Are there ill effects to fasting?

Question

Jesus fasted for forty days. One time His disciples could not heal a boy and Jesus told them that the situation required prayer and fasting.Even though much has been wrought by prayer and fasting according to testimonies, are there not ill effects like gas or stomach problems from not eating for long periods? Some people take no food nor water during fasting. Others take water/juice. What are your comments?

Answer 1

Well you should definitely still drink water. A healthy person can go without food for weeks, or even months, but dehydration can mess you up pretty quickly.
If you intend to fast for an extended period, you should probably consult a doctor first.

Answer 2

Fasting should be approached with care. By the way, no one fasts without water. The need for water would result in death long before the need for food.
Quite apart from the spiritual aspects of fasting, there are health benefits. After the fast begins it is important to continue to eliminate waste after which the faster will feel much better. The fast continues with a series of crises (mainly headache or weakness or depression) each followed by relief after evacuation.
Also important is to end the fast with simple food such as a green leafy vegetable which will pass through quickly before adding foods gradually.
With all that said, it is possible to create nutritional deficiencies and also lose muscle mass as a result of the absence protein intake. No doubt it would be best to always eat sparingly, choosing the best foods only, never making a mistake, never eating during stress or anger --in short to be perfect. However, for those who study fasting it does have therapeutic benefits. Fourty days is a very long fast, although some fast for longer. No one ought to believe that they will suffer consequences from missing a few meals. However, the first days of a fast are the worst and so afterwards it is nice to cruise along. Sometimes it seems to me while fasting that it is far more right than eating normally. But ironically every fast must end! People eat for pleasure and grossly overestimate their need for quantity. Myself not least but honored of them all at the trough. I feel sorry for anyone who has never fasted at all. It is an undiscovered dimension to life.

Answer 3

The Lord has led me into fasting and I have gotten lots of wonderful results spiritually from fasting, things that would not break over me have broken i.e. oppression etc.

Yes sometimes you might get a headach, sometimes little ulcers in your mouth, but anything like that goes away pretty soon. And the Spiritual gains are of way more worth than any ill effects.

You can get deliverance from things, light shone on things, breakthrough and breakthrough. I never go without water and or liquids I just fast solid food.

3 days full fast
28 day breakfast and lunch fast

just to name a couple I usually go on.

hope this helps, It' hard at first but well worth the trouble.

Answer 4

Hi, yes fasting is a powerful tool in the Christians armory,with prayer and fasting Christians can do wonders because Jesus said that we would be able to do greater things in His Name,and this is one of the ways.
Fasting for forty days on nothing but water though could be risky I would not attempt this much myself,fasting for 24hrs if you have no medical conditions is much better, but drink plenty of water and don`t try to do anything that is over strenuous.

Answer 5

Fasting should be approached with care. We participate in fasting in my religion, too. However, I was recently diagnosed as being hypoglycemic. So I cannot completely fast (i.e. no food or drink) for more than 12 hours at a time or I get light headed, cranky, and nauseated.

People with certain health issues may only be able to do a liquid fast (where they only drink liquids) and only for a certain number of hours at a time. The best way to find out if you'll be okay fasting is to talk to your doctor. Fasting can cause dizziness, fainting, exhaustion, and dehydration if you aren't careful.

Answer 6

Oranges are good any time to restore digestive juices, by invoking them. The citrus family is the clue. Yet, one variety of orange, (Mossambi in Hindi), that large lemon (what ever the English name), is the only one which a doctor prescribes as safe diet during acute typhoid. The reason is that it does not ferment at all even after plucking. The other fruits which we think are fresh, actually start that fermentation process the moment we pluck from tree/plant. Only that we are healthy enough to tolerate the mild deterioration in nutrition value. That is why it is preferred to eat any fruit as soon as possible after plucking(fresh). Preservation under low temperatures/preservatives only slow the process but does not entirely stop the process. The chemical details are not easy to understand for lay people. What is narrated in the details of the question might be technically accurate but necessarily complete, to know the effects of taking an orange/lemon.

Answer 7

Well i fast in the month of Ramadan and suffer no ill effects. The opposite is true in fact. There are many health benefits to fasting giving your internal organs a rest being one of them.

When Muslims fast in Ramadan there is nothing that passes our lips, no water, no juice, no food and not even chew a piece of gum.

Its never done me any harm.

Answer 8

The way your body works is that is saves up stores of fat to be used when energy taken directly from food has been depleted. Once you have used all energy from the food you are digesting or recently digested, you body turns to your fat stores and the protein in your muscles. Basically, you start to eat yourself. Since this process breaks down muscle as well as fat, you have to be very careful when fasting so that you don't do irreparable harm to your body. You must also continue to ingest plenty of water, both to prevent dehydration as well as to aid your body in flushing the toxins caused by breaking down fat and muscle. If you do not, your kidneys could fail.

Answer 9

Of course there are ill affects. Fasting was common to demonstrate loyalty to God. When you crave the most basic things in life like food, it tends to make you want to focus on God.

Answer 10

i think if ur healthy a fast every now and then is good for you ... i wouldnt try for long periods unless God leads u though ... a few days wont hurt anyone though .... just dont try to pig out when u break it ... and u do need water ..