In our society speaking of fasting sounds like sacrifice, sadness, deprivation of pleasure. This is because of our influence from European ancestors, tables full as a symbol of prosperity, health and happiness. These overflows, for decades, make us look at the fast with an attitude of deep sacrifice.
Fasting was always in other cultures the way to achieve health, serenity, inner strength, and also vitality and rejuvenation.
Currently in countries such as England, the USA, France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, etc., there are very well-equipped clinics, in areas in contact with nature, supported by Official Medicine doctors, to admit patients and practice cures by fasting. Also, some of the inhabitants of these countries mentioned, regularly practice 24-hour fasts, so that the body can rest and achieve a better quality of life.
Fasting in ancient times has been practiced by both mystics and advocates of natural therapies. Also, Aztecs, Egyptians, Essenes, Persians. Spartans, Vikings, Celts, Druids. American Indians had fasting as a practice.
In the Bible we see it in Moses, Elijah. Jesus and his apostles. Mystics like Saint Augustine. Saint Thomas of Aquino. Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. and others made fasting a common practice. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, recommend in our days, fasting as a form of internal cleaning.
Hippocrates, Socrates, Pythagoras, advised fasting. Plato maintained that regular fasts improved physical and mental capacity. Plutarch said that abstaining from food for one day was preferable to any medicine to cure ill health.
Paracelsus considered fasting the best remedy. Athenaeus, a Greek physicist from the 2nd century, wrote: "Fasting cures diseases, dries bodily humors, casts out demons, frees impure thoughts, clears the mind, purifies the heart and elevates man to the throne of God."
The Hunza people live in a territory in the East of Pakistan. They were found in 1920. They are almost vegetarian, they live in a community, they eat cereals, beans, seeds, vegetables, and they practice fasting. They do not have the diseases of "civilized" man and they live to be 130 years old, in perfect health.
When we speak of the diseases of civilized man, we speak of the diseases of this modern life. It is well known that of the 10 main causes of death in the world, 6 have to do with diet: Cancer, Diabetes, Liver Cirrhosis, Hypertension, Coronary Diseases and Cholesterol. As we see our unnatural way of eating compromises our health. White rice, white sugar, chemical additives, meats, cold cuts, are some of the main causes of acid PH. This leads to aging and disease.
On one occasion, a scientist named Hukley separated a worm from its companions and subjected it too periodic fasting. When this worm did not fast, it ate the same as the others. Over time he observed that the separated and fasted worm lived 19 times longer than the others.
Some animals are known to voluntarily fast at some periods of their life. The Salmon does not eat anything during the time that the river rises and this requires a lot of physical activity. The penguin and the male of the Goose, do the same during the hatching season. The male seal also does it during the mating season. It is also known that many animals, when sick or injured, fast. Others are locked up in their burrows due to weather problems and they fast and do not succumb.
Fasting, contrary to what is believed, yanguizar, that is, they give us a lot of strength and vitality. Mentally they leave us clearer and more active. We cleanse the body and let that complex and perfect machinery rest, which many times we do not take enough care of.
24-hour fasts are very effective, they do not offer any risk, they do not require professional control. It is important to comply with 24 hours and no less, to take advantage of the therapeutic effect. Choose only one type of liquid to drink.
Mineral water (without gas) as the gas acidifies. If it is tap water, pass it through the filter, to avoid chlorine, lead, etc. A great tea for fasting is the "Bancha Tea" additive. He spent 3 years in the plant and this made him lose the theine. It is also rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium. It is diuretic, digestive and antioxidant. There are also people who do their fasts without any fluids.
It is important to mentalize, that the motivation is stronger than the desire to eat. Choose suitable day and hours. It can be from noon to noon. It is preferable not to be in contact with many people, because when we are cleaning the body, we are more sensitive and we can be more irritable and with little patience.
If at some point a little dizziness comes, it is a symptom that the body must clean itself, because the more intoxicated we are, the more it costs. But these sensations rarely occur. That is why it is important to motivate yourself. The reasons why we do the fast are going to be the engine that drives us to continue.
Also depriving ourselves of food makes us slower and this is very good for reflection.
For all this, it is important to choose the right day and if possible, that it is the day before any important event that we have.
When you do a practice one day a week, the body already asks for it on the eighth day.
At the end of the fast, you will feel very vital. They will see that if they adopt it weekly, they rejuvenate, vitalize and cultivate the will. Wanting is power.
After 24 hours, when you eat food, try to make it as harmonized as possible. Whole grains, raw and cooked vegetables, vegetable proteins, seaweed. Avoid excess flour, white sugar or meat.
Children, the elderly, pregnant or sick should not fast. And, when in doubt, consult a doctor who is in the line of the natural.
Other forms of fasting
Fasting with fresh fruits, raw vegetables, or liquids.
For people who are making a transition to whole vegetarian foods from a diet rich in animal products and who do not have signs of chilling or deficiency, they can try a fast based on fresh salads or fresh fruit such as carrots, cabbage, apples, etc. Infusions, water or vegetable juices can be taken according to your thirst. People with candida overgrowth should avoid fruit and fruit juices.
Note: most fruits and vegetables do not mix well in the same meal except for celery and lettuce, which can be eaten with fruit.
For robust people with signs of excess, try one or more of the following fasts:
1. Juices and drinks
Fruit juices, vegetable juices and / or barley or wheat green drink made with the dried powdered green or with the freshly extracted green juice. Vegetable juices include carrots, beets, celery, cabbage, parsley, and other green vegetables. Carrot juice is one of the safest to use. Smaller amounts of the juice from other vegetables are mixed with carrot juice for a bit of variation and to benefit from its specific properties. The purifying and healing properties of fruit, vegetables and cereal green juices in a fast act faster than water alone.
2. Herbal formulas:
1. Two servings of burdock root and one serving of red clover flowers (for unclean blood, skin diseases, arthritis, and excess weight).
2. Two servings of dandelion root, 1 serving of fennel seeds, 1 serving of flaxseed, 1 serving of fenugreek, and 1/2 part of licorice root (for excessive mucus, weak lungs, gastro-intestinal inflammations, excesses in the liver, for when you experience hunger the first days of fasting and for a faster purification).
3. Pure water or water with lemon drops.
The ideal fluid intake during fasting is a minimum of 6-8 glasses, although you can drink more if you are thirsty. The water and juices should be at room temperature, not cold. The juices can be diluted in proportion by half in water.
If you're looking to lose fat, don't make huge calorie cuts. This will kick your body into starvation mode, reducing your metabolism and making it more difficult to burn off the fat. To prevent this metabolic slowdown and allow your body to burn fat at an optimal rate, make smaller calorie reductions every week or two.