Fasting for Your Health

Fasting comes in many different forms and for many different reasons. From juice fasting to completely abstaining from food, fasting provides numerous health benefits. Fasts are defined as extended periods of time in which a person abstains from all or certain foods and drinks. This post will illuminate the good, the bad, and the hungry on fasting. You can also read about my first few days of the St. Philips/Nativity Fast.

The Good

1. Fasting detoxifies your body. Organs such as the liver, kidney, and spleen remove and neutralize toxins from the body to keep cells healthy. Fasting reduces input from additional toxins.  
2. Fasting may help your heart. Fasting for one day a month may prevent heart disease and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. During fasting, fat is used for fuel. In the long run, you have fewer fat cells in your body. This means less insulin resistance and lower risk of heart disease later in life.
3. Abstaining from meat and meat products helps the environment.
4. Fasting provides spiritual gains. Removing food as a pleasure brings us closer to spiritually.
5. More benefits.

The Bad and The Hungry

1. Abstaining from food and/or water for long periods of time can lead to kidney and liver damage because your blood becomes more acidic.
2. Fasting will NOT help you lose weight and keep it off. This is basically yo-yo dieting. The small drop in weight will return once you start eating normally.
3. Fasting does NOT replace healthy eating. Fasting lowers levels of important nutrients like Vitamin D, Calcium, and Omega-3 fatty acids. 
4. Fasting is NOT recommended for those who are ill, pregnant, nursing, training for any athletic event.
5. Abstaining from food can cause fatigue and crankiness.

Important Disclaimer: Fasting is NOT for everyone! I am not promoting that you abstain from food and liquids. Check with your physician before beginning any type of fast where you abstain from foods and liquids. It is critically important that you understand how to fast safely and as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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