What is Fasting?

Fasting is a sacred honored tradition in many religious and cultural circles. In short, fasting is the
abstinence from food or drink, or both. In the past, fasting is usually accompanied by inner soul searching
and reflection - it helps to get in touch with your spiritual self. With the right direction, fasting can also aid
our body's natural detoxification process and cleanse away all the toxins in our body. During fasting,
resting adequately is essential in order to enhance the recovery of the body.

How Does Fasting Come about?

Even thousands of years ago, people have already understood the medical and mental health benefits of
fasting. Thousands years ago, fasting was only served as a religious experience and was used to fully focus
communal energy into enhancing prayer and spiritual experiences. Sometimes in order to remember a
significant event, fasting were used as a commemoration of many of these events. Fasting hence was
thought of something spiritual and special.

Today, people fast for health reasons than religious reasons. Fasting speeds up the body detoxification
process and revive your body's organ functions. The common forms of fasting are water fasting and juice
fasting. Water fast serves as one of the most efficient ways to detoxify your tissues and blood - it involves
total abstinence from food, while continuing consumption of water (and water alone- no soda or juice).
Normally, water fast can last from 3 days to 10 days, and even longer if under medical supervision.

The fact that you stay away from food allows cleansing to take place in your body. The first phase of water
fasting forces your body to delve into stores of energy that it normally wouldn't (since you're not eating
food). The lipid cells that have been dormant for years, storing both good and bad substances, are being
freed. Because the lipids contain toxins, when you free the lipid cells, it uses the energy and releases the
toxins from those lipids.

Once the toxins are gone, your body immediately begins to detoxify itself. During the first few days of
water fast, people usually feel rather ill as their bodies release toxins from their lipid cells. After all, these
toxins have been stored inside your lipid cells for years, even decades, as by-products of "junk food" and
the Western lifestyle. These signs that your body is releasing the toxins include gastrointestinal upset, fever,
headache, neuromuscular weakness and fatigue. After a few days of toxin onslaught, these symptoms clear
up and the body finishes detoxifying itself.

What do you gain from water fasting?

When you fast, the water will replenishes your body's source of vital life energy - water. Without water, the
human body cannot function, repair or sustain. Drinking nothing but water renews the body's building
blocks with fresh raw material (oxygen and hydrogen) to renew itself. Water fasting flushes your cells with
this fresh material and forces the old toxins and chemicals into the bloodstream. There, they are detoxified
by the liver, kidneys and skin.

Water fasting is considered very challenging but it can be rewarding as you would feel a total cleansed
body. Once you have completed a longer fast, you can maintain your new level of health by using smaller
water fasts. 1-3 days on water fast every now and then will help keep your body "in tune" and detoxified.
But definitely, a proper diet and lifestyle will contribute to keeping your body free and clear of toxin
accumulation.

Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at Detox Diets and Fasting. Combining both Asian
and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to
make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit Body Detox to discover the
health philosophy that lead many people to a healthy life.
Starvation
Starvation is a severe reduction in vitamin, nutrient, and energy intake, and is the most extreme form of
malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation (in excess of 1-2 months) causes permanent organ damage
and, eventually, death. The term "inanition" refers to the symptoms and effects of starvation

Types Of Fasting

1. Juice Fasting :-
The juice fast, as the name suggests is a fast where you only exist on fruit and vegetable
juices. Juice fasting has gained immense popularity, especially with people who are trying to lose weight. It
is a great method of detoxification fasting also and is advised by many dieticians for various reasons.

2. Spiritual Fasting:-
Spiritual fasting, as the name suggests, is a religious fast, where the person who
is fasting can eat fruits, vegetables and water. Choice foods like meat and wine are not allowed.
Benefits Of Spiritual Fasting
* Fasting strengthens and purifies the spirit. When we cease to cater to the demands of the flesh, then we
can listen to the soul and the spirit.
* Religious Fasting brings us closer to God. To purify our spirit and to get used to the rigors of fasting,
we turn we God, Thus we get closer to God when we fast.
* Fasting gives strength to our prayers. It has been mentioned in the Bible that most of our prophets
fasted before or during times of adversity or when they wanted to ask something from God. Even today,
holy men advise that you fast in order to give power and purity to your prayers.
* Spiritual Fasting increases will power. It is extremely tough to deny the flesh, especially in a world
where we are used to pampering its every whim and fancy. Controlling and curbing our natural desires
gives a strength to our will that comes into play throughout different situations in life.

3. Fasting To Lose Weight :-

It is a good exercise both for the weight loss and religious purpose. It is
a safe way to lose your weight Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years but it was primarily for the
religious purpose.

