Let's take a look at some practical fasting tips for a broad spectrum of health goals and lifestyle environment. If you are like most people your system has become subjected to a diet of fat, especially with fried foods, high protein from flesh foods, sugar and refined foods. The result to your health can be devastating. Fasting can help correct this problem. Another name you may have heard natural health care practitioners use is cleansing. Cleansing helps in rejuvenating the whole body- Mind, body and spirit.
When the word “Fast” is used, many definitions come to mind. What is fasting?
Simply put fasting is to do without food. However doing without food for a particular benefit is what we are talking about. So, there are different types or modes of fasting. A total fast means not eating any food and drinking only water. What is called a dry fast without water is not endorsed at all in this method of healing. It is totally devastating. A partial fast may include drinking fruit and vegetable juices and herbal teas as well as water. A restrictive fast eliminates certain categories of food, e.g. all flesh products for the duration of the fast. A partial fast is recommended over a total fast to overcome an acute illness, to lose weight, and to rejuvenate your body. As a Cleansing Program I will focus on both the partial and restrictive fasts.
Before you attempt to fast, you need to understand that you are what you think. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 In order for you to be successful during this fast, you must want to make some life-restoring changes. You must believe that you are capable of doing whatever is necessary to accomplish your goal of restored health. There will be times during the fast when you will want to quit, especially during the first one to two days. Eating is something that most of us have grown accustomed to doing and to abruptly stop eating will require that you use your willpower to continue those first couple of days. It is important to note that this feeling has little to do with hunger, weakness or other negative feelings that you might expect, but it is simply due to the mental association with eating. Actually you will note that you have more energy, not less, and if you normally have nasal congestion associated with chronic sinusitis, that too tends to decrease, and other health issues frequently begin to resolve.
First let me tell you some of the benefits to encourage you.
Fasting detoxifies the body, gives organs a rest, and brings natural healing by cleansing the body of toxins. It can even help reverse the aging process.
By fasting three days a month, you can help rebuild the immune system and help fight off illness and degenerative diseases. Illness may simply reflect an overloaded immune system—one burdened by exposures to toxins of various
kinds and origins.
There is something more to fasting than the mere physical act. Spiritual fasting seems to be “magical” in its transformative effect. Its amazing. Individuals who engage in a mere two week spiritual fast can accomplish things that have eluded them for years. To conduct a “spiritual” fast, it is necessary to maintain a constant prayerful attitude. “Be still and know that I AM God.” Seek an answer to the questions and problems that haunt your life.
Fasting allows you to achieve a deeper and more profound spiritual level than seekers who are not fasting. This is because fasting aids the body in cleansing itself of impurities. These impurities clog up your system physically, dull your mental power and decrease spiritual alertness.
Fasting has a positive impact on the mind. Studies have shown that if you as an individual pray and meditate quietly every day for a period of time (such as twice a day for 15 minutes), you will increase your own health. The reason for this appears to be that prayer causes a “Relaxation Response” (popularized by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard). This relaxation response results in lower blood pressure, fewer strokes, and fewer heart attacks.
Here are the mode or types of fasting recommended?
· Total Fast. Drinking only water for the duration of the fast. Some consider a total fast to include no food or drink of any kind. (Not recommended.)
· Partial Fast. Drinking liquids only including fruit and vegetable juices, herb teas, broth and water.
· Restrictive Fast. Restricting certain foods from the diet for the duration of the fast, e.g., meat, dairy products, caffeine, processed foods, cooked foods, etc.
· Rotational Fast. Eating certain foods on a rotational basis only, e.g., eating bread or meat once every 3 or 4 days only.
There are variations of the above fasts used in various cleansing programs like juicing programs, which is technically a restrictive fast excluding all solid foods, and allows drinking water, fruit and vegetable juices only for the duration of the program. I recommend and have been using both the partial and restrictive fasts to encourage a larger range of participants in the fasting and cleansing experience.
In general, three to ten day fasts are recommended for health and longevity. It is a scientific fact that partial fasting of three days a month, will help you heal faster and can extend your life several years. A three day partial fast helps rid the body of toxins, a five day fast starts the healing process, and a ten day fast should take care of most problems before they arise.
Restrictive fasts, which can include aspects of the partial fast, are generally safe and effective for longer periods of 40 days or more, based on the health, activity level and goals of the fast. That is, your options are dependent on your health issues, your activity level- I generally advice that you stay indoors during this time. And your goals- what do you want to achieve? -Cleansing, just routine, health reversal etc.
So your options may be for a short term 3 to 14 day juicing fast or to a very practical 40-day transformational fast.
Here are four restrictive fast programs.
a) one day weekly, and/or b) three days monthly or quarterly, and/or c) ten to 14 days annually or semi-annually, and/or d) 40 days for a major empowering and transformational experience e) based on the personal goals and the guidance of your health practitioner in implementing the sample fasting regimens. You need your health practitioner to guide you if embarking on a long fast.
There are a few things you should do while fasting.
1. Dry brush massage while on a fast speeds up the process of the elimination of waste products and the rejuvenation of the body. You will need a suitable brush, mitt or sponge the size of your hand or larger. You may also use a brush with a long handle so you can reach all parts of your body.
Brush vigorously making rotary motions. Press the brush against your body as much as you can comfortably stand. Sensitivity of the skin varies, of course, with every individual. Some can stand much harder brushing than others. You can also do Epsom salt friction to clean and open up the skin's eliminating power.
2. Exercise is a very important part of the total health picture and contributes to the success of this program. You should select an exercise that you like, such as walking. Program it into your schedule and stick with it. A daily exercise program is essential to toning and firming up the body. I recommend that you exercise at least 20 minutes a day, 3 to 5 times a week.
3. Rest is another very important part of the total health picture that contributes to the success of this program. You should be in as relaxing an environment as practical enjoying physical, mental, emotional and spiritual rest during your fasting and cleansing experience.
4. Prayer. This is the most powerful enabler for a successful and transformational fasting and cleansing experience. God can do everything and when you pray to Him He enables you to do everything He can do. His counsel advises fasting so that every area of your life will be free. Your spirit, mind, and body are included so that no disease will come upon you! Fasting, God said, facilitates this Divine freedom. “Your light will break forth like morning . . .” and your “healing shall spring forth speedily.” Your fast, God declared, will even make right your relationship with Him! So that He can go before you, and the glory, His goodness, will be your guardian.
“Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” Zechariah 4:6
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” Phil 4:13
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Pr 3:5,6
Keep in mind that to obtain the best results you must consider very strongly the following points:
No cold Liquids. No Liquid with meals. Water should be room temperature or warmer
· Light exercise 20 minutes a day, 3 to 5 days a week, complemented with lots of rest throughout the day.
· Consider contrast showers for immune system enhancement.
· No TV and as peaceful an overall environment as practical.
· Prayer, meditation or Bible study 1 to 3 times a day.
· Combine foods properly. No fruits with vegetables at same meal.
· Eat and drink to satisfaction not over eating, allow 5-6 hours between meals.
· No Oil, no fried foods or gluten by-products, few raw nuts.
During the cleansing program there are changes that will occur. Most of these changes will be very positive, but they vary in different people, depending on what problems are present in the body. There may be weight loss or a decrease of joint swelling, or even the decrease of pain. Occasionally there may be a negative response such as a mild headache or weakness. Regardless of the type of changes that occur, write them down for your reference and understanding of what transpired. Many of the positive changes will be subtle so don’t miss them, monitor yourself and write what you are feeling and what impresses you!
