Ramadan has just passed us by, but this month of fasting has actually become a month of eating for most people. Extensive feasts are spread out on the table for the Iftar meal which is then followed by sweets dripping with sugary syrup and fats. Lots of people end up overeating during Ramadan and actually gain weight in this month. These bad habits go against what fasting is supposed to teach i.e. discipline. Fasting should lessen our addiction to eating and weaken our focus on food. After Ramadan, your body needs a whole new type of fasting - a cleansing fast. By refraining from solid foods and taking in only water and juices for a couple of days or a week can be very therapeutic and rejuvenating for the whole body. Fresh juices are easily assimilated and supply essential nutrients to make sure the body is not weakened during the cleansing fast. Some conditions that fasting can help treat include colds, the flu, bronchitis, mucus congestion, sinuses, constipation, and skin problems. Juice fasting has also been used successfully to help drug addicts detoxify their body, and overcome their addiction to drugs, including nicotine. Muscular tightness and soreness in the back and neck caused by stress can also be alleviated by juice fasting. Fasting promotes relaxation, increases energy levels and creativity, clears the mind, and provides greater spiritual awareness. The reason why fasting has so many benefits is that when you do not eat any solid foods you decrease pressure on the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. When the liver is freed up from its breaking down of digestion by-products, it can now spend more time cleaning up toxins circulating in the body. Each cell will now have the opportunity to repair itself and dump wastes in the blood and lymph fluids to be eliminated. Body fat will be used up to provide energy, and you will lose weight. Fasting for a couple days helps you lose interest in the junk foods that cause weight gain: like cakes, sodas, chips, burgers and fries. However, make sure you drink a good amount of juices during the fast because extreme calorie restriction causes your body to go into ketosis, a process that creates toxins. You want to gradually shift from your regular eating habits into the fast and not suddenly jump into fasting. Take a few days in the beginning to eat lightly, but eliminate some foods from your diet. For example, start by avoiding, meat, animal foods, milk products and eggs. Before starting your juice fast, consume only fruits and vegetables for three days. These will nourish the body and make the transition to juice fasting easier. The first two days are the hardest for most people, but then a feeling of exhilaration and renewed energy will follow by the end of the week. Vary your juices to prevent boredom and to give your body a good combination of vitamins and minerals. Try to make your juices at home from raw fresh fruits and vegetables, such as celery, carrots, and beets. The list of possible fruit juices you can make is long and sounds delicious and refreshing: orange, apple, pear, grape, papaya, pineapple, watermelon, strawberry, mango, guava, kiwi, and more. Banana or a teaspoon of honey can be added to satisfy cravings for sweets, but no milk or yogurt. Replace each meal of the day with a fresh juice, and drink plenty of water in between. Try to go on a five day juice fast once every six months to detoxify and re-energize your body. The good times to fast are in the days before the start of autumn and spring. While fasting allows many body organs to rest and cleanse, you should not overuse fasting. Juice fasting should not last longer than a week or 10 days at the most, because your body needs proteins and fats that juices cannot provide. Be aware that some people should not fast at all. Those who are already underweight and suffer from fatigue due to nutrient deficiencies, or who have chronic diseases of the bones or muscles should not fast. Pregnant and lactating women are strongly urged not to not try juice fasting. People who have congestive heart failure or a weakened immune system are not good candidates for fasting. Before or after undergoing surgery is not a good time to fast because your body will need extra nourishment to heal and recover. Do not fast if you have cancer or ulcer disease. If you do not suffer from any chronic illness and you have a clean bill of health, fasting can be a useful tool to help you lose a bit of weight, detoxify your body, and revitalize your mind and body. You will find you have more time on your hands since less time is spent on grocery shopping and cooking. With this new found time you can finally schedule that back massage you have been promising yourself, or sit in a relaxing warm bath for an hour, exercise, clean out your overflowing closet, take a walk, or read a book. We all like to go on a vacation from work to just relax, recharge, and feel fresh. So why not take a vacation from our eating patterns? Just for a couple of days, juice fast, and break away from eating as a mere habit. Seriously rethink the age old saying that you should eat to live, not live to eat.
