Fasting And Your Condition
Fasting: Is it Right for You?
Does the thought of going off food for a few hours scare you? How about going off food for a day?
While skipping meals may not be good for you, therapeutic fasting under guidance can have many health benefits. In a world where we are inundated with information on what foods to eat, sometimes taking a short break from food can reset the digestive system and metabolism to process your nutrition more efficiently.
While intermittent fasting is a newer trend that you may have heard of, fasting is not a new concept. If you look at most of the major traditions in the world, fasting was observed in many of the religious and spiritual times of the year: Lent for Christians, Ramadan for Muslims, Passover for Jews, Ekadasi and Shivratri for Hindus. Fasting was often aligned to the natural cleansing periods of the solar and lunar calendars. Spring is one of those significant periods where food is naturally scarce and we can burn up the excess fat stores after winter.
Fasting essentially means abstaining from food for a period of time, but the actual practice of fasting may vary from completely avoiding food and water to taking lighter foods or juices such vegetable broths, coconut water or fruit juices.
What are the different
types of fasting?
We will explore common types of fasting and their therapeutic
benefits. Speak to your ND before you start any of these fasts for more than
one day so they can guide you on the safest and most effective method for you.
·
Water fasting: this
is the most stringent type of fasting where you avoid food and beverages
completely other than water. This should only be done under guidance by a
health professional and avoided in individuals with blood sugar imbalance.
Individuals with a Kapha constitution often
respond well to this type of fasting, but you should only do it for a short
period of time.
·
Juice or broth fasting: this
fasting involves avoidance of solid food and includes drinking only light
beverages that are either fresh pressed fruit or vegetables, herbal teas or
cooked broths. These liquids provide nutrition that can be absorbed by the body
without taxing the digestive system. Kapha body types do better with
vegetable juices with bitter, astringent and pungent tastes like leafy greens
and ginger and Pitta types respond well
to fresh, cooling juices such as cucumber, celery or watermelon. This type of
fasting may be difficult for vatas, but may be done for a short period of time.
·
Mono diet: this
fasting doesn't mean you avoid food altogether; you choose specific healthy
foods that are simple and easy to digest. Choosing the same combination of food
over a period of days allows the body basic nutrition without taxing the
digestive system. A typical example is an Ayurvedic kitchari fast
where you eat a porridge for each meal of the day and typically is vegetable
based and free of common allergens such as wheat, dairy and eggs. Or you may
eat only steamed vegetables in a mono diet. This type of 'fasting' is suitable
for vata body types.
·
Intermittent fasting: this
method has recently gained popularity and involves eating food during specific
times of the day and avoiding food for 16 hours or more. For example, you would
skip breakfast and eat lunch & dinner between 1pm - 8pm and avoid food
after that. Another method may involve eating a brunch at 10pm, giving a break
and eating dinner at 6pm.
What are the benefits of fasting?
Rest is an essential part of healing, and there's no exception
for the digestive system. During evolution, humans would alternate between
periods of abundant food to scarcity and it would be common to go through days
with little food. Fasting activates a process called 'autophagy' where cells break down
cell components and damaged structures and use them for energy. This is an
essential process of renewal which increases longevity. This process is
triggered by around 12-24 hours of fasting. There is a lot of growing research
in this field of the benefits of autophagy. When you take a break from eating,
initially you may feel weak, but once you pass a certain point, the body kicks
start another process to generate fuel.
Some of the benefits you may experience with therapeutic fasting:
Some of the benefits you may experience with therapeutic fasting:
· weight loss
·Improved energy
·Enhanced clarity & focus
·Improved digestion
·Reduced insulin resistance Reduced inflammation
·Increased longevity
Who can benefit from fasting?
If you have never fasted before, it is important that you start slowly and work with your ND to make a plan based on your body type and health concerns. If you have blood sugar imbalances (diabetes, pre-diabetes or adrenal insufficiency due to stress) fasting may be less advisable for you, though fasting is recommended for some individuals to reduce insulin resistance. Those with a Vata constitution do not do as well avoiding food. Cleansing for this type may include doing a mono-diet (eating the same foods over a period of days or weeks) such as a kitcharicleanse in Ayurveda. Pitta types and Kapha types generally experience many benefits from fasting. For these types, doing a warm herbal tea in the morning and fasting until lunch can support the body in detoxification.
Some ways fasting can be incoporated into your routine:
1. Start with a 1 day fast either with water only, coconut water or vegetable juice.
2. Eat a moderate breakfast, substantial lunch and skip dinner.
3. Try a regular 16+ hour fast. Have dinner by 6pm and breakfast or brunch after 10am.
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
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