The 4 Factors of Fasting
If you don't know, fasting equates to resting.
As Dr. Douglas Graham states in his pamphlet Hygienic Fasting: A Concise Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of This Valuable Health and Performance Enhancing Practice - whew, what a mouthful! (page 2):
"Rest is the biggest factor in enhancing recovery. It is only when the body is at rest that it is able to direct the maximum energy towards the various chemical and mechanical processes of detoxification associated with recovery."
But resting does not just mean lying in bed all day. There are actually 4 factors of resting that should all be respected during a fast:
#1: Digestive Rest
The best way to give your digestive system a rest is to refrain from taking in any food.
And because digesting food requires so much effort from the body (close to 50% of your total blood supply is required during digestion), taking a break from eating gives your whole body a much-needed rest and allows it to heal itself from the inside out.
And actually, this is the easiest part of fasting.
Why is not eating so easy? Because it isn't very hard to avoid food when you aren't hungry at all!
Sure, you may have some cravings for the first few days or so. But once ketosis kicks in around day two of your fast and your body starts burning fat for fuel instead of glucose, your desire for food will diminish greatly.
Most people find that their hunger is completely gone by only day three of their fast.
#2: Physical Rest
Some people know about the need for physical rest during a fast, but very few actually abide by it. Some even continue to exercise because they believe it will aid in the detoxification process!
Exercising is the last thing you want to do during a fast (besides eating, of course). Again from Hygienic Fasting (page 4):
"The body, when enervated, accumulates acids faster than it can eliminate them. This is called acidosis toxemia. This hyperacidity is reduced during fasting as the sources of the acidity, primarily muscular and dietary activities, are eliminated.
The production of lactic acid and other metabolic acids formed during activity hinder the progress of the fast."
Exercising, just like eating, requires work from your body (i.e. sending blood to the muscles being used, eliminating metabolic waste that results, etc.). If you want to get the most out of your fast, which means allowing your body to eliminate and repair diseased and damaged tissue, you need to rest as much as possible.
This means that even when you are not sleeping, you should be lying down in bed.
#3: Emotional Rest
The third factor of fasting is emotional rest. While completely ignored by many, maintaining emotional calm during a fast is vitally important to its overall success.
Engaging in heated conversations or even just being surrounded by unsupportive individuals is not only taxing to the body, but is taxing to the mind. It can be very hard to see a fast through to the end when you are still dealing with all the responsibilities and stressors of everyday life.
The need for emotional rest is one reason why it's recommended that long-term fasts be supervised. How many of us can honestly remain stress-free during a fast while remaining in the stress-inducing environment that helped lead up to the need for a fast in the first place?
#4: Sensory Rest
Although also ignored by most, sensory rest is another critical factor of a successful fast. And it's by far the hardest one because it means cutting out all stimulation, including television, computers, and even some literature!
I know, I know. It's just too much!
How can you expect to endure day after day of doing absolutely nothing without the mind-numbingly pleasureableness of TV?! How can you expect to spend that much time alone with your own thoughts and feelings?! :shock:
This is yet another reason why supervised fasting is preferred over at-home fasting. It is just so difficult (impossible, really) to limit sensory stimulation when you are by yourself in the comfort of your own home.
Speaking of which...
Supervision for Fasting Success
If these four factors of fasting tell us only one thing, it is that it is oh-so difficult to fast on your own at home. It's just impossible to get the complete rest that is needed while surrounded by all the stressors of home.
And even if you can achieve digestive, physical, emotional, and sensory rest on your own, it is still recommended that you seek qualified supervision.
As I talked about in my article on juice fasting vs. water fasting, you never know exactly what to expect from a fast, even if you have fasted before. There is always a risk involved, especially for those in seriously poor health, and this risk is increased for those who decide to fast under their own care.
So never forget, fasting equates to resting. If you want to get the most from your fast, you need to rest your ENTIRE BODY as much as possible.
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
Questions and Answers
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