Fasting has long been more than a religious ritual – today, for example, many fast for the sake of their health. More and more people resort to a purifying fasting cure to permanently cleanse the body of harmful substances. Fasting is supposed to return lost energies to the body and make it healthy. Besides one can lose weight and a few annoying pounds by welfare fasting also. Read here how to fast properly and what you should consider for a healthy fast.
Why fasting is beneficial
Fasting involves either abstaining from solid food or limiting the consumption of it. The fasting person drinks more than usual and supplies his body with nutrients through liquids such as juices or broths. On the one hand, these are easier for the body to utilize. Besides liquid materials can help to flush toxins from the body. As soon as the food supply is interrupted during therapeutic fasting, the body begins to reorganize its metabolism and to dehydrate. From about the fourth day of fasting, stored carbohydrates, fat reserves and stores of protein are broken down from the connective tissue.
Breakdown of toxins in the body
The body now no longer has to focus its energy on digestion, but can concentrate on breaking down accumulated toxins. Thus, during fasting, the harmful substances of the organism should be rounded up, channeled and flushed out. Fluid intake during fasting is intended to help the body rid itself of waste products and toxins. At the same time, it does not add new substances that can stick, clot or get stuck. Fasting is also thought to stimulate the activity of the liver and kidneys, which are responsible for detoxifying the body.
Fasting for the body
Fasting often produces a noticeable improvement in health. Common consequences of fasting are:
- Falling blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
- Weight loss due to a change in metabolism
- More stable bowel function
- Alleviation of inflammatory diseases
- Lowering blood lipid levels
- Relief of intervertebral discs and joints
In particular, however, the long-term positive effects of fasting cures have not yet been sufficiently scientifically studied.
Fasting for the soul
The physical factor is joined, moreover, a psychological factor. After a short overcoming phase, fasting people feel fresher and more relaxed. The weight loss, improved circulation and general well-being have a relaxing and restorative effect. This often leads also to a mental release, so that many chamfering report that the cure helps them to an emotional balance and internal peace. In addition it comes that the body increases the luck hormone Serotonin to secrete and the concentration of the stress hormone Kortisol is reduced. Serotonin remains with chamfered also longer in the blood. After about three days, therefore, the so-called fasting high often sets in.
Before fasting to the doctor
Before starting fasting, there are some important precautions to take. Especially if you have no experience with fasting or are not completely healthy, expert guidance is extremely important. But even those who are experienced in fasting should at least undergo a check-up with a doctor beforehand. Meanwhile there are many physicians, who acquired knowledge over the welfare aspects of chamfering. Such so-called chamfering physicians should bring along however not only a theoretical expertise, but also practical experiences, in order to be able to supply valuable references to the chamfering in the context of a medical discussion. A visit with a chamfering physician is absolutely advisable in the context of the preparation. Alternatively the chamfering cure can be accomplished also completely in a chamfering hospital. Here the cure guests are cared for by experienced specialized personnel and instructed step by step.
Individual fasting plan
In the run-up to a fasting period, a detailed, individually tailored fasting plan should be drawn up, specifying how long and intensively fasting should take place. The duration of the fast depends on the particular fasting method, but is also subject to individual requirements. Beginners should not plan more than five days of pure fasting at the beginning. The intensity can then be increased with increasing experience. Usually a chamfering cure lasts one to four weeks. Without expert guidance, however, fasting should never be carried out for longer than a week.
Proper fasting in three phases
A typical fasting diet is divided into three phases:
- Conversion phase and relief phase respectively.
- Purification phase
- Build-up phase and fasting break respectively
Below we present what to consider in these phases.
Relief phase: gradual changeover.
In the first phase, the changeover or relief phase, the diet should be changed gradually. Intoxicants such as alcohol or nicotine as well as caffeinated coffee and sugary sweets are taboo. In addition, care should be taken to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. The intake of sufficient fluids is essential for the success of the first phase. The body needs at least three liters a day, which can be supplied by water, juice, tea or broth. The first phase is considered the most difficult period to get through. The body suffers several side effects from the change in lifestyle. Among them are feelings of weakness, mood swings, increased sensation of cold and headaches. Body odor or bad breath is also possible, as acetoacetic acid is produced when fat is burned. This is excreted from the body via breath and sweat and causes the unpleasant odor. However, these complaints usually disappear again after the conversion phase.
