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Fasting

 
Food! It can be a blessing to man, but also a curse! 

Some people will blame everything on earth, except food, as the cause of their physical miseries and premature ageing. Their suffering is always a mystery to them. Disease is internal uncleanliness, acquired over a period of time through wrong mucus forming foods. 

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The average person does not know how horribly unclean the inside of their body is. I believe that 90% of all human suffering is caused by unnatural eating of dead and devitalised foods. You pay a heavy price every time you make a garbage can of your stomach! Your heart and arteries suffer the most. In addition, years of overeating, eating when not really hungry, results in a chronic diseased state. All these unhealthy habits build up internal poisons and clogging of toxic waste in their bodies. 

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Fasting is the key which unlocks Mother Nature’s storehouse of energy. It reaches every cell in the body, the inner organs and generates the Life Forces. By relieving the body of the work of digesting foods, fasting allows the system to rid itself of toxins while facilitating healing. Fasting regularly gives your organs a rest and helps reverse ageing process for a longer and healthier life. 

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Some people will find fasting extremely difficult. The very thought of fasting makes them uncomfortable and long for food. Eating regularly has become such an ingrained part of people’s lives that, if you take food away from them, they experience many mental and physical reactions. That is the very reason why fasting is not popular. 

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Humans are creatures of strong habits. Most people automatically eat 3 or more meals every day and not because they have earned their food with physical activity. They have been brainwashed to believe everyone should eat at certain hours for three regular mealtimes.

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The Science of Fasting

During a fast, toxins, medicines, waste material and fat deposited in the tissues and hollow spaces are released into the bloodstream. This may lead to a temporary feeling of sickness till the toxins are finally eliminated from the body.

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When you fast, your Vital Force loosens the waste in your body and gathers it up to be discarded. Abnormal sensations, cravings, aches and pains that may develop may be assumed to be due to lack of food. They are, in reality withdrawl symptoms, due to the absence of accustomed stimulants—coffee, tea, tobacco, condiments, alcohol, etc. These symptoms disappear as the fast progresses, proves that they are not due to lack of food. 

When your body is eliminating heavy amounts of toxic poisons through the kidneys and other organs of elimination, you are bound to feel some discomfort. But after a couple of days you will start feeling better as many of the toxic poisons that gave you trouble have been flushed out of the body! 

A feverish excitement of the system, together with a feeling of debility, faintness and depression is generally experienced.  It happens often that a feeling of weakness, fatigue accompanied by headaches, and even heart palpitation may initially set in. Fever, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, backache, skin eruptions, may or may not develop.  This is caused through the loosening and dissolving of poisons, filth, and toxins that the body has accumulated over the years through overeating that is now being eliminated through the circulating bloodstream. The patient becomes discouraged, and is very excitable and sensitive to surrounding influences. Many of the symptoms experienced by the faster are due to nervous readjustment. 

 

It is for this reason that the "healing crises" must be understandably recognized and carried on. The appearance of a "haggard face" or a feeling of "general depression" must not cause you to lose sight of the ultimate goal you are anxious to achieve— GOOD HEALTH! 

 

Cellular and Tissue Rejuvenation Also Occur During a Fast. 

 

The digestive organs are the largest and bulkiest in the body, and their routine operations consume large amounts of energy. The simple act of not eating rests this system and frees up much of that energy for the body to use in healing. An old saint once said that fasting prevents luxuries from becoming necessities. 

 

Fasting removes toxins, normalises blood chemistry, helps cellular and tissue rejuvenation, the absorption of deposits, exudates, effusions and growths, and improves digestion and assimilation. It heals illnesses, dries excess fluid in the body, chases away bad thoughts, gives the mind greater clarity, makes the heart pure, cleanses the body, and finally leads the person to God. 

 

Just as fasting causes the body to consume its excess fat deposits and use this to nourish its vital tissues, it simultaneously causes the body to break down by autolysis, any growth, cysts, fibroids or tumors and use the nutritive substances in these to nourish its vital tissues. 

 

When solid foods of all kinds are discontinued during a fast, the bloodstream, starts dissolving the waste matter "mucus," which has been deposited in the tissues. Fasting, enables the body to regenerate itself to a marked degree. It becomes younger in physiological condition. Its functions are improved, its structures repaired, and its fitness to live increased.

 

The Value of the Fast

When we fast, energy is freed for a thorough housecleaning of the system. The body becomes lighter, more flexible; the mind becomes clearer and more creative. Greater intuitive powers may develop and deep spiritual insights may be experienced after a period of time. A feeling of well-being arises when the energy is freed in this way—problems suddenly become solutions and ideas flow from nowhere.

Fasting is Not About Calorie Restriction

 

Fasting is not necessarily meant to be a calorie-restricted plan. You may eat fewer calories than you were eating before but the the goal isn’t to restrict your calories in the same way that low-calorie diets do. Calorie restriction can have detrimental effects, especially on women. The focus should be on eating nutrient dense foods and ensuring that you get enough of them.

 

How to Fast

 

A fast is the most effective way of reversing any health condition and restore balance. There are numerous ways to fast. Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular ways to fast, specially with people who want to lose weight. During intermittent fasting, you eat within a certain time period and fast the rest of the day. You may choose to eat during a 4/6/8 or 10 hour window and fast for 20/18/16 or 14 hours depending on your personal choice. 