During fasting, you will have to keep yourself hungry for all the day. Since there is nothing in the stomach,
so it will shrink a bit. People do fasting for the religious purpose but now it is being used for the weight loss
purposes as well. Muslims fast for the whole month. During fast they eat nothing from before sunrise to
sunset. They train themselves by eating nothing throughout the month. Although skipping a meal for the
whole day is a difficult thing but it proves very good for the weight loss. After fasting month, people
become very slim.

4. Colon Cleansing Fasting:-

When fasting and colon cleansing is considered, there are some factors
which need to be seriously observed. It includes the effect that fasting has on the metabolism of the body.
When the food is denied to the body, it would translate the calorie decrease akin to starvation. When such
things occur, the body goes in the mode of the metabolism would begin to slow down drastically for the
conservation of stored fat.

5.The Absolute Fasting: -

An absolute fast is when one abstains from both eating and drinking.
Even water is not allowed on absolute fasts. This fast is not advised for more than three days. This is more
on the sides of Christian fasting or religious fasting and not for people fasting for health reasons.
6. A Regular Fasting :-
Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most
people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.

7. A Partial Fast :-
This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your
diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three
weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three
weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your
servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."

8. A Full Fast :-
These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes
when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus:
"For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in
Esther 4:15-16: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa,
and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When
this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" It is
recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.

9.. Liver Cleansing Fasting

10. Detoxification Fasting

11. Water Fasting

Water fasting and tea fasting are the classical and strictest forms of
fasting, since, for a certain time, there is no calorie intake at all. Water fasting leads to weight loss, to
cleansing and purification of the entire organism and to an introduction of healing processes. The immune
system is strengthened and your immune system is activated. Traditionally, water fasting has been used
only for purification and religious or mystical purposes

And the list goes on...

I have not actually done all of the various types of fasting. However, reading about the many benefits of
various types of fasting to the body (and spirit) and how it is actually a cornerstone of healing (the natural
way), has opened my mind to it. No wonder even some of the world's great spiritual leaders have taken to
the different types of fasting.

Whatever types of fasting or frequency you choose to engage in, those who have journeyed down that path
recommend starting slowly, and building up as you progress. Extra care is important because you would not
want to jeopardize your health, even for the sake of rapid weight loss. Even if there are studies pointing out
that human beings can live up to two-and-a-half months without food, most health care professionals do not
recommend fasting that long. Fasting, as distinct from dieting, means that while the body subsists without
food, it will systematically cleanse itself of everything except vital tissue.

When we talk about types of fasting, there is what is known as a total fast and partial fast. The different
types of fasting may also be categorized by the type of food or liquids involved. There is the intense water
fast, and the popular juice fast. Another type, which limits food intake to raw vegetables, fruits and salads
also lead to less calorie consumption. Whatever types of fasting you set your heart and mind to, what is
important is that it is not imposed on the body or forced just to adhere to external custom.

HOW TO BREAK FASTING

A).- First Day It Break Only By Eating Fruits And Vegetables Containing Lots Of Water (Never Stop
Drinking Own Urine).

B).- Second Day Eat Fruits And Vegetables Containing More Weight.

C).- Third Day After Breaking, Fasting You Are Able To Eat Bread Products, Not Allowed To Eat Meats
(Only Once A Month).

D).- Forth Day Eat You Regular Healhty Food Continue Drinking Your Urine Daily Your Next Fasting
(Next Month).

Physical Benefits of Fasting

* Fasting is the best method of detoxification. It cleanses the body of toxins and impurities while healing
the body from within.
* Fasting facilitates rapid and safe weight loss. Different types of fasts like the juice fast or water fast are
extremely effective for weight loss.
* Fasting gives a break to the digestive system, which is one of the most hard working parts of our body.
This in turn revitalizes and rejuvenates the digestive system.
* Fasting revitalizes the cells and heals the body. Energy that is generally taken up by the process of
digestion on normal days is concentrated towards healing other parts of the body during fasting. It is a great
method of healing and repairing different body parts that are otherwise ignored in order to carry out basic
bodily functions like eating and digestion etc.
* Fasting puts a glow on the skin. Due to detoxification and rejuvenation of the body and its cells, a
person’s skin starts looking healthier and better after a fast, especially if he has been on juice fasting, liquid
fasting or on a detox fast.

The Duration of the Fast

The duration of the fast depends upon the age of the patient, the nature of the disease and the amount and
type of drugs previously used. The duration is important, because long periods of fasting can be dangerous
if undertaken without competent professional guidance.

