If there is one most powerful healing and prevention tool for diseases, it is fasting.
Well, if you’re man or women, young or old and are unaware of the miraculous benefits of fasting, then this blog will be a life changing for you.
- What all happens in your body when you fast?
- What do our ancient saints and sages, and modern medical experts have to say about fasting?
- What is my personal fasting routine?
- What is the right and more importantly, the practical way to fast?
Everything will be cleared in this blogpost. So, without any further delay let’s get started.
Talk about fasting and most people confuse about STARVATION.
| FASTING | STARVATION |
| Intentional | Forced Upon |
| Food is available but you choose not to eat it. | No idea when and where their next meal is come from. |
| Well planned | Unplanned |
| Heals the body | Unhealthy for the body |
| Mind supports the decision | Mind is consciously in conflict |
Actually, fasting is completely different from starvation, in one crucial way that fasting is intentional, whereas starvation is forced upon.
Starvation people have no idea when and where their next meal will come from?
This generally happens in times of war and famine.
Fasting on the other hand is voluntary and well planned for the purpose of healing for your body.
This state of mind makes huge difference the two.
Fasting has been practiced for centuries in various cultures for health and spiritual upliftment.
MUSLIMS FAST DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN.
HINDUS FAST DURING THE NAVRATRI’S.
BUDDHISTS MONKS ABSTAINED FROM EATING AFTERNOON.
Fasting is completely natural, it is not a mere coincidence that we humans tend to lose our appetite when we are sick. Same goes with various animals.
But Why Should you FAST? Is it normal?
ACTUALLY, EATING ALL THE TIME IS NOT NORMAL.
Well fasting is one thing where Modern Science and Ayurveda are both in lined with each other.
Both unanimously talk about its amazing effects and how it benefits the body at all levels.
Where Ayurveda scriptures explains how, when in fasted state the body cleared waste “Ama” off the subtlest of the body channels called the “Strotas”.
The proof of this lies in science in symptoms when our body shows when we wake up after sleep which is nothing but a fasted state.
Signs of detoxification after sleep – dirt accumulated in the eyes, acidic yellow first urine in morning, pressure to empty the bowels, white tongue laced with toxins, foul odour in mouth in morning.
According to Ayurveda “LANGHANAM PARAM AUSHADHAM”, which implies that no matter what disease you’re suffering from, if the fasting is done the right way, you will be cured.
Modern science after a series of studies has confirmed that FASTING DETOXIFIES THE BODY AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL.
In 2016, Nobel Prize was awarded to a Japanese cell biologist “Yoshonori Ohsumi” for autophagy.
Autophagy is where the body gets rid of the sickest cells.
This happens during fasting when only the healthiest of cells survives at the extreme conditions while the cysts, tumorous, cancerous all other unhealthy cells vanished.
Well its benefits are not just restricted to chronic diseases, but it has some major positive side effects like weight loss, robust digestion, unblemished skin, stronger hair and improved cognitive ability.
Basically it is the ultimate detox that your body craves for.
Fasting is not a new concept, it has simply being forgotten.
Many greats in the past have eulogised the importance of fasting.
“A little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best of medicines and the best doctors ” ― Marc Twain
“Fasting is the first principle of medicine; fast and see the strength of the spirit reveal itself.” ― Rumi
“Fasting is the greatest remedy, the physician within”. ― Paracelsus
“A genuine fast cleanses the body, mind and soul. It crucifies the flesh and to that extent sets the soul free”. ― Mahatma Gandhi
“The best of all medicines is resting and fasting”. ― Benjamin Franklin
Now the question arises, if fasting is so powerful then why it is seen as something to be feared and avoided at all cost.
Why Fasting seen as something to be feared & to be avoided at all cost?
This is because the big food companies and pharmaceutical industries through the power of advertising has brain washed us.
FASTING IS BAD FOR BUSINESS AFTER ALL.
WHO WILL BUY FOOD IF PEOPLE WON’T EAT? WHO WILL DEPEND ON MEDICINES IF PEOPLE GET HEALED WITH FASTING? THINK ABOUT IT.
This is the reason there are too many myths floating around fasting.
Myths About Fasting
Fasting Lowers Metabolism
Most people are made to believe that fasting lowers metabolism levels.
You will be amazed to know that in fact metabolism revs up not down during fasting.
In one study, four days continuous fasting increase the basal metabolic rate by 12%.
In another study, fasting every another day for 22 days resulted in no measurable decrease in BMR.
What more can you ask for?
Fasting Makes You Lose Muscle
Another common myth is that, fasting makes you lose muscle.
This is one which has been blown way out of proportion.
Modern science today has established that your body hold onto muscles until the body fat become so low that the body has no choice but to burn muscle.
In a nutshell, until you’re super skinny, you will need not worry about it.
On the contrary, fasting increases the human growth hormone in a huge way.
One study found that 3 days into a fast, HGH levels increased by over 300%.
More HGH means less body fat and more muscles.
Energy Levels Go Down During Fast
But do the energy levels go down during a fast? Well they go up.
In one study, 3 and half day fast did not affect any measurements of athletic performance including strength and endurance.
In fact there are many well-known athletes who like to work out in the fasted state early in the morning.
