Importance of Fasting

• Man's foremost duty is sadhana for the realization of God. For sadhana, a sound body and a sound mind are most
essential, and fasting helps to keep both mind and body in a perfect state of health. That is why fasting is commended
by all religions. It is the first step on the ladder of divine life.

• Both fast and feast are blessings to human beings. The feast gives you an immediate blessing which vanishes in a few
hours, inducing a craving for more, whereas a fast gives you a different kind of happiness more lasting than that of a
feast. Fasting gives a continuous flow of bliss which brings lightness to the body. The bliss lingers on in your system
and forms a part of your Self. It is constantly evolving and gives you absolute happiness and a different personality
altogether. You are definitely nearer to God. This kind of bliss sheds its rays on whomsoever it comes into contact
with. It was from this experience that sages of old practised and preached fasting as an important routine in life.

• Fasting bestows a divine happiness which can be enjoyed with such delight that once you take to it, you will be
reluctant to leave the habit. A man who spends a few hours in absolute calmness after his first meal on breaking a fast
has a feeling of enjoyment which can never be expressed. His joy knows no bounds. It is heavenly and bears no
comparison to anything on earth.

• Fasting gives clear insight into a subject. It bestows on the human machine an activity all anew. Just listen to the
discourses given by a man who practises fasting. You develop a feeling of awe and an inexplicable liking for him. You
are happy to have him in your presence because of the divinity radiating from him without his knowledge. You are
suddenly forced to think: 'I should practise fasting at once'.

• A man who genuinely practises fasting at regular intervals has clear-cut thoughts, an expression all his own and an
imagination which others cannot excel. His ideal can only be the realization of the Self. His aim in life can only be the
attainment of immortality. The ego stands nowhere before him. His thoughts are sublime and firm. His actions are
diligent. There is a transcendental glow on his face, and he has found the kingdom of God in his own personality. He
never wounds the feelings of others. His ideas are rays of light in the darkness of human life.

The fast cure

• Animals, which depend only upon nature, fast spontaneously if there is any disease, and cure themselves by natural
means - sunlight and fresh air, fast and rest. If you stuff your stomach with food when there is no hunger, you are
going against nature, and nature will punish you severely. Therefore, do not overload the stomach. Observe
moderation in diet and fast from time to time. Then you will be happy and healthy, and you will make spiritual
progress.

• When you notice the first sign of disease, it is time to fast for a day or two. Many serious ailments can be averted if
you start fasting in the early stages. If you allow any disease to strike deep roots it will be difficult to cure it later on.
You will have to take recourse to long fasts and the rate of progress will be very slow.

• Just observe a man who has eaten and drunk fully. He suffers more than a sickly man, for his stomach gets bloated
with poisonous gas. Therefore, never eat unless you are really hungry and are able to enjoy every mouthful. Beware
of a false appetite. Never force yourself to eat. If you have no appetite it clearly indicates that the body does not
require any food at that moment. To force yourself to eat simply because it happens to be the time for meals is
exceedingly unwise.

• Fasting gives perfect rest to the overworked digestive organs. Undigested food gets digested. The digestive juices
which are poor in quality and quantity regain their normal condition. It is absurd to imagine that you will grow weak
for want of food. One becomes stronger day by day while fasting, because energy is conserved. A considerable
amount of energy which is used in digestion, assimilation and elimination is saved, and this conserved energy builds
better health.
• Statistics show that people who fast live the longest. I can assure you that most ailments may be prevented or cured
by moderation in diet and through a partial or complete fast. Dyspepsia and other digestive diseases like loss of
appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentery, colic, gastritis, colitis, inflammation of the bowels and all kinds of fevers may
be cured without any medicine if you observe the rules of health and hygiene and by careful and judicious dieting and
fasting.