It is, therefore, advisable to undertake a series of short fasts of two to three days and gradually increase the
duration of each succeeding fast by a day or so. The period, however, should not exceed a week of total
fasting at a time. This will enable the chronically sick body to gradually and slowly eliminate toxic waste
matter without seriously affecting the natural functioning of the body. A correct mode of living and a
balanced diet after the fast will restore vigour and vitality to the individual.

Fasting is highly beneficial in practically all kinds of stomach and intestinal disorders and in serious
conditions of the kidneys and liver. It is a miracle cure for eczema and other skin diseases and offers the
only hope of permanent cure in many cases. The various nervous disorders also respond favourably to this
mode of treatment.

Fasting should, however, not be restored to in every illness. In cases of diabetes, advanced stages of
tuberculosis, and extreme cases of neurasthenia, long fasts will be harmful. IN most cases, however , no
harm will accrue to fasting patients, provided they take rest, and are under proper professional care.

Effects of Fasting on Body

There are several benefits such as purification, rejuvenation, revitalization, and rest for digestive organs,
clearer skin, anti-aging effects, improved senses, hearing, taste, and reduction of allergies, weight loss, drug
detoxification, and better resistance to disease, spiritual awareness. Fasting is helpful to clear out the
problems that have arisen from overeating and a sedentary lifestyle.

The process of decomposing and eliminating waste toxic materials can improve or even cure various
diseases: cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, diseases of digestive system, diseases of the locomotor
system including rheumatism, respiratory system diseases including asthma etc.

Self-control is also learnt from fasting. Fasting helps body in self-regulatory way of functioning. It helps
the body to gain back its vitality.
Fasting also acknowledges the feeling of appetite and makes us think about poor people in our society thus
it also leaves great concern for society in which we live.

But always we should keep in mind that after fasting we should not cherish our body with unhealthy food
otherwise the purpose of fasting will be ruined
As well as there will be bad effects on our health.

Importance Of Fasting
Normally Fasting is done for religious and spiritual reasons but it has lot of benefits for health. Fasting
achieves a physiological rest to the digestive, assimilative, and protective organ Next, the bodily energy
normally used to digest and assimilate food is now used to purify our body. Fasting is a safe and effective
means of maximizing the body's self-healing capacities.

Our body needs process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs,
lymph glands, and skin. This process is precipitated by fasting because when food is no longer entering the
body, the body turns to fat reserves for energy. When the fat reserves are used for energy during a fast, it
releases the chemicals from the fatty acids into the system, which are then eliminated through our body.
Benefits of Fasting

Problems During Fasting

There are a lot of side effects of fasting due to the range of physiological changes that take place in the
body. These include headaches, nausea and muscle aches. Each of us responds differently to
detoxification, depending on the levels of toxicity in the body. You may become sick after getting on to a
fast or you may be energized and renewed.

These reactions soon give way to a sense of well-being and clarity of mind. You no longer feel hungry after
the first day has passed, but if you aren’t careful, you might develop serious complications in the long-term.
A change in the eating pattern without arranging for any adjustment to the dosage and timing of insulin can
lead to a deterioration of glycemic control.

The hazards of fasting can be intensified if you have long periods of abstinence from water or liquids, as in
water fast. You are sure to lose weight resulting in nutritional deficiencies, feel weak, and suffer muscle
cramps due to mineral deficits such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Your blood pressure could drop, leading to fainting spells especially when you try to sit up or stand after
lying down. Your uric acid levels may rise, causing severe attacks of gout or a uric acid kidney stone.

Some people have experienced hormonal changes, with the thyroid hormone level falling, but rising
again due to protein-sparing ketosis. However, female hormone levels fall, due to protein malnutrition, due
to a loss of menstrual flow.

Cardiac problems occur very easily as do deaths due to serious ventricular arrhythmias, experienced
usually during long water fasts. This is also due to your using powders for indefinite periods, but the risk
is lowered if you get on to a juice fast. You can protect yourself from the problems of fasting by having
through physical exams such as blood tests and electrocardiograms at various stages along the course of the
program.

You might make certain life changes after finishing a fast, such as getting a new job, taking a divorce, or
other such major moves. It is said that fasting urges you to do something new. It brings about self-
realization and change, makes us see our true potential, and gives us a new focus in a new direction rather
than show us where we have been all along.

During fasting transitions, people usually question aspects of their lives and make new plans for the future.
They grow sensitive to their job, mate, home, etc. Even though the insights that you face may be
overwhelming and may shake the foundations on which you stand, they will ultimately be positive as they
help us follow our true nature and achieve our innermost goals.