So, now that we are clear on the benefits of the fasting, let’s understand what the right way of fasting is and more importantly what is the practical way of fasting?
RIGHT & THE MOST PRACTICAL WAY OF FASTING
There are many levels to it and you should choose the one you’re most comfortable with?
- One simple way is to REPLACE ROTI AND RICE WITH OTHER GRAINS LIKE MILLETS, SABUDANA, GRAM FLOUR, RAGI, BAJRA, AND OATS FOR ONE FULL DAY. This is not really a fast, but gives some rest to the digestive system.
- ABSTAIN FROM EATING SALT FOR ONE FULL DAY.
- Then in some diseases like hypertension and high BP even abstaining from salt for a day is a big relaxation to your body.
- Another easy fast for the beginners could be CONSCIOUSLY SKIPPING ONE MEAL PREFERABLY DINNER. You can do this quite often.
- Taking this further you can CONSCIOUSLY SKIP TWO GRAIN MEALS IN A DAY AND REPLACE THEM WITH LIGHTER FOODS LIKE FRUITS, SOUPS ETC.
- Then you can FAST FOR THE WHOLE DAY WITHOUT EATING ANY GRAINS CONSUMING FRUITS, SOUPS, LEMON WATER, and COCONUT WATER throughout the day.
- Taking even level further you can fast only on water. FOR ONE FULL DAY, DRINK ONLY WATER.
- Then even without water for the whole day. FOR 12, 18 & 24 HOURS, KEEP A COMPLETE DRY FAST.
- FROM ONE DAY IT CAN BE EXTENDED TO TWO DAYS AND SO ON.
You get the idea.
According to Ayurveda, one can fast for continuously 21 days, however this should be only under the guidance of an Ayurveda practitioner.
No matter what fast you take up, you should never feel stressful.
FAST IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT
| Fast Cheerfully |
| Don’t make it stressful. |
| Don’t do it forcefully. |
| Do it with a feeling that your body is getting cleaned. |
| Do it with a feeling that you are giving rest to your digestive system |
Fasting should be done in the right spirit with the feeling that you are giving the much needed rest to your digestive system that works 24/7 for you.
Just how fasting the right way is important, breaking the fast is also crucial.
How to Break a fast the Right Way?
Break your fast with something like lemon water or maybe a piece of fruit, then go ahead with your regular routine.
When should I fast?
You can fast whenever you wish to.
However if you’re looking for an easiest way to kick off your fasting journey, then EKADASHI which is the 11th lunar day is the best day to start with.
It is no superstition but according to Ayurveda, an ideal planetary formation which helps you fast keeping the food cravings low.
Not only this, THE SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS reaped from fasting are much more when done on Ekadashi.
You can simply look for the next Ekadashi with a quick Google search.
If you’re looking for longer fasts, Ayurveda has specific guidelines according to your body type and weather conditions you’re living in.
| BODY TYPE | WEATHER |
| VATA – If you are dominated by Vata Dosha, you should not do long fasts (not more than one day) and should also do fast less often, Once in 15 days good for you. | HOT- Hot climate is ideal for frequent as well as long fasts as the digestive fire is already low. |
| PITTA – you are dominated by pitta dosha, even you should also not do fasts long fasts (maximum 2 days). Once in 15 days is good enough. | SEASON CHANGE – At the change of season it is best time to fast as the body is vulnerable to diseases |
| KAPHA – Kapha can indulge in fasting more often. Once in a week or even more than that. You can take up long fasts of several days. | COLD – In colder climates, fast less often and also fast for short duration as the digestive fire of the body a high. |
Although as a beginner you need not worry about it.
Who should not fast?
And only if you fall in one of these categories [pregnant women, children & extremely low BP], fasting is not advisable, otherwise it is good to go.
On a personal note, I have been eating 2 meals a day over 1 year now and also fasts for full day on Ekadashi.
Yes, I did experience some friction in first couple of fasts, but trust me now it comes organically.
And I can confidently say that, it has not only increased my energy levels and strength but also have improved my creative thinking and focus.
I also train every morning in a fasted state.
4 TIPS TO EXECUTE A FAST
Now let me give you 4 simple tips to easily execute a fast.
- First, SIP ON WARM WATER whenever a hunger pang.
- Secondly you must know that HUNGER COMES IN WAVES. It’s like if you’re used to dinner daily at 7 PM and you decide to skip it you will feel hungry at 7 PM as the hunger hormone rises. But then falls down shortly and suddenly at 8PM you are not being hungry anymore. So, you need to write the hunger waves.
- Thirdly, GIVE YOUR BODY ONE MONTH TO ALIGN TO YOUR FASTING REGIME. Trust me then fasting will become a cake walk for you.
- And last but not the least, TAKE BABY STEPS, no need to jump the gun.
Sometimes the solution to our health problem does not lie in eating something but rather abstaining from it.
Imagine going to the office 7 days a week for 365 days, well thats’the situation of your digestive system if you are not fasting.
IT’S SIMPLE, ITS FREE, IT’S CONVENIENT AND IT IS POWERFUL.
Just incorporate this small change in your lifestyle and I promise you will see how your health problem begin to disappear.
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