A Fast for Everyone

Fasting is a ritual that humans performed long before becoming civilized. Animals in the wild, and sometimes in captivity, also fast. Hibernation is the most well-known instance, but many species also fast after birthing, during mating season, and when wounded.

There are many benefits to fasting, from weight loss to recovering from an illness to increasing the amount of stress your body can tolerate. You'll find resources on the many benefits of fasting at the end of this brief look at a few of the more popular fasting rituals.

Many Kinds of Fasting

There are more ways to fast than anyone has ever bothered to catalog. One that is healthy for me could possibly make you sick. Just to give an idea of how loose the definition of "fast" really is, consider an infant. A healthy infant can be said to always fast, because they drink nothing but breast-milk. So, let's consider a few different kinds of fasts and who they might be most appropriate for.

1. The water fast is self-explanatory. For a length of time, some suggest less than 72 hours and others say 3-30 days, you can only drink water. The benefits for a healthy adult are: it's cheap, it offers the most benefits of all fasts, and it's safe if you pay attention to your body and start slowly.

The disadvantages are mainly in the symptoms you will experience from hunger. Headaches, dizziness, and nausea are common until your body has switched into fat-burning mode. For this reason, you'll need a relatively stress-free time. Also, it can be hard to distinguish just when you need to stop, since part of the point is toughing out the symptoms of hunger. A good rule for beginners is to start with a one-day fast and alternate with a day of juice fasting. You will find it does get easier with practice.

2. Tea and/or juice fasting offers a less disturbing path than water alone. It can also be helpful in getting your body ready for a strict diet by breaking cycles of craving. Your body can still get nutrition while the digestive system recovers. Some people will fast with one juice or one tea, such as the apple juice or the red clover blossom tea, but you can just as well use a variety. The options are limitless, and you can tailor herbal teas to your specific problems.

For instance, red clover has sedative properties which can help with the symptoms of hunger. It also has an array of isoflavones and other constituents which have been shown effective in treating skin problems, osteoporosis, the symptoms of menopause, lung infections, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, and lymphatic system. Many other herbs treat these conditions and others. Consider it an adventure! Choose several herbs and juices to help with your particular complaints.

3. One of the least grueling fasts is traditionally Asian, though it is common in other cultures as well. The Conjee (or Conji) fast uses one grain, such as brown rice, buckwheat or millet depending on the individual needs. Some recipes will mix in other ingredients. Much like with tea fasting, you can pick and choose the herbs to add which will most benefit you. A list of typical conjee ingredients and their medicinal effects is in the resources.

This works, because a single whole-grain is extremely easy for your body to digest which helps restore the intestinal lining and digestive functioning. Medicinally, a conjee fast is prescribed for sick people to aid their recovery. However, in many parts of the world it is a staple food eaten for breakfast.

What You Should Always Remember About Fasting

Fads come and go, but fasting is here to stay. The most important thing to remember is that no particular fast is right for everyone. We're all different, with different body conditions and different causes for those conditions.

The only rules that apply to us all are:

Take it slow. Give yourself a chance to adapt. And be experimental. If one fast doesn't give you the results you had hoped for, try using a different method or even making up your own. Whether this is religious for you or not, Jesus had a point.

When you fast, don't make yourselves look sad. - Matthew 6:16

Don't fast with a frown, fast with a smile...you are doing something good for yourself!

Resources for Fasting

Fasting in the Wild

Fasting in World Religions

HWJF (How Would Jesus Fast?)

The Benefits of Fasting

More Good Reasons
Medicinal Properties of veggies and grains

Crazy Owl on The Oriental Breakfast of Champions and other fasts (many health essays)