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Fasting means not eating solid foods for a specified period of time. This does not mean starving completely - liquids like water (of course!), tea or vegetable juices, are allowed to quench the thirst at regular intervals.
In India, fasting is traditionally practiced by skipping a meal in a day once a week, with religious fervour. Fasting as a method to cleanse the soul is thought by its advocates to cleanse and heal the body as well. Some traditions allow eating prescribed solids during fasting. Naturopaths prescribe fasting once in a month on a regular basis often using a biorhythm chart- some prescriptions flow over two days.
Mahatma Gandhi used to rely on endless fasting (endlessly) for political protests. Others do too, to a point of self-annihilation.
(The theory of Bio-rhythms states that our physical (23), mental (33), and emotional(28) health are governed by cycles. The figures in brackets are the number of days it takes to complete one complete cycle.)
Fasting is known to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and acute problems such as skin rashes, ulcers, arthritis, ulcers, heart disease, asthma, and digestive problems.
The benefits of fasting are said to be enhanced by several processes such as deep breathing, yoga (light) and other gentle forms of exercise.
As, during the fast, the body is relieved of its usual chore of breaking food down into its elemental nutrients, fasting allows the body's inner resources to focus on cleansing and healing, by elimination of existing toxins and enhancing the immune system. While the body is doing its part, the fasting person is also focusing on mental control in trying to divert the attention off the hungry signals the stomach sends. Fasting is an acquired control by a positive mind.
While fasting is advisable for maintaining a fully functional, healthy body, insisting on fasting as a cure for illnesses is definitely not wise.
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