• Although fasting is an excellent remedy, it should not be expected to accomplish the impossible. It cannot cure
deficiency diseases due to insufficient nourishment, like scurvy and rickets, congenital defects and serious organic
troubles. Long fasts are not advisable in wasting diseases like consumption, pernicious anaemia and also during
pregnancy.

Breaking the fast

• A fast can be broken at any time, but it is best to wait until you feel hungry. If you break it before hunger appears
naturally, you will not realize the maximum benefits. After the fast is properly broken and also during the breaking
period, you may have a tendency towards constipation, but later on this will vanish completely. That is the reason
why a fruit diet should be strictly adhered to for the first few days after breaking a fast. Fruits digest very easily and
stimulate peristalsis.

• After breaking a fast a strong craving to eat large quantities and ail kinds of food will arise. If you yield to these
impulses the consequences will be serious. The tongue and stomach will revolt violently. Be cautious. Control this
abnormal appetite. Stick to your prescribed course. Allow this greed to pass off.

• If the fast is not broken properly and the stomach is overloaded by eating too much heavy food, the body becomes
bloated. To get rid of this condition, fast again. Take hot baths and one or more enemas daily. When the swelling
disappears, break the fast. This time do it slowly and carefully.

• After long fasts, continue a light liquid diet until all digestive trouble is over and normal hunger is established. Break
your fast with half a cup of diluted fruit juice, or vegetable soup, or the water of a tender coconut. Take three to four
times on the first day. Milk is a heavy food. You should not break your fast with milk. However, you can take it
gradually.

• The digestive power becomes very weak after a long fast. You cannot take heavy food suddenly. Nature must take her
own time and course to renovate and invigorate. If heavy fuel is placed over the dying embers of a fire, the flame will
be extinguished. But if dried grass is used it will grow into a big fire that will burn big pieces of wood. So also is the
case with the digestive power after a long fast.

• Long fasts require much careful thought. Fasts of over one week not only cleanse the body but they give more energy,
power and spiritual strength. However, they should be observed under the guidance of an expert, otherwise there is
every possibility of doing more harm than good to the system. Two or three days fast can be observed without the
guidance of an expert, but the daily use of an enema during the fast, and for a day or two afterwards, is necessary.

• No one is ever too old to fast. Even aged persons should fast. Older persons can observe short fasts, then they will be
free from diseases. However, the fast should be discontinued when the action of the heart becomes very slow or the
person begins to feel very weak.

• When you fast, do not entertain thoughts of food. You will not derive the benefits if your mind always dwells on food.
Turn your mind towards God. Entertain sublime, divine thoughts.

Type of Fasting

1. Complete fasting – no meals no water – This is the final thing in fasting. keeping yourself away from food and water
requires lot of mental and physical strength. This type of fasting is suitable only for pro-fasters.
 2. Skipping breakfast – Here a deadline for fasting is kept in the morning. Like, restraining from food and water till 11
am, 12 am or  1 pm, as per your convenience. This is ideal for those who feel ok with delayed breakfast.

3. It is not ideal for people with minor gastric problems. Because, stomach will be devoid for food for more than 12 – 14
hours. (From previous night to next day afternoon)

4. Skipping lunch or dinner or both – Here you will have breakfast but will not take food or water for the rest of the day.

5. If you are adopting this type of fasting, then make sure to drink plenty of water with breakfast. This helps to keep you
hydrated throughout the day, thereby avoiding easy tiredness.

6. Skipping lunch is  not ideal for physical workers and for those who go under sun for work. Because fasting naturally
causes an increase in Vata and Pitta and sun exposure further increases pitta leading to intense burning sensation,
dizziness etc.

7. Water fasting –  In this type, can drink only water through out the day. This is next best thing to complete fasting.
Body usually will be having food reserves in the form of stored fat. Hence it is safer method of fasting.

8. Juice fasting – Here in place of water, you will have only fruit juices through out the day. This method of fasting is
ideal for people who can not stay away from food for long. This is lighter type of fasting compared to water fasting.
Because, juices will provide you with a bit more nourishment with added carbohydrate and other fruit nutrients.

