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In this new series, we are looking at fasting for promoting better health.
This article looks at fasting in general, the different types of fasts, and typical benefits along with some things to take into consideration particularly if you are a beginner to fasting.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this series is for information purposes only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, neither is it to be construed as such. It does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment where required. Consult a doctor for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
If you ever intend to go on a fast, do clear it with your healthcare provider.
A personal experience with fasting
Let me tell you a story.
I grew up a Pentecostal Christian.
As a young Christian, I felt out of touch with the god I was supposed to be serving. At one point, my parents worried that I was going to go mad.
For example, I was out in the yard all hours of the night during stormy weather, reading my Bible by lamplight!
This was in Jamaica.
One day, I decided I would do what I then believed Jesus did. I would go on a 40-day fast, albeit I would drink water every day.
When I told my mother about this, she expressed concern.
She was a nurse.
I assured her that she could keep an eye on me and at the slightest sign of anything going wrong, I would take her advice to stop.
The good news is that nothing happened that caused her any concern.
Not before, during, or after…despite potential dangers.
What happened afterwards?
Looking back at it now, at that time, I would say something responded.
If it did, I was completely unware of it.
I would not call it “God”.
At least not the god I grew up trying to serve for 30 years.
I would call It the Tao (pronounced: Dao). At least, that is the nickname I would give It. Some call It the Universal Mother, others the Absolute.
David Hawkins refers to this force as ‘an electromagnetic field that emanates love.
It appeared to be the case that this Consciousness operated without anything from me. I simply stood back and watched.
Was this a manifestation of the Tao?
For example…
Early one morning, after a long night of group praying at a sister’s home, she asked me to pray for her sprained ankle which did not seem to be getting better.
I was rather irritated at the request.
As I positioned my hands around her ankle without touching it, she shouted in excitement, “Hallelujah! The pain is gone!”
Erm…really?
I felt absolutely nothing…
What I do it again today?
Probably not.
Now that I have experienced the bodybuilding lifestyle, I am more interested in retaining as much muscle as I can.
I am also interested in returning my body to its default state and extending my lifespan.
The Law of Individual Differences
Bear in mind that what I might recommend in this series as a Nutrition Advisor and Sports Nutrition Specialist might not be suitable for everyone.
Remember that Grandaddy Law that I often refer to in many of my posts: The Law of Individual Differences (from Dr. Fred Hatfield, PhD).
Furthermore, I am not here to dictate to you what you should or should not do with your body.
After all, you are the final authority. The one who has to make that decision.
For example, I am not going to tell you that you should be counting calories. Counting calories is ONE of many options available to you.
Calorie counting appeals to people who have a dominant logical-mathematical learning style and may work better for such people, though not exclusively for that group.
OK, let’s going into what this fasting thing is all about.
Fasting: An Introduction
Fasting is the world’s most ancient and natural healing mechanism.
Even animals do it when they are ill.
Taking a tip from Mother Nature, then, it doesn’t seem to be that complicated.
It is an excellent health promotion tool to have in your life’s toolkit.
So why don’t we humans do it, given that so much has been happening to our bodies?
We hear a lot these days about how big our obesity problems are, and all about good foods vs bad foods.
In addition to this, we point the finger of blame, rightly or wrongly, at the food industry, while forgetting that, after all, we are the ones making our food choices.
Taking responsibility
Blaming the food and pharmaceutical industries for our problems is like blaming the devil for everything bad that happens in the world.
Like the devil, we give these sectors too much credit.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:13-14, King James Version (KJV)
There is nothing wrong in just owning up and taking responsibility for your choices.
Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that we are to ignore what these industries are doing.
To paraphrase the words of the Key Man in The Matrix when faced with deletion by an agent:
They are only here to do what they are here to do.
Key Man’s statement, paraphrased.
The question is: what are you here to do?
Do you continue to whinge, whine and complain about how bad things are?
Or do you take responsibility for your health and not hand your over your free will so willy-nilly?
Different types of fasting
Bestselling author of The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity, Daniel Reid, notes that there are at least three different types of fasting.
