RE: Fasting (requested repost) [s]

[Guest guest]

Hi Elvira, You're welcome! And yes, I will write more on fasting in the

fairly near future. Happy to share.

 

Here is the Fasting repost you requested:

 

 

Yes, fasting can be a great accelerator for cleaning and replenishing one's

system. Here I will only offer a perspective about fasting, not information

about how to fast.

 

Both physiologically and psychologically, all our metabolic functions

produce trash. So this means that all activity -- physical and mental from

running and jumping to thinking, feeling, and imagining, create waste

byproducts.

 

Our body constantly cleanses these wastes. Cleansing is accelerated during

rest. Every competitive athlete is taught that the recovery AFTER activity

is a crucial part of his/her training program.

 

Now picture, if you will, a continuum. At once end imagine the most intense

physical exertion, something you could only sustain for a few seconds. At

the other end of the continuum, imagine the most perfect, complete rest, one

in which every part of your being can just let go.

 

Fasting merely moves us from the activity pole toward the restful pole of

this continuum. By fasting, we mean not only cessation of eating, but also

cessation (or minimization) of all forms of activity, to create the most

comprehensive, systemwide rest we can. And as the rest broadens and deepens,

our system then begins not only cleansing itself deeply, but also

constructing and replenishing its various organs and systems, indeed every

cell is rejuvenated.

 

A friend of mine just broke a short fast yesterday. She is a teacher, and

this was her first fast. So I cautioned her that she might be

" hypersensitive " to the noise and activity level of the kids, particularly

during her first day or two back on the job. She suddenly realized that,

earlier in the day, even listening to her favorite music had been

exhausting, she had to turn it off. Such is the nature of very deep rest.

 

Two additional thoughts that may be of interest:

 

1. Fasting is not a substitute for healthy eating. You CANNOT lose weight or

attain AND RETAIN most other health benefits just by fasting, though some

severe conditions can apparently be totally eradicated (some STDs, for

instance). So it is best to develop excellent, life-affirming eating

patterns BEFORE you fast, then simply resume those following your fast. This

does not mean you won't shift by fasting, it means only that we should not

depend upon such shifts.

 

2. There are three distinct parts to any fast: preparation, the fast itself,

and reentry (refeeding, resumption of activity, etc.) There are VERY few

people who comprehend the entire range and scope of the fasting process. So

when you are ready to think about fasting, we'll go into more depth at that

time, and possibly link you with " someone who know. "

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

 

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rawfood

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