9. Make sure to drink juice only when you can no more control hunger.

10. Do not add or add only a little bit of sugar. Too much of sugar will beat the purpose of fasting.

11. Fruits fasting – In this type of fasting only fruits are had through out the day.

12. Vegetable fasting – Vegetable salads can be had whenever hunger is uncontrollable.  Good for people with gastritis,
because fiber rich vegetables keep the hunger in check.
Mixture of above methods can also be tried as per your choice, but principle of limited consumption, only when the
hunger is out of control should be strictly followed. 

Fasting Therapy

Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. The word
id derived from the old English , ‘ Feastan’ means to fast, observe, be strict. In Sanskrit ‘ Vrath’ means ‘determination’
and ‘Upavasa’ means ‘ near to God’.A fast may be total or partial concerning that from which one fasts, and may be
prolonged or intermittent as to the period of fasting. Fasting is an important treatment modality for health
preservation. In fasting, mental preparedness is an essential pre-condition. Prolonged fasting should be done only
under the supervision of a competent Naturopath.

The duration of the fast depends upon the age of the patient, the nature of the disease and amount and type of
drugs previously used. It is sometimes advisable to undertake a series of short fasts of two or three days and
gradually increase the duration of each succeeding fast by a day or so. No harm will accrue to fasting patient provided
they take rest and are under proper professional care.

Methods of fasting are water, juices or raw vegetable juices. The best, safest and most effective method is lime juice
fasting. During fasting, the body burns up and excretes huge amounts of accumulated wastes. We can help this
cleansing process by drinking alkaline juices. Sugars in juices will strengthen the heart, juice fasting is therefore the
best form of fasting. All juices should be prepared from fresh fruit immediately before drinking. Canned or frozen
juices should not be used. A precautionary measure, which must be observed in all cases of fasting, is the complete
emptying of the bowels at the beginning of the fast by enema so that the patient is not bothered by gas or
decomposing matter formed from the excrements remaining in the body. Enemas should be used at least every
 alternate day during the fasting period. The total liquid intake should be approximately six to eight glasses. A lot of
energy is spent during the fast in the process of eliminating accumulated poisons and toxic waste materials. It is
therefore, of utmost importance that the patient gets as much physical rest and mental relaxation as possible during
the fast.

The success of the fast depends largely on how it is broken. The main rules for break in the fast are: do not overeat,
eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly and take several days for the gradual change to the normal diet.

Benefits and Physiological effects of Fasting

Physicians of most cultures, throughout history, have recommended extended fasting as therapy for various
conditions from ancient to modern. Though earlier observations were studied without scientific methodology or
understanding they still point to utilization of fasting as a therapeutic modality. Earlier observations were based on
animal behavior but today they are based on animal physiology. We will try to discern in this article as to how best
fasting could be useful in promoting ones health through review of literature that describes physiological and
metabolic benefits.

Prominent among the physiological effects conferred by fasting (Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting) are the
following: increased insulin sensitivity that results in reduced plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and improved
glucose tolerance, reduced levels of oxidative stress as indicated by decreased oxidative damage to proteins, lipids
and DNA, increased resistance to various types of stress including heat, oxidative and metabolic stresses and
enhanced immune function.

Both gross and cellular physiology is profoundly affected by caloric restriction (CR) or intermittent fasting (IF) regimes.
With respect to gross physiology there is of course a significant reduction of body fat and mass, which supports a
healthy cardiovascular system and reduces incidents of myocardial infarction. In addition to cardioprotection a
greater tolerance to stress is induced in the liver, the nutrient core of homo sapiens. The presence of alternative
energy stores such as ketone bodies (e.g. β-hydroxybutyrate) enable homo sapiens to survive additional stresses of
life. Excessive and deleterious blood glucose is curtailed by an enhanced sensitivity to insulin (Ins) and glucose and its
utilization as an energy source.