Purification phase: complete renunciation of solid food.
Following the conversion phase, the purification phase is initiated. Now, in conventional fasting, food intake via solid foods is a thing of the past. The daily requirement of nutrients is covered only by liquids. In addition the gastro-intestinal tract is emptied in the first day with the help of Glauber’s salt or enemas. Thanks to the high fluid intake during “proper fasting”, fat deposits (also called slag) in the muscles are dissolved and expelled from the body. Likewise, toxins detach from the body and are eliminated. As the side effects of the first phase subside, the body strengthens and gradually feels better. Not every drink is suitable, however, because it is important to provide the body with sufficient nutrients. These are suitable fluids containing minerals:
- Water
- Fruit juices
- Vegetable juices
- Broths
- Fruit teas
Breaking fast: back to normal
When breaking fast, the third phase, the body should finally be reintroduced to a normal nutritional operation. Basically, laxatives are counterproductive during this build-up period and must accordingly be discontinued at the beginning of the phase. The organism has stopped the production of digestive juices during the fasting period. However, these are essential to normalize food intake again following the fast. For this reason, the body should be supplied with light, low-fat foods, otherwise stomach cramps and circulatory problems may result.
Slowly readjust the body
Most recipes for breaking the fast are based on vegetables and fruits. A raw apple, carrot and vegetable broth together make an optimal meal for the transition. Sugar, fat, alcohol and caffeine should still be avoided, as the body has to go to great lengths to metabolize these substances and is not infrequently overwhelmed. When eating itself, care must be taken that the body works more slowly. Accordingly, the chewing rhythm and duration of the meal must be extended. The build-up phase ends when the body has resumed its normal activity. A balanced diet and sufficient exercise help to ensure that the body remains healthy after the completion of the fast and that harmful substances do not accumulate again so quickly.
Who should not fast?
There are some medical conditions and situations in which professionally unaccompanied fasting must be discouraged, as it would represent an unnecessary and sometimes risky weakening of the body. These include:
- Depression or mental disorders
- Obesity (beware of the yo-yo effect).
- Advanced age and minority
- Diabetes, hepatitis and recently survived serious illnesses
- Stress
Fasting is completely discouraged in the following cases:
- Serious medical conditions such as cancer, tuberculosis, arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pregnancy and lactation
- Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia or underweight.
- Children should not fast
The different fasting methods
There are several fasting methods, which differ in duration and implementation.
- Therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger: The traditional method according to Buchinger bans any solid food from the diet plan and is based on the consistent intake of liquids. It is the most widespread fasting method.
- Alkaline fasting: in alkaline fasting, the body is fed only alkaline substances. These include natural products such as vegetables, salad, fruit and legumes. An actual renunciation of solid food is not given here. Alkaline fasting people should consume three liters of water a day. The fasting person can lose over three kilos in a week.
- Schroth Cure: This fasting diet allows up to 700 calories a day, which are absorbed through fat-free, low-salt food. The diet, which lasts several weeks, is especially known for its water fluctuation. A dry day low in water (no more than 1 liter) is followed by a drinking day high in water (3 liters). The Schroth cure is not recommended for people who dehydrate quickly.
- Intermittent fasting (interval fasting): intermittent fasting alternates a period of normal food intake with a period of fasting. The exact rhythm may vary depending on the concept, but often fasting is every other day.
- Whey fasting: abandoning other food sources, whey fasters consume only whey and other liquids.
Origins of fasting
Originally, fasting is a period of abstinence that has its roots in religion. Christian Lent takes place in the 40 days before Easter and is considered the Roman Catholic penitential period between Ash Wednesday and the Mass for the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. Other religions and cultures are also familiar with fasting. In Islam, for example, there is a comparable counterpart to the Christian fasting period in the form of Ramadan. In the meantime, however, fasting has been detached from its exclusively religious context and established in alternative medicine as a healing and cleansing method.