What a Raw Foodist Should Know Before Fasting

The beauty of being a raw foodist is that we are eating food in its most basic form. Those on a raw food diet are not ingesting additives, preservatives, or (if they're buying organic) pesticides. When a person considers beginning a fast, they must generally ease into it by eating pure foods and avoiding meat. Fortunately, this is how a raw foodist eats most of they time, and so it's really very easy to begin a fast.

Fasting is a very personal decision. Some begin a fast for health reasons; possibly weight loss, or to help with an ailment of some sort. Others fast for spiritual reasons, fasting makes people very aware of themselves - their thoughts, their feelings. One may feel very connected to - well - everything. Those ending a fast are often ready to begin a new life with thoughts and ideas for changing situations or relationships that have proven to be toxic.

While fasting can be a very good thing, researching exactly what to do before beginning is vital because just jumping into it may be dangerous. Fasting for prolonged periods of time, or without water, can deplete minerals in the body, cause one to become dehydrated, and can bring on hormone imbalances, even cardiac problems. The key to successful fasting is safety. You have to know what your body can and cannot take.

My first recommendation would be to carefully monitor how much water you are consuming. Becoming dehydrated is extremely dangerous and can be life threatening. Water is an essential part of our bodies and we should never deprive ourselves of this life giving substance (although some would say this about food as well - oh the irony!).

Secondly, my thoughts are that a juice fast is the fast that combines safety with results. While complete fasting may be the most widely recognized, juice fasting has grown in popularity in recent years because, due to the vitamins and nutrients found in juice, one can experience most of the benefits of fasting with fewer dangers. Juice fasting consists of drinking juices, preferably extracted yourself with the use of a juicer, as meal replacements for up to 40 days.

Lastly, even if on a raw food diet, you will need to break your fast carefully. Begin with clear broths, then progress to easily digested fruits and vegetables. Again, this is much easier for the raw foodist because these items tend to be the main focus of a raw food diet. I believe that those on a raw food diet will tend to have an easier time beginning, and breaking a fast; and most likely will not experience the many "detox" side effects associated with fasting because there is very little in the system that is toxic when your main staples are fruits and vegetables.

Personally, I believe that in this culture of over-indulgence, a fast now and then can be exactly what the doctor ordered.

**I am not a physician. This is not meant to be a replacement for a consultation with your physician. Anytime you begin any dietary program you should consult with your physician to ensure that your health is not compromised in any way.