Fasting type #1: Traditional fasts
The personal experience I have described above is a traditional, or regular, fast. This is typical of the world’s major religions. Fasting is usually observed at specific periods of the year, such as Ramadan or Lent.
It is also referred to as a mega fast. It is said that some yogis after years of training can go on such fasts for up to 200 days a year.
Fasting type #2: Mini fasts
This type of fast is anywhere from one to three days.
This type of fast is practised by many Pentecostal Christians.
The typical day of choice is Sunday when we go to church. After church, we go home to have dinner around 2 to 3pm.
Typical Sunday dinner comprised:
- white or brown rice
- red kidney beans
- chicken fried then left to simmer on low heat in gravy and other condiments
- peppers and tomatoes
- lettuce (often soaked overnight in salted water)
- carrot juice sweetened with condensed milk.
When I look back at this practice now, this is not a very good way to do fasting, religious reasons aside. The meals are usually quite large, and we are pretty much stuffed at the end of it.
I know I was.
In any case, as a starting point, a mini-fast is one way to build confidence if you are thinking of going on a fast at a later time that is longer than three days.
Again, do speak with your healthcare provider before embarking on any fasting regimen.
Intermittent Fasting (IF) is a typical example of a mini-fast.
Fasting type #3: Semi-fasts
This type of fast lasts anywhere from three to ten days.
For people who are contemplating a detox program, this is considered to be the best form of fasting.
It takes at least seven days before the body begins its work of detoxification.
Detoxification is an area that I may look at in a separate series.
Nine Known Benefits of Fasting
If properly done, these benefits often include the following:
- because you eat less, you will reduce your weight (or more accurately, reduce body fat),
- your body gets a well-deserved rest,
- the bloodstream is cleansed and purified,
- the pH balance in your blood is properly re-established (may take some time),
- it can help with mental health,
- fasting can help with impotence and infertility,
- can help with having a longer life,
- as your body burns fat (when it gets to it), your Qi (bio-electrical energy) gets a chance to move around more freely, and
- growth hormone levels often rise with fasting.
With regard to the benefit relating to the flowing of the Qi. I was already skinny. I think this is what was happening at that all-night prayer meeting many years ago in Jamaica.
Do note that these benefits as well as effects might be different between men and women.
Especially where prolonged fasting is involved.
This is because on the third consecutive day of a fast, the cells rid themselves of toxins by dumping them into the bloodstream.
Some special considerations
If you are complete beginner to fasting, it is important to take your time. Start small.
For example, skipping breakfast, and not eating till lunch time. See how it feels for you. Allow your body time to get used to it.
Bear in mind that your body is already in a fasted state during night-time sleep. As long as you do not get up in the middle of the night to have a snack, of course.
Staying healthy in mind and body
Even if you use fasting as a tool to reduce your weight, for whatever reason, it is important to stay healthy in mind, as well as body.
Once you have achieved your goal of looking good and feeling great, you will need to continue working on staying healthy.
This may very well involve making changes in your lifestyle as well as improving your gut health.
It’s no good looking great outside if your gut is unhealthy and you are still chucking junk into your system.
No weight reduction strategy will work if you continue to subject your body to constant stress and a lifestyle of continual excess.
Also, do take care to reduce your stress levels by finding ways to effectively
- “manage” your time (you are really managing yourself),
- make any changes you need to make to your living space by removing clutter (e.g.), and
- work on improving your sleep.
One step at a time, one day at a time.
To a better, wiser, stronger – YOU.
In the next few articles, we will begin looking at the current and popular approach to fasting: intermittent fasting.
Sources:
Reid, D. (2014). The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity. London: Simon & Schuster Ltd.
Diethelm H. Boehme, Preplanned Fasting in the Treatment of Mental Disease: Survey of Current Soviet Literature, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 2, 1977, Pages 288–296, https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/3.2.288
Zhou W, Luo L. Preoperative prolonged fasting causes severe metabolic acidosis: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Oct;98(41):e17434. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017434. PMID: 31593098; PMCID: PMC6799600.
This site contains affiliate links to products sold by selected self improvement partners. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.