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CLEANSE THE BODY THROUGH REGULAR FASTING

I find it amazing that we all recognize the need to change the oil in our cars, but few people give their own digestive tracts a thorough, regular cleansing. When was the last time you stopped eating for 24 hours? Perhaps when you had a flu virus or a bad cold. When that happened the wisdom of the body told you that it was clogged up and in need of some attention and rest. This is the basic concept behind fasting.

Even a short fast of 24 hours will allow the digestive system to take a break. The idea is not to strain the body to lose weight, but rather to allow it to rest and catch up periodically so that it does not become clogged to the point of non-function. If you agree that an ounce of prevention every day is worth a pound of cure, you can counteract many of the negative effects of modern diet and lifestyle. Every night, when we sleep and don't eat for 10 or more hours, we are doing a mini fast. Before you break your fast ("breakfast") and eat in the morning, it is helpful to clean out your pipes with the juice of half a fresh  lemon in a glass of warm water. This is a very gentle way to wash away toxins that have become lodged in the digestive tract. It may sound like a small lifestyle change, but it can be a major step in the right direction.

The concept of fasting has been around for centuries and is a major tenet of many world religions. Some people fast for one day every week, three days every month, or 10 days twice a year as part of their ongoing health regime. Fasting can also be employed as a strategy by people facing life threatening disease and I have known people to fast for 30, 60 or 90 days, consuming just water and juices during that time. Always check with a health professional (naturopath, colon therapist etc.) before embarking on a long fast, as these should be done in controlled and supervised situations. There are many health centers around the world that specialize in such treatments and many excellent books on the subject.

I fasted for 10 days once, and it was a fascinating experience. After two days my body was tired but after the fourth day on just water and lemon juice I had boundless energy. I managed to work on patients very effectively all day, and during the nights I had vivid dreams during which I felt cleansed my mind as well. I lost some weight, although that was not my prime motivation, but more importantly I learned about the overwhelming psychological attachment we have to food. Everywhere I looked while on my fast, I noticed advertisements for french fries, pop, sweets, and junk food. When I came off the fast I was much more attentive to the foods that I put in my mouth: It was like a rebirth of my relationship with food. I also started shopping differently, around the edges of stores, where all the fresh produce is, instead of down the middle aisles where all the boxes and processed foods are stacked. I gradually gained some weight back, but some pounds never returned and I like to think they were the ones that were filled with toxins and fat.

During a fast, many people report having bowel movements that appear black like tar. Think of a pipe coated with slime and you will understand what the black sludge is like in people's bodies. Just as a drainpipe gets clogged and needs to be periodically cleansed, so does the bowel, or else the results can be malabsorbtion problems, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and even ulcers. Clogged digestion can also lead to skin rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis, lung conditions and bronchitis. This makes perfect sense when you think that if you block the exhaust pipe of a car, the fumes and toxins will come out through the body of the car.

It is extremely important that after a fast one "washes out the pipes" of the dislodged debris, or else this loosened sludge will just be reabsorbed into the system. That's why for a few days after coming off a fast it is wise to just eat light soups and juices. Many times people stop a fast too soon because they don't feel well and start to get headaches or low grade fevers. This is often a sign that the body is just beginning to dislodge the old toxic debris into the bloodstream and the fast is having its effect. Even though one may not feel so good at the time, it is the time to persist and stay on the fast.

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