Fasting
By
Shabi,
Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
http://www.herbalremedieslk.com/
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The aim of fasting may be reduction of weight, improvement
of health or to remove a certain ailment of the body. Signs of special
improvements on account of fasting are seen in every situation, though,
in case of reduction of weight, the signs observed are fewer.
The physical excitement during the fasting, creates a feeling of joy in
most parts of the body. A person feels more pleasure in fasting than in
taking food. He starts feeling a natural dislike for food. Therefore,
these types of patients appear calm, contented and cheerful from the start
of their fasts, because they feel very restful. Most people feel very
little pain during the fasts.
The blame for the normal excitement, trouble, pain or agony felt in the
body during the fasts, is passed on to the fasts. To a certain extent
this is true also, but as the fasts are continued for a longer period,
all these troubles start vanishing. Such troubles start in the beginning
of the fasts due to the special condition of our body cells, but as the
cells get cleansed, the troubles too, end.
The people who are addicted to alcoholic drinks or smoking and those who
always take very spicy foods, feel much more trouble in the early days
of fasting. In the absence of such things which they have to skip, they
feel nervous, angry, etc. and they vomit and do not sleep well. Uneasiness
and pain is felt in the body. They suffer from severe headÂache. This
painful situation does exist for some days. Therefore, it is not proper
to be apprehensive about it and break the fast. After some days the situation
changes and the patient returns to his normal condition.
Sometimes, the fasting person is given fruits and rest of mind to save
him from such a situation. According to me this is not proper. This creates
hindrance in fasting because after a light diet for two or three days,
the same troubles repeat. On account of this trouble, sometimes, persons
who want to have a long fast have to give up the fasts and the period
of the fasts has to be lengthened. It is better for a person to fight
out the troubles. If the first five days of the fasts are observed courageously
as per rules, later on all the painful signs vanish for ever.
In the beginning of the fasts, some physical changes do occur, depending
in each individual. Some times a heaviness in tongue is felt, bad smell
may be given out from the mouth or breathing, teeth may be sticky. Symptoms
of fever may be felt in the mouth, tongue, breathing, etc. There is nothing
to fear from such physical signs or changes. When a person is fasting
for the removal of some chronic disease, these signs continue for a few
days. The patient surely feels uneasy due to these changes, but it informs
us that the inner cleansing of the body organs is going on. All harmful
substances - all debris, excreta, urine, perspiration, etc. - slowly leave
the body. Later, the tongue becomes clean, mouth fresh and breathing clean,
after ejection of the unwanted, polluting substances. At last, at the
proper time, the patient feels really well and hungry.
Urination during the fasts is regular but the color of the urine changes
after a few hours and some difficulty is alto felt in passing the urine.
The urine of some patients is dark in color and stinking. But after a
week or two of fasting according to the condition of the patient, the
urine is regular, clean, odorless, natural and is passed without any trouble.
From this change in urination, it can be concluded that the kidneys have
to overwork for cleansing the accumulated waste. This waste is being thrown
out through the urine. When the cleansing is complete, the urine assumes
its normal color and form. Important cells of the body have to utilize
the nutritive substances stored in advance. They get energized from these
substances only and cleanse the body quickly. As the unwanted cells are
destroyed, the excess weight of the body is reduced quickly. This weight
loss is also considered as a cleansing programme. At the same time symptoms
of health improvement are also observed.
In the early days of fasting, the weight reduces very quickly. Obese persons
lose more weight, more quickly than the lean persons. Sometimes, even
lean persons also lose more weight, more quickly, just as the obese ones,
on account of more waste substances accumulated in the body. This loss
remains only during the early days of fasting. A normal person loses up
to about 3-4 kg. everyday and an obese one loses 2-3 kg. But after some
days, the rate of weight loss is slower. During the end days of long fasts,
the daily loss is even less than 1/8 kg.
Weak persons should not be afraid of fasting, because their weight will
increase rather than decrease. The weight of such persons can be increased
by giving them a little food during the fasts. Therefore, it is wrong
to believe that fasting benefits only the obese persons. Sometimes, weakness
is experienced during the fasts, because the routine processes of the
body are slightly obstructed.
The organs and the tissues of the body have an opportunity
to rest during the fasting. Therefore they, too, work slowly. The heart
throbs at a slower rate, blood circulation is slower, breathing is less,
and the muscles of the body reduce their work. Especially the tired, sick
body feels relief and rests. This is the desired condition. The body regains
its full strength, after it is cleansed. The feeling of energy is experienced
after the fasts, long before the food intake is started. This is why,
a little weakness for a few days should not be considered when compared
with the physical advantages accrued through the fasts.
Some people start worrying about fasting in advance. Such people imagine
the pain, produced during the cleansing of the body during the fast, to
be far greater than the real one. But all these troubles do not occur
in all the stages of fasting. Very few such examples of pain are seen.
There is no rule about it. Most of the people are not found suffering
from such little troubles. Sometimes, the cleansing process of the body
is completed without any trouble. If some painful situation arises sometime,
it should be welcomed warmly, because it is surely for the well-being
of the patient.
Sometimes, some boils or pimples are seen on the skin during fasting,
but it should also be considered as a result of the cleansing process.
Sometimes giddiness is felt and may result in swooning. The heart-throbs
increase and other such symptoms are seen but we should not be frightened.
There is no danger in this situation.
Severe feeling of uneasiness and vomiting show the worst situation during
fasting. This is a testing time and an effect of physical weakness is
also felt but it is very beneficial to the body. Sometimes, on the first
day of fasting or later the feeling of uneasiness is experienced. The
patient may vomit also. Generally, this happens due to the abstinence
from food for a few days. Sometimes, vomiting takes place after a fast
of about four weeks.
Why does vomiting start? Generally, phlegm and bile increase in the liver
along with water. The liver has to work for a long time to cleanse these
substances. They are thrown in the stomach for many days which, later
on, are thrown out of the body in the form of vomiting. Whatever the troubles
of the person on fast in this tough test, he is compensated in another
way. The vomiting situation lasts from one to seven days. As soon as it
stops, the body regains enough energy.
If continuous vomiting lasts for more days and even water is thrown out,
it must be realized that the health of the patient is not in good shape.
This happens because of dehydration. This should be considered a serious
condition and the fasts must be discontinued immediately. Much water is
lost by the body due to continuous vomiting and the patient becomes very
weak. In such a situation, the patient regains his energy after many days.
If the patient suffers from diarrhoea along with vomiting, it should be
taken very seriously. Such situations however, are seen on very rare occasions.
If the vomiting does not stop after a short time, the fasts should be
terminated. When even water is not retained, how can food be digested?
In such a condition, various fruit juices should be given, which the patient
can digest. Only later on, the food should be given. Generally, it rarely
happens that a patient suffers from both, the vomitting and the diarrhoea.
But it does occur sometimes. This may occur at any time during fasting.
During that time the phlegm, bile and other waste material accumulated
are thrown out. This should be considered as a part of the body cleansing
process.
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Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=176308&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
Published - July 2008
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