Fasting is an important treatment modality for health preservation
Fasting is voluntary abstinence from some or all food, drink or both for a period of time to give rest to the digestive system and thereby helping them to get cleansed.
Types of fasting
Religious fasting : In religious fasting, it is believed as a disciplinary procedure and spiritually beneficial.
- Poornima either people avoid some meals, or some type of food or avoid non veg.
- Ramadan fasting – where they have food before sunrise and break after sunset.
- Christians observe fasting during before easter
Therapeutic fasting : Fasting is carried out under the observation of experts to get desired health benefits.
Based on the condition of patient water fast juice fast or fruit fast is advised.
History of fasting
In ancient Indian fasting was followed many centuries ago, from time of Vedas and Upanishads “Langanam Paramaoshadam” Fasting is the at most medicine available.
“All the vitality and all the energy I have comes to me because my body is purified by fasting” – Mahatma Gandhi
Why fasting
We are made up of trillions of cells and our health depends on the individual health of each of these cells. Fasting triggers, a cleansing process that reaches each of the cells, and thereby tissues, in the body. This is like rectifying health at the cellular level. The purpose of fasting is to give complete rest to the digestive system.
In Ayurveda, our digestive system is referred to as ‘jatara’ or Agni. The quality of digestion is based on the strength of digestive fire. Our digestive system functions throughout days to digest, secret absorb and assimilate. Which almost takes 80% of the body’s energy; only 20% will be left for other body functions. When a person does fast, there is complete rest to these functions. And all the saved energy is used in detoxification, healing and repairing of different part of the body.
