Fasting has been around for centuries. Every world religion incorporates fasting as part of their rituals not only to help teach discipline and self control, but also for the therapeutic health benefits that fasting creates.

All the Eastern health traditions consider the digestive system of prime importance for good health. The initial effect of fasting is in resting the digestive tract. As the organs are given a break, the cells of the body are given a chance to “reboot” themselves. Observe when you are unwell, one of the first things that happen is you lose your appetite. This is the body’s way of signalling that you need to fast. Even the so-called “gastro” that people seem to get with amazing frequency, is often the result of the body being overloaded beyond it’s natural eliminatory capability rather than a virus or bacteria.

I was in the emergency department yesterday when I overheard a general surgeon tell a patient,” there is no serious problem, but we will rest your gut for 1 or 2 days and everything should settle down”. Good medicine doc!

The fashionable 5:2 diet, juice diets, reboot diets, soup diets, and  raw food diets are all different methods of fasting. It ain’t rocket science. Whatever way you choose to lighten the load on your system, it makes sense to incorporate a day in the week when you go easy. When your awareness is on, your body will automatically tell you when and how to fast, and for how long.

In Health and Wellness