How to Fast?

When people think of fasting, they think they can't eat ANYTHING for a prolonged period of term, but that's just wrong. In a fast, the person chooses, for a set time, to do without something that is hard to do without. It is terrific way to restore our health. It goes hand-in-hand with cleansing which is something we should do occasionally from time to time. We need to take a break from food once in a while, and it should be done by people with specific ailments such as arthritis, digestive disorders, and diabetes.

What is Fasting?

Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.

Why Fast?

Fasting is a powerful therapeutic process that can help people recover from mild to severe health conditions. Naturopathy believes that a properly done fast helps the body to detoxify and prepares the body for rejuvenation. A well done fast (which should be done cyclically) has the potential to cure many diseases. Fasts usually benefit people and constitutions which are acidic, congestive or pitta and kapha in nature. A fast that is appropriately done will allow you to experience some or all of the following:

• More energy
• Healthier skin
• Healthier teeth and gums
• Better quality sleep
• A clean and healthy cardiovascular system
• A decrease in anxiety and tension
• Dramatic reduction or complete elimination of aches and pains in muscles and joints
• Decrease or elimination of headaches
• Stabilization of blood pressure
• Stronger and more efficient digestion
• Stabilization of bowel movements
• Loss of excess weight
• Elimination of stored toxins
• Improvement with a wide variety of chronic degenerative health conditions.

What are the types of Fast?

When we fast it can of many types like the very Strict Fast with No water and No food. This is the toughest of the fasts where the body is deprived of all food and water for a day. The body, in such a condition, is prone to develop dehydration and low blood pressure plus acidity. This can be avoided by drinking cabbage or lauki (bottle gourd) juice early morning and eat foods (early morning) which do not dehydrate the body like rice and vegetables (with less salt)/khichri, fruits, rice kheer (rice pudding) etc. Avoid fried and Maida (white flour) foods when you are fasting.

The other eating fast is where one is allowed to eat but only certain foods. In such fast, one can eat fruits or fruit chat, lassi, fruit raita, paneer, kheer with natural sweetness of raisins (no added sugar) or apple / pumpkin kheer with brown sugar.

The next is the Lemon water and Honey fast which entails only consuming the juice of lemon with honey throughout the day. This kind of fast is strict therefore should be done only for one day. It suits people with kapha or congestive prakriti and should not be done by people with high acid levels.

There is also Fruit/Vegetable juice fast which entails drinking fruit juices and lemon juices through the day.

Who should NOT Fast?

• If you have presently undergone some surgery and recovering from it.
• People who are too skinny should avoid fasting or else should take advice from a doctor.
• People prone to bulimia or anorexia.
• People with severe weakness or anemia.
• People who have bleeding ulcers, blood diseases, tumors, cancer and heart diseases.
• People with chronic problems with heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and other vital organs.
• People with blood sugar problems such as hyperglycemia.
• Pregnant and nursing women.

What are the things to be remembered while fasting?

There are certain aspects in a fast which one has to be careful.

• Avoid all fried foods and maida (white flour) based foods on fasting days as they create acidity, weight gain and toxins in the body which are even more damaging than the same eaten on regular days.
• Avoid eating lot of heavy foods when you break the fast as the heavy foods are most likely to create a sudden imbalance in the system because the digestive process is not ready for sudden surge of food after prolonged fasting. In fact water retention, blood pressure fluctuations and toxin accumulation can be caused if one does incorrect fasting.
• Avoid too much sugar and too much salt after a fast.
• Use natural cleansers in the fast like tulsi (holy basil), adrak (ginger), amla (indian gooseberry), methi (fenugreek leaves), wheat grass juice to aid the rejuvenation process.
• One should avoid stimulants like excessive talking, loud noises, tea, coffee, smoking, alcohol etc. Tea/Coffee lovers can substitute it with herbal hot drinks.
• One can associate various activities with a fast like pranayam, a rejuvenating walk, body massage, yog asans and meditation to greatly enhance the affect of the fast.

How to break a Fast?

Breaking a fast is as important as having it in the first place. The procedure to break a fast is:

• First have some water with 8 drops of lemon and a pinch of salt followed by a light juice (sweet lime juice is preferable or even coconut water is excellent).
• Then have some dates/prunes/figs which are pre-soaked followed by some fruits.
• Then you can have rice gruel (a thin porridge) or khichdi and after that one may eat the regular dinner.

During a fast, you will be surrounded with the hostile world of food, especially in a country that has become addicted to eating junk food.  Do all you can to separate yourself from temptations. That's it for the general advice and overview. Enjoy your fasting!