Fasting is referred to as not eating or abstinence from food. It can be abstinence from meat and only water is taken; or it can be that the food eaten is limited to fruits and juices. It may be done due to some religious beliefs or it is done simply as a way to lose weight. It may last for 3 days, some weeks or a few months. It can be done on your own or it can be under the supervision of a doctor or dietician. Regardless, there are those who believe that fasting results to good benefits to one’s overall health.

When you go fasting, everything in your body system adopts to the condition. When there is less food taken in or none at all, the body turns to its natural system of converting its fats into energy. There goes some weight loss. The body functions slow down since there is limited food taken in for conversion to energy. The heart rate goes down, breathing is slow, blood circulation slows down and muscles relax. It is in this condition when the body feels relaxed and restful. The rest of the organs flush out toxins from the body especially through urine. It has been noted that people who fasted have natural, odorless and clearer urine. When all these happen then the person naturally loses the excess weight.

Sometimes, fasting is considered a cleansing process. The toxins are flushed out from the body thereby helping the organs and tissues of the body repair from within. The first few days of fasting usually are the hardest because a lot of body wastes especially fats are flushed out through perspiration, foul breath emitting from the mouth and tongue and also thru urine. The body cells become healthier when toxins are removed. The body gets used to the fasting because it is continually being cleansed.

The real benefits of fasting are as follows:

• Fasting helps build and motivate your inner strength; all it takes is strong will power.

• It is a good way to overcome addictions like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, smoking and drugs. It reduces withdrawal symptoms of these addictions.

• It can provide relief from other health problems since fasting leads to a change in life style. Unhealthy habits are reduced thereby resulting to a healthier life style.

• Fasting can lower cholesterol levels.

• It helps reduces symptoms of constipation, gastritis and other gastrointestinal disorders.

• It can be beneficial to diabetic people since there are diet and life style changes.

• Fasting improves mental alertness and clarity.

• It improves breathing processes.

• It results to good skin.

• Fasting rejuvenates most body systems from within.

Though there are still some debates about the real benefits of fasting, there are others who firmly believe in it. Those who used fasting to lose weight with the supervision of a doctor are just happy that they did.

Kyle Oliart

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