases we might be experiencing. I have read of several terminal cancer patients whose doctors sent them home with a death sentence, saying that no more could be done. Some of these folks either inadvertently or in a planned manner, stopped eating or chose to do mono diets of just grapes, or just greens and were surprised to find themselves cancer free in a fairly short period of time.
Fasting also frees up our minds to focus on other things. After all it is quite amazing how much energy and attention is devoted to what, when and where with regards to eating. Sometimes fasting helps us become more conscious of our real needs nutritionally, because after the initial cravings have passed, fasting helps restore a healthy sense that chooses foods based upon nutritional needs rather than craving driven wants.
A true fast involves only consuming water and this can be safely done by most people, although mono diets of one fruit, for example, can help a new faster get used to eating less and moving towards fasting gradually until they are ready to go the whole way with a one day fast. If we observe the natural world we will notice how animals stop eating when they are sick, instinctively knowing that this helps give their bodies a chance to repair themselves. All animals respect and observe this instinct. Even us humans tend to lose our appetites when we are sick. We rarely stick to this abstinence as animals though and thus prolong our sickness rather than limiting how long it lasts by fasting. We would do ourselves a lot of good were we to fast when we are sick. Try it. It might be challenging at first but with time you will get used to it and so happy you chose to.
As a transition to fasting, cleansing is a great way for us to cleanse our bodies as fasting does, but with specific formulae and approaches that assist us to remove more toxins while still getting some nourishment. For short periods of time fasting is completely safe. However cleansing can be done for longer periods, until you get used to fasting. I suggest doing several four day cleanses of your main organ systems first. Once you are done with that, choose one day per week and do a mono diet of a particular juicy fruit that you will eat whole. Eat a small piece of that fruit if you get hungry but first drink water when you feel hungry. If you are still hungry ten minutes after the water, then eat a small piece of fruit. Do this throughout the day and stop all fruit after 6 pm, but keep drinking pure water throughout the day. Each time you do this try to start the fruit a little later in the day, remembering to drink plenty of water and after a few times you should be able to go all day without any food on your one chosen day. Breaking your fast is just as important as the fast itself. Always start the day after your fast with some freshly squeezed juice and during that day try to eat only fruit. If you must, eat a salad in the evening or some steamed veggies. In this way you will reap the full benefit of your fast.
So try to fast or cleanse and enjoy better health by putting this wisdom into practice. Stay well and get healthier!Live Superfoods
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