Introduction to Fasting, a Natural and Holistic Alternative

So what is a fast? In its simplest form, a fast is simply the withholding of calories for a set period of time. Contrary to what you might think this is not the same thing as simply “starving yourself.” Fasting is a widely recognized holistic health technique that makes use of the body’s natural ability to heal itself in order to cure a wide range of ailments. It is usually undertaken with supervision from anywhere for a few days to two weeks or more. Being a holistic healing technique it is not used by itself, and is instead combined with other “whole-body” wellness approaches. Mind-Body-Spirit Health The principal of holistic healing is that there are several different, equally important factors that combine to create total health and well being. These include mental, emotion, physical and spiritual health. In order to utilize fasting effectively, it typically precedes the transition from less a healthy lifestyle, which tends to result in illness, into a lifestyle that is much healthier on all of the relevant levels. To make a simply analogy, there’s not much point in cleaning out the engine of your car if all of the tires are flat. For the machine to run properly and optimally it is important, indeed crucial to take the time to address all of the different elements that play a part in determining how it runs. "Fast" Facts Fasting occurs most commonly in two forms: juice fasting and all water fasting. In the first case, all solid food is withheld while freshly squeezed juice is allowed in limited quantities in addition to water. In the latter case, water is the only substance that is ingested during the period of the fast. During the fast the body is not starving because it makes use of stored fast and other energy reserves which it has at its disposal. However, to ensure safety it’s always recommended to conduct a fast with the aid of experienced supervision. Another important aspect of fasting is that it does not simply occur in conjunction to the rest of your life. Keep in mind that your body does have daily caloric needs and that during a fast these needs are not anywhere close to being met. You’ll have less energy and will likely experience lightheadedness and some mild dizziness. For this reason, no strenuous activities whatsoever are to be undertaken for the duration. As I mentioned before, fasting is a holistic pursuit, therefore time spent fasting will be dedicated to natural, healthful things like sun and air bathing, meditation, sleeping and rest in general. Equally important to the fast itself are the transitions both leading into and out of the fast. Preparing for the fast properly is nearly as important as the fast itself in determining how successful it will be. Transitioning out of the fast back into normal eating habits can be seriously detrimental to the health if not properly, which will effectively undo any good incurred during the period of fasting itself. Fasting is a natural, healthy and inexpensive way that has innumerable applications and benefits for your overall health. It can be the first step you take into pursuing holistic, body-mind-spirit wellness practices, just remember to always seek professional guidance before committing to anything.