 

Although there are various intermittent fasting schedules, 16/8 fasting is the most popular fasting method. You eat within an eight-hour period every day and fast for 16 hours. 14/10 intermittent fasting is another beginner-friendly method that you can immediately implement without prior fasting experience. You fast for 14 hours and eat within a ten-hour period The shorter the period of eating the longer the fasting period and the resultant benefit. During fasting period only water or juice is consumed (if on a juice fast).

 

Another very effective way is to do a water or a juice fast lasting for a period of 24 hrs to several days. Alternate day water fasting is also practiced. Some people follow a 5:2 pattern by fasting for 2 days in a week. If you are committed to improving your health and want quick results, then an extended fast of three, seven or ten days is highly recommended. 

 

Thousands of seriously ill sick patients have succeeded in overcoming their ailments through following a "non-breakfast" plan alone! One cooked meal a day has proven to be ample for the average individual. 

 

There are many followers of the one-meal-a-day plan—and they prefer their meal in the late afternoon. They at least receive the benefit of a 24-hour fast, since no solid food of any kind is eaten between meals. Liquids (water, fruit, and vegetable juices) can be used anytime, if or when desired.

 

Breaking a Fast

 

Ideally, for best results, one must consume a meal of raw foods or juice before starting a fast. Breaking the fast is an art, and must always be done, by consuming a glass of juice or some fruit. This is extremely important as the stomach is raw and is in the healing mode. Not adhering to this may lead to some adverse reactions. In case of extended fast, cooked food should be only be eaten after a 6 to 8 hours of breaking fast (after consuming fruits).

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Let’s summarise once again various fasting schedules

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Unless you thoroughly understand the concept, first time fasters Should do it under supervision

The length of the fast, the "timing" between the shorter fasts—and instructions on the kinds of foods to be eaten between fasts—should be carefully supervised. This is especially true in cases of severe illness or long chronic conditions, where the patient's limited vitality is practically depleted.

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No single fasting schedule will work for all people in all situations. Each individual is different. Whether it is 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, 5:2, alternate day fasting, three day fast or anything else, determining the right fasting schedule depends on a variety of factors.

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I have personally witnessed that while some first timers are hesitant in abstaining from food for a 12 hour period, other first timers, enthusiastically jump to the idea of doing a 7 day fast. A preparatory juice fast for a couple of days is generally more suitable for people who have never ever done a fast in their life.

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Fasting for Weight Loss - Starvation is Not Fasting.

Fasting is the most effective way of losing weight. Not everybody is able to lose weight due to a limited understanding of the science of fasting. Belly and thigh fat is the most difficult to reduce. Insulin is released in response to sugar levels. Remember, insulin is also known as fat storage hormone. 

 

Once insulin levels drop, the body will start using stored fat as fuel. In order to lose weight, you have to first exhaust the sugar circulating in the blood followed by utilising the stored sugar in the liver. This generally happens anywhere close to 14 to 16 hours of fasting and will result in drop in insulin levels and triggers weight loss. The longer the fasting period the greater the weight loss.

 

During the eating period while fasting, one should only consume nutrient dense plant-based foods. What you eat during this period will determine the level of health you will achieve after the fast. This will also help reset and balance the hormones in the body. Unless this is achieved, in majority of the cases, the weight almost always comes back.

 

While fruits and salads can be eaten in abundance, animal proteins, dairy, tea, coffee and processed foods must be strictly avoided. Eating unhealthy food during the eating window is disastrous in the long run as anything that is consumed immediately after a fast is absorbed the most.

 

The body is self-repairing, self-healing and self-maintaining. Fasting is the best and most natural way of cleansing, purifying and rejuvenating your body. So if you want to enjoy all these great benefits, be a strong positive person, plan a fasting program for yourself, and live strictly by it. Nobody can do it for you. All you have to do is live by the laws of Mother nature, and you will be rewarded with the joy of living.  Just remember: You must earn your health! You cannot buy it. No one can give it to you. 

 

Refrences
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  • Giles Yeo - Why Calories Don't Count - How We Got the Science of Weight Loss Wrong

  • Wallis, Arthur – God’s chosen fast - a spiritual and practical guide to fasting

  • Malik Johnson - The Secrets to Intermittent Fasting - How You Can Stay Healthy, Slow Down the Aging Process, and Have a Lot of Energy 

  • Diana Polska - One Meal a Day Diet - Lose Up to 10 Pounds in a Week With Simplified Intermittent Fasting

  • Sophia Freeman - Intermittent Fasting Made Easy 

  • Vatsala Sperling - The Ayurvedic Reset Diet - Radiant Health through Fasting, Mono-Diet, and Smart Food Combining

  • Kate McCarty - One Meal A Day Intermittent Fasting - How To Lose Weight Effortlessly, Improve Your Health, Increase Mental Clarity, Activate Autophagy, and Have More Energy

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  • Mary Knox - Weight Loss For Women - Crack the Code of Health and Get Rid of Obesity Forever

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  • Green, David - Juicing for Beginners - Best Juice Cleanse Diets for Weight Loss and Detox in Just 7 Days. Learn about the Benefits of Fasting, Juicing, and Ways to Improve Your Health, Mind, and Body 

  • Francis E. Umesiri - Fasting for Life - Medical Proof Fasting Reduces Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer, and Diabetes-Siloam Press 

  • Serge Devant - How to lose weight with intermittent fasting

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  • Mona Verma - Fasting Foods of India

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  • Peter Paulson - Intermittent Fasting 101- A Simple Guide to Losing Fat, Building Muscle and Becoming an Alpha Male

  • Kenneth E Hagin - A common sense guide to fasting-K. Hagin Ministries  

  • Ibn Tamiyyah – The Nature of Fasting

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