What is Fasting
Fasting is the first instinct when anyone is ill or injured, but we ignore it. Even animals’ first instinct is to abstain from solid food until they are healthy. They instinctively know that the healing process will be much faster and more effective when they refrain from solid food that burdens their digestive tract. This instinct has always existed within the animal kingdom. Fasting is more than just the absence of food. It is a potent tool for healing and strengthening the body. Fasting is beneficial not only to the physical body but also to the mental and spiritual aspects of your being. More than diet, fasting can be a very spiritual experience that raises your consciousness. Any fast going beyond 24 hours should be done under expert supervision.
What is Not Fasting
Fasting for health reasons does not mean you cannot eat or drink anything. However, some people equate fasting with a total absence of food and water for extended periods, which is not a good idea. Yet some people suggest only a raw diet of vegetables and fruits for extended periods, which is again not recommended. Furthermore, extended periods of fasting are not recommended.
Should we Fast or not
Very seldom, it is recommended to fast on water only. It is good to fast on the water once a week, but it is rarely wise to do an extended water fast. Most of the time, it is better to go on a mono diet of whole foods that possess the healing properties the body needs. It is safer and often more effective. Juice (vegetable and/or fruit but not both at the same time) fasting is good, but it does not take care of the intestinal tract. Toxins are released very rapidly, but there is nothing in the juice to form a stool, so the toxins may not be adequately eliminated, causing severe problems.
Why Fasting is good
Fasting facilitates the elimination of stored toxins. Usually, the body’s elimination and digestive organs accumulate and eliminate. This is because they are busy breaking down the food we eat, providing the body with nutrition, storing fat, eliminating food by-products and toxins, etc. But when we start a fast, the body’s elimination and digestive organs do not have a new food to work with, so they turn to all the stored toxins, diseased cells, tumors, etc., and begin to break up and expel them.
Effective Fasting
Juice Fast
Do the juice fast with extreme caution and wisdom. Juice fasting is good but does not take care of the intestinal tract. Toxins are released very rapidly, but there is nothing in the juice to form a stool, so the toxins may not be adequately eliminated, causing severe problems. On the positive side, fasting on juices increases the cleansing capacity of the lungs, liver, kidneys, bowels, and skin. In addition, it rejuvenates the mental, glandular, hormonal, and nervous systems. Fruit juices generally have cleansing effects, while raw vegetable juices have rebuilding effects.
Do NOT do the juice fast beyond three days. The best juices for fasting are alkaline juices. Those often recommended include carrot, beet and carrot, celery, or a combination of the three. Beet juice is potent and should not be taken alone. Cabbage, parsley, and cucumber juices are also used therapeutically. The nutrients in fresh vegetable/fruit juices are assimilated in minutes. Still, to be adequately digested, they must be "chewed," thoroughly mixed with saliva, before swallowing.
Rejuvenating Diet
For 30 days, eat only fruits, nuts, and vegetables (cooked and raw). Make sure that you eat vegetables and fruits at different times. Also, eat one type of vegetable or fruit at one-time. During the first few days, you may feel weak, but gradually your strength will increase, and you will start to feel light and happy.
Mucusless Diet
Green Diet Fast
Fruit Fast
This is the cleansing diet that is used to clean the toxins from the body. For 30 days, eat only one kind of fruit at a time. Also, don't drink fruit juices this fast. They are a concentrated food. Only eat whole fruits.
Mung Beans and Rice Fast
This good cleansing diet still gives you plenty of nourishment if you have to work hard. Mung Beans and Rice are suitable for the kidneys, colon, and digestive organs. For 30 days, eat only mung beans and rice at mealtimes, with lots of fresh vegetables cooked into the same dish. Fruit may be eaten between meals as a snack, and you can drink yogi tea. Recipes are under the Herbs and Spices article.
Melon Diet Fast
Banana Fast
Begin on the new moon and continue for fourteen days until the full moon. Yogi tea (see Herbs and Spices for the recipe) may be taken along with this fast. This fast may have its side effects, so be prepared! You may feel weak from the lack of customary nervous stimulants. In that case, drink more orange juice with honey during the day. If you become constipated, increase your intake of cardamon to a maximum of three pods at a time. Also, drink large amounts of hot water regularly. People often report that this diet makes them feel more emotional and hot-tempered. If you can stay with it, it will help to balance your emotions. If you experience a severe reaction to the fast, please discontinue it according to the following procedure.
Breaking the fast: On the fifteenth day of the moon, drink only lemon juice in warm water with honey and eat no solid food. Follow-up diet: To rebuild the body after this fast, eat 'Mung Beans & Rice' (see Herbs and Spices for recipe) for twenty-eight days. You can also eat fruit and yogi tea, but no dairy.