Here are just some of the benefits to fasting
From: Dr. Ralph Cinque
1. Fasting initiates rapid weight loss with little or no hunger. Once the “ketosis” of fasting sets in, it becomes quite easy to go without food. Most people are surprised at how little desire for food they have while fasting.
2. Fasting promotes detoxification. As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and eliminates stored toxins.
3. Fasting gives the digestive system a much-needed rest. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are invigorated.
4. Fasting promotes the resolving of inflammatory processes, including painful inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Fasting quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever.
6. Fasting promotes the drying up of abnormal fluid accumulations, such as edema in the ankles and legs and swelling in the abdomen.
7. Fasting corrects high blood pressure without drugs. Fasting will reduce blood pressure to a safe range within two weeks or less in the vast majority of cases. And the blood pressure will remain low after the fast if the person eats correctly and lives healthily.
8. Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting, and even drug addictions. Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs.
9. Fasting clears the skin and whitens the eyes. It is common to see skin eruptions clear while fasting, and the whites of the eyes never look so clear and bright as they do after a fast.
10. Fasting restores taste appreciation for wholesome natural foods. People say that their taste buds come alive after fasting and that food never tasted so good.
11. Fasting is the perfect gateway to a healthful diet and lifestyle. Going on a fast gives you the motivation and enthusiasm to make a fresh start and commit yourself to a new and better way of life.
12. Fasting actually shrinks the stomach- not in a harmful way, but restoring it to its normal size. People tend to be satisfied with less food after fasting.
January 30th, 2006 at 2:43 am
how many hours should one fast???
January 30th, 2006 at 9:17 am
for real you cant fast if you are involved in vigorous activities or you will pass out. More input please
January 31st, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Mechi,
If you are not used to fasting, I would suggest start off maybe with a 1/2 day. As you get adjusted to it, then continue to add the days that best suit your needs and purpose for fasting.
Brian,
You are right. I would not suggest that either. Making sure you take your vitamins and drinking plenty of water is a NECESSITY when fasting. I would also suggest purchasing a juice machine and juicing some fruits and vegetables as they provide much needed ‘quick” energy during a fast.
January 31st, 2006 at 10:34 pm
I spent some time many years ago in an ashram studying yoga (I have since lost interest in yoga and wold recommend pilates) . Any fast less than twenty-four hours is a waste of time. Three days of fasting will completely transform your life.
February 1st, 2006 at 1:27 am
exe,
Ultimately, I do agree with you. But for someone with no fasting experience, 3 days can seem like a lifetime. That is why I suggest slowly working your way up to that point and beyond.
Again, you are correct. The body is just starting to experience some of the benefits of fasting at the 2-3 day mark.
February 1st, 2006 at 10:45 am
Another excellent option is to spend an extended time , such as three,six or more months, as a vegetarian.
February 1st, 2006 at 12:34 pm
One day I may try to do that myself. My only hang up about being a vegetarian is that your body is missing out on much needed protein that can only be supplied by meat. I read about that from several sources. Maybe I’m wrong.
March 12th, 2006 at 8:16 am
PEACE:
I find it interesting how many people use to act like “smarty-pants” telling me that I’m not getting enough protein by being a vegetarian. (And I see people are using that as an excuse to hold on to their meat addictions).
Guess what? There is plenty of protein in green, leafy vegetables. I guess if people really wanted to be “Vegs” they would do the little research required and find out for themselves:
http://www.highproteinfoods.net/vegetables
Anyway, I love to read articles that come out and confirm the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He told us decades ago (and it’s written in his books “How to Eat to Live, I and II”), that fasting is PRESCRIBED.
He wrote, “Fasting is a greater cure of our ills, both mental and physical, than all of the drugs of the earth combined into one bottle or a billion bottles.”
Don’t just JUMP on fasting for 3 days (although 3 days, once a month, is good for you). Do what you can. Start out slow. Miss a few meals one day (because we definately eat more than 3 meals a day). Then next, go a day without it. When you are strong enough, eat only ONE meal a day. Then, one meal every OTHER day.
The Hon. Elijah Muhammad wrote that one meal a day would “keep us here for a long time; we would live over 100 years.” He added, “Eating one meal every two days would lengthen our lives just that much longer.”
Eat to live. The doctors of this world, and definately not the restuarant industry, would never tell you this. They make money off of american’s over-consumption, and resulting bad healh.
LM
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:37 am
i would like to come incontact with people who eat once a day.
tsip29 @ hotmail
how do you keep your weight up or if you do hard labour.