Fasting
While debating with Ess about the benefits of fasting, I have done my own little search on the topic.. Here is some info worth my two-pence:
Definition of fasting:
Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions. It is also a spiritual practice in many religions.
Longetivity: Apparently, long lived cultures like Tarahumara Indians of Mexico and Abkhazian of Russian lived on low calorie diet and fasted 1-2 days out of the week and lived to be on average 100-110 years old!
Reverence for food: “There is nothing routine about eating after a fast. Each meal is a celebration. After fasting, you tend to be very conscious about what you are eating, and why. Fasting heightens your awareness, as well as your appreciation for food. By fasting, we learn to eat with reverence. " (Anon)
Efficiency: In Plato's words, "I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency".
Medicinal benefits: Benjamin Franklin - "The best of all medicines are rest and fasting"
Paracelsus, another great healer in the Western tradition, wrote 500 years ago that "fasting is the greatest remedy, the physician within."
More gyan on fasting:
The ancient Greeks fasted for health and longevity, and were known for their robust physical health. Galen, Paracelsus and Hippocrates, who are recognized as the founding fathers of Western medicine, prescribed and practiced fasting for all serious ailments. Pythagoras required his students to fast for 40 days to purify body and mind prior to receiving his highest teachings. Plato and Aristotle, whose thought forms the very warp and woof of Western philosophy, fasted regularly to enhance physical health and stimulate mental powers.
Besides these benefits, there are spiritual benefits too as guidelined in most religions.
One school of thought is that fasting is not starvation, but rather the body's burning of stored energy. Starvation occurs when the body no longer has any stored energy and begins using essential tissues such as organs for an energy source.
One sure thing is : Plenty of water should be taken by fasters since dehydration can occur.
Types: There are lots of fasts : water fasts, juice fasts, power fasts, and even believe it or not, an air-fast, the most stringent it seems. Hmm... so any of these should be done only after an ok from the doctor and under supervision from a guide experienced in conducting these kinds of fasts..
Definition of fasting:
Fasting is voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting is used as a medical therapy for many conditions. It is also a spiritual practice in many religions.
Longetivity: Apparently, long lived cultures like Tarahumara Indians of Mexico and Abkhazian of Russian lived on low calorie diet and fasted 1-2 days out of the week and lived to be on average 100-110 years old!
Reverence for food: “There is nothing routine about eating after a fast. Each meal is a celebration. After fasting, you tend to be very conscious about what you are eating, and why. Fasting heightens your awareness, as well as your appreciation for food. By fasting, we learn to eat with reverence. " (Anon)
Efficiency: In Plato's words, "I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency".
Medicinal benefits: Benjamin Franklin - "The best of all medicines are rest and fasting"
Paracelsus, another great healer in the Western tradition, wrote 500 years ago that "fasting is the greatest remedy, the physician within."
More gyan on fasting:
The ancient Greeks fasted for health and longevity, and were known for their robust physical health. Galen, Paracelsus and Hippocrates, who are recognized as the founding fathers of Western medicine, prescribed and practiced fasting for all serious ailments. Pythagoras required his students to fast for 40 days to purify body and mind prior to receiving his highest teachings. Plato and Aristotle, whose thought forms the very warp and woof of Western philosophy, fasted regularly to enhance physical health and stimulate mental powers.
Besides these benefits, there are spiritual benefits too as guidelined in most religions.
One school of thought is that fasting is not starvation, but rather the body's burning of stored energy. Starvation occurs when the body no longer has any stored energy and begins using essential tissues such as organs for an energy source.
One sure thing is : Plenty of water should be taken by fasters since dehydration can occur.
Types: There are lots of fasts : water fasts, juice fasts, power fasts, and even believe it or not, an air-fast, the most stringent it seems. Hmm... so any of these should be done only after an ok from the doctor and under supervision from a guide experienced in conducting these kinds of fasts..
posted by Bee | 12:58 PM
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