What Is Fasting?

Question

What is fasting. When you fasted, you don't eat at all? Not even alittle piece of bread? Would you die if you don't eat anything? I heard people fasted for 40 days, how is that so? What if I don't eat anything at all but drink nothing but powerade, is that fasting? And will my body shut down? I'm just asking because I want to fast for a month. Just tell me how to do it.

Answer 1

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.

Fasting can be used for nearly every chronic condition, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity. Fasting is an effective and safe weight loss method. It is frequently prescribed as a detoxification treatment for those with conditions that may be influenced by environmental factors, such as cancer and multiple chemical sensitivity. Fasting has been used successfully to help treat people who have been exposed to high levels of toxic materials due to accident or occupation. Fasting is thought to be beneficial as a preventative measure to increase overall health, vitality, and resistance to disease. Fasting is also used as a method of mental and spiritual rejuvenation.

Fasts must be entered and exited with care. To enter a fast, the diet should be gradually lightened over a few days. First, heavy foods such as meats and dairy products should be eliminated for a day or two. Grains, nuts, and beans should then be reduced for several days. The day before a fast, only easily digested foods like fruits, light salads, and soups should be eaten. During the fast, only pure water and occasional herbal teas should be drunk.

Fasts should be ended as gradually as they are entered, going from lighter to heavier foods progressively. The diet after a fast should emphasize fresh, wholesome foods. Fasters should particularly take care not to overeat when they complete a fast

So in lamens terms...you can not eat for days or hours, it all depends on why your doin it.

Answer 2

You can't fast for month all of a sudden!!! You'll die!! fasting requires preparation. Actually fasting is one really complicated thing what is need to be discovered well first, I have read some books about it, because it's really interesting what fasting can do to person who fast, you can get different psychical Powers and stuff, but if you're interested to loose weight or just become more healthier (fasting what is done right can even heal diseases, even cancer) you should start with simply diet first or something like that (ayurveda, yoga etc etc)...

So, when you learned all about fasting you should know you won't start with month anyway, usually people start with 1-3 days and then next time they add some more days till there's month and even more..and hey!!! you can't drink powerade while you fast, you can only drink water or don't drink at all and remember you need to prepare for fasting first (healthy food for some time and different procedures and etc etc)

Sorry, I don't know where to find info in english about fasting what is really trustworthy nor I know any book about correct fasting in english, just try to find info yourself or quit with that idea, because that's really serious stuff..

Answer 3

Fasting is when a person goes through a large amount of time without eating. Some people fast for a large amount of time, like those who practice Islam. They fast during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset for about 30 days. They are to not eat or drink for that amount of time. After the sun sets they can eat all the want until the sun rises again. I do this every year for one month

Fasting can lead to many consequences. You shouldn't do it if you dont have a purpose for it.

Answer 4

I use fasting quite frequently as an esthetic and spiritual practice. I find it particularly helpful when beginning an intense or dangerous project. I end my fast a day or two before the project begins. Fasting only for health reasons is OK, and in fact it is used in certain illnesses, but largely a far distance secondary consideration for fasting. If there are no physical reasons for fasting and you are going into it for dietary/health rather than a spiritual discipline, then you've missed the point and you won't get much out of it.

What is the purpose for a month long fast? That usually requires not only a great deal of preparation, physically, emotionally and spiritually, but a long period as a practitioner of a discipline such as yoga. Shorter and more frequent fasts are usually more beneficial.

Ghandi fasted for extensive periods of time, taking little but water to remain hydrated. Yes, you could design a fast period around powerade.

Fasting should not be considered a dietary principle but a spiritual one, since it's benefits as a dietary principle is short lived. As I mentioned shorter and more frequent fasts are more beneficial. A simple fast is to eat one meal a day for 1 or two days out of the week. Taking nothing but water in between.

The biggest "danger" to fasts is that people go "balls out" without conditioning themselves, fasting in extreme temps or when doing strenuous work---electrolytes go out of wack in the blink of an eye and physical collapse results. But you will likely be "safe" with shorter more frequent fasts and in an atmosphere where you can meditate. Fasting when camping is magnificent.

Answer 5

Fasting can be done on varying levels. In contemporary life it's about limiting your diet to certain set extremes for health benefits and cleansing. Historically it's used in religion all over the world as well for different spiritual, but as well physical cleansing effects.

Fasts vary from liquid fasts, to raw fruit fasts to water fasts to no intake at all. It's really a complex concept and research should be done to understand it before you try to do it - unless you have an experienced teacher with you to instruct or watch daily.

I have a lot of experience with fasting - in comparison to the typical American. I am by no means a master though =)

Feel free to email or IM me if you had direct specific questions pertaining to fasting! -VC

Answer 6

In Hindu Religion many people Fast for two days in a month-Eleventh Day(Ekaa Dasi) from Full Moon and New Moon.No solid or liquid food for 24Hours-any amount of water is allowed.Next day after drinking a little water with basil leave,(Paarana) they take their food

Answer 7

I want to do a juice fast but I'm preparing myself into it. I'm eating very light and nothing heavy or fattening. I will be drinking fruit juice and vegetable juice for 1 day and then wait a week and than 3 days. I want to see how it goes.

I'll be using only raw organic fruits and veggies.

Answer 8

Well.... many confer with motorbikes (bikes) as Iron horses. I might have a difficult time picking among a speedy bike and a are living, speedy horse. Cars are too confining.

Answer 9

Why is it called Fasting if it takes so long?