Dieting & Fasting
Fasting is the best weapon to cure the diseases. The purpose of fast is to give complete rest to the digestive system. In naturopathy diseases are cured mainly through fasting. All the treatments methods in nature cure merely help the life force to cure the diseases. Fasting is a natural condition. Fast is a powerful means to get rid of foreign matter which is the cause of diseases. When an individual keep fast the saved life force can easily work on removing the foreign matter and repairing the damaged cells. But when have food the life force will be engaged in digesting and assimilating and does not have time and energy to cure the diseases. During fast all vital force is engaged in curing disease, all the blood vessels, glands and digestive organs work on removing the toxins through all excretory organs. Normally majority of our time & energy is being spent on digesting the food. But during fasting the whole energy can concentrate on renovation and repair.
Someone when falls sick will have no appetite & mouth becomes bitter to them. It is the body’s warning to refrain from food. When body becomes heavy with toxic matters and unable to eliminate through usual means fasting is the best way to clean it and become light and energetic. Most of the people are of the view that skipping of food will cause damage to the body. But it is a wrong concept. If properly done, according to the laws of nature cure fasting is the master and cheapest remedy. It is very important to have the right awareness that food is not the main source of energy. Those who enjoyed the merits fasting can only realize it.
It is desirable that a person should gain some knowledge about the science of fast before he does it. In order to receive the full benefit of fasting mind has to be in an agreeable condition. Fast not only removes the impurities from the body but also purifies the mind and soul. If one take less food than required he becomes weak. There is no benefit to health in living with a reduced diet. Reduced intake of food than required is not fast at all.
Fast can be of the following type.
- Morning fast- Morning breakfast is given up.
- Evening fast or one time fast- One meal is taken during the day and dinner is not taken.
- Fast taking one thing at a time-Mono diet.
- Fast in juice- Only juice of juicy fruits with enema.
- Fast on fruits and vegetables along with enema.
- Fast on milk-Milk treatment.
- Fast on Buttermilk.
- Complete fast.
- Complete fast can be short, long and broken.
To have a best cleansing effect 7 days of fasting is the most appropriate duration. Fasting can also have for a period of 10, 14, 21, 30 or 41days or even more till the natural hunger is felt or the objective is fulfilled. Success of this cleansing program is fully depended on the mind set. Before beginning complete fast one should calm his mind. Properly planned fasting will never fail or cause any damage.
If the person becomes weak and appetite did not come back after three four weeks of fast, it is better to give a rest of few days and start fast again. During this resting period better to remain on fruit or vegetable juices only so that body cells can continue elimination of wastes from it. Those who are undergoing chronic illness and intestines are very poor long fasting should not be good for them. During fasting never allow the impurities to remain in large intestine so that it should absorbed back to the body through the liquid. Regular enema can help in this case.
The main rules to be followed during fast are:
- Celibacy to be followed during fasting.
- Avoid long travel during fasting.
- Better to keep maximum silence.
- Exercise other than walking should be avoided.
- Should rest but can work according to the energy he has.
- Give more exposure to fresh open air.
- Good to take enema two times or at least once.
- Sun bath morning and evening will give good results.
- Spinal bath and full bath is highly recommended.
- Mud pack is good for any pain.
- Wet pack can be applied on stomach.
- Hip bath once or twice good.
- Clean and fresh intake of water- Lemon juice can be added as it helps in cleansing the body.
- Good to take bath every day.
- Keep mind calm and peaceful.
The first step for fast is breaking the food patterns. One should first change their routine diet before starting the long fast. As a first step they may give up morning meal and have only one meal. After two-three days stop taking cereals and live only on fruits and then after few days they may begin long fast. First few days may be little difficult. Person may feel indulgence, head ache, dullness of mind, nerves weakness, irritation, sleeplessness etc. This is the time to have will power and strength to not to be a slave of mind and emotions. Once you break these patters/ habits then fasting will be so easy to practice.
Pure drinking water, tender coconut water, vegetables juices, fruit juices can be included in a much diluted form while doing fasting therapy. All the juices other than tender coconut should be in a much diluted form. It is because this should not hinder the cleansing process of the intestine. The diluted juice therapy is more tolerable and easy to follow method.
From third or 4th day onwards intestine food vessels start expelling impurities. As digestive process is not happening the life force would be fully engaged in removal of wastes. The whole food passage would be engaged in cleaning expelling and replacing the linings the waste matters in the form of spoiled spongy tissues may be with foul odor. During this period the stomach and intestine will not at all be efficient in digestive process so that appetite and desire towards food will not be there. The body would have been consuming the stored nutrients for the repair and maintenance in such a period. As this storage of body gets over the appetite will starts again with the ending of cleansing process. Some times after three four days of fast individual may have dysentery which is a good curative sign. In such state not even a pinch of food should be ingested and should wait for the normal appetite.
Stopping the fast should be depended on the following.
- When real hunger is aroused.
- When white coat which appears during fasting is cleared from tongue.
- When taste of tongue is clear not bitter as it was during fasting.
- When the taste of breath has become smooth & sweet.
- When the pulse begin to run normally.
- When the skin becomes soft and flexible.
- When the temperature of the body becomes normal.
- When the body begins to feel light and energetic.
How and when brakes the complete fast is very important to be remembered. Full benefit of the fast can be achieved only when it is broken properly and with self discipline. The fasting should be broken by taking something which is liquid like water. After proper cleansing of intestine when appetite comes small quantity of juices or vegetable soup or thin butter milk can be taken but never milk. Then for few days live on fruits and gradually begin cereals. Freshly taken milk and fruits with milk taking is very good for digestion and assimilation. Once digestion is improved normal food can be started.