Fasting For A Healthier Life
March 06, 2012
Article written by Manfred Kramer
Fasting has been practiced by people for millennia. Sages, prophets and wise men of old have been fasting when preparing for difficult assignments. It is mentioned many times in the Bible as well as in many other ‘Sacred’ Books. In nature, we find often that animals fasten voluntarily or involuntarily. When sick, people as well as animals instinctively feel an enormous lack of appetite and simply refuse to eat.
What Does Fasten Exactly Effect?
First, we need to find out why we should include a regular fasting program in our life. In western civilization, we have grown accustomed to many debilitating habits, both in eating and activity. Our foods are many times so over-refined that they lack proper energy and nutrition. We are too many times too busy with our hectic lifestyle that we have too little time for eating a nutritious, energy rich and healthy meal. Refined foods, found primarily in fast foods, including heavily processed foods, such as can food, TV dinners etc. do not have the full nutritional value, are low in energy and so, in reality, slowly starve the body while filling it up with low value foods; hence the predominance of obesity. Social eating, including eating while watching TV or working on computers also contribute to this dilemma. In addition, environmental circumstances add to increased accumulations of toxins in our bodies. The food itself is loaded with many chemicals known as well as unknown. These chemicals, toxins, accumulate in our bodies that settle anywhere in the body and so exert enormous stress on it. This stress will in time cause all kinds of sickness. Once, the sickness has been detected, we usually run to our trusted doctor who prescribes drugs to ‘heal’ it. Usually, it only aggravates the condition. Drugs are usually made of chemicals that only add more toxins to the body. Just read the list of side effects!
The Benefits Of Fasting
The body must first be relieved of all stress before it can start to heal!
Fasting gives the body the time needed and the opportunity to slow down and cleanse itself. With the cleansing, stress is reduced and so the body can heal itself. Cleansing the body of toxins also benefits the mind. Many fasting practitioners state that after a fasting period they experience a sharper and more active mind and higher consciousness. The brain is more efficient and more conducive to people to work more efficiently. This is simply effected by the purer blood that flows through the brain.
The Greeks had a saying that holds true forever: “A healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. The correlation between mind and body is well known. Toxins in our bodies can influence the way we think and vice versa. Negative thoughts, anxieties, depression and anger can slowly poison the body as well as they can be caused by a toxic body. For that reason, proper fasting necessitates not only proper actions but also a proper mental attitude. During fasting, it would be a good exercise to stay away from distractions such as inordinate TV watching, computer activities and cell phones, including texting. During fasting, we could reflect on the positive aspects and outlooks of our lives, what we have accomplished so far and what we can accomplish in the future. This will help us to work towards new goals or just bring prior set goals to an end.
How To Fast
I found that the best way to fast is to follow the recommendations of Paul Bragg. He recommends drinking 8 to 10 glasses of distilled water. Also, for the beginner, he advises for more, but short fasts. Long fasts should be supervised by fasting professionals and/or experienced fasting practitioners. There are several other points to be remembered. Fasting alone is not a ‘heal all’ recipe. It must be supported with an overall healthy lifestyle, including the consumption of healthy, nutritious food as well as proper exercise. During your fast, make sure you have enough rest. Also, on of the most important things to remember is when and how to break the fast. Paul Bragg, N.D., Ph.D, life extension specialist, has a fasting program that he applied virtually all his life. He is fasting once every week, 3 days every month, 7 to 10 days every year with the best of results. I can only recommend to follow the link: www.bragg.com for more information on fasting and healthy living in general. Another great link is: http://personalexcellence.co/blog/fasting/. This link is replete with detailed information on fasting. Before going through with a fast you must educate yourself first.
What Fasting Is Not
Fasting is not starving. Fasting is not a cure for all sicknesses and ailments. When properly done, fasting will help to get rid of the toxins within the body and so gives the body the opportunity to heal. Fasting must be done properly, controlled and supervised. People who have health problems should consult their health practitioner first before starting a fast. I am not a doctor and cannot give out medical advice; hence I cannot assume any responsibility if you do decide to fast. Experience has shown the enormous benefits of fasting and living a healthy lifestyle in general. Just go ahead and do it!
Stress-free Living Ahoi,
Manfred
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Word of the Day:
“The best time to start anything good, is now!”
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