Fasting for health benefits

[123 MMA]

I have read quite a bit online at how fasting while drinking a lot of water is great for the body as it gives your digestive system a rest and puts all its energy into healing the body. I tried it for 24 hours and the fast was easy, surprisingly I wasnt even that hungry when it ended but I just ate because I missed food. My joints do feel better from the fast.

Has anybody here tried it, or what are your opinions on fasting?

[123 MMA]

nobody has an opinion on this?

[woglaka]

I've tried many types of "fasts", from jucie to the lemonade fast. For me, fasting has only been truly effective done in the traditional way, no food and little to no water. I have done fasting for ceremony and on my own accord. The longest fast I have completed was seven days. Day one is usually easy enough, second day one will feel some hunger pains, by the third day the body will go into detox mode and if one has much to cleanse it can be unpleasant as the toxins release. As with our CST teachings of getting through the challenge to reap the benefits of the downhill or the runner's high. If you can get through day three, the days after are very rewarding and not as difficult. For me fasting has offered me a different perspective on food and what my body actually needs. Fasting provides an unique clearity, physically, spiritually and emotionally. And fasting heals. It has been used by cultures all over the Earth for as long as we have been around. Problem is the medical industry can't profit from it although there are several fasting clinics on the planet. Dr. Arnold Ehret wrote a groundbreaking book "Rational Fasting" in the early 20th Century. He takes a scientific approach to fasting plus he expiremented on himself upto 42 days at one point, plus he was walking 20 to 40 miles a day. Ironically, when the automobile was invented he was struck by one and left the planet. He was shunned by his peers, but he healed many. I hope this helps. Mark

[123 MMA]

fasting with little to no water.. i've never heard about that before, why would you do this?

[Ja'far]

Personally, as a Muslim, I fast as a religio-spiritual practice. For Muslims, we have the yearly, compulsory fast through the month of Ramadhan (which cycles through the seasons across time) and numerous encouraged, voluntary fasts throughout the year, including, three times per month (when the moon is full), twice weekly (Monday and Thursday) and every other day, as well as, sundry other 'holy' days. As most may be aware, our fast last from sunrise to sunset without food or water. Increased energy and more time to put this increased energy to use, due to not cooking and eating for long periods, are among the most noticeable benefits. It's nice to find that much research and experience amongst the foremost 'heads' in the health and fitness fields confirm my personal experience.

Ja'far

[exp626]

Check out http://www.leangains.com ... unlike most of the other IF diets Martin actually references studies and provides his interpretation instead of just spouting hopefulness. The site doesn't have the best layout but the information contained within is quite useful.

[Miykael]

I tend to loosely do the Leangains approach most days, just fasting till around noon time and eating last meal around 7-8. Martin has some good information there.

[budhawarfare]

In my opinion fasting can be understood rationally, but not in its entirity from the current paradigm of Western medicine. So I guess I will only offer hopefulness. Fasting is individualized and personal. It is individualized because in every case it matters what one’s previous, current and future dietary and substance habits are. I believe it is personal because the benefits of fasting need to be experienced to gain the best understanding. For me greater understanding comes after the fast and maybe quite some time after.

Allow me to ever so humbly offer a few words of advice. If your intuition is telling you it is a good idea then clean up the diet, transition into it slowly, consult with a naturopath and try what you think is best. Have faith and gather knowledge because chances are a “healing crisis” could occur.

I know you didn’t ask about the spiritual benefits of fasting but I read the following quote this week and for the sake of synchronicity I’m going to share it: “Fasting means what the Master gave: Laying aside our own concept of how and what should be done at any period, and letting the Spirit guide. Understand the truth of fasting! To be sure, overindulgence in bodily appetites brings shame to self, as overindulgence in anything. True fasting is casting out of self any thought of what we would like done, and becoming channels for what He, the Lord, would have done in the earth through us.” –Edgar Cayce

[Dynamic]

I have also tried many kinds of fasts - from the Master Cleanse, to Juice fasts, to veggie/mineral broth, to water fasts, and beyond. I recommend taking your first fast slowly, and doing it in short duration, then later doing a longer one. Spend as long going into and out of the fast as you do during the fast. People underestimate the importance of the purity of your water while fasting, be sure to use ionized water. I used to drink distilled water from the store for quite a long time, and also used filter pitchers at home for filling up my water bottles before going out. While it's true that method like the pitchers are effective at removing many forms of bacteria, pollutants, and dissolved solids from the water, they don't remove everything, and in fact often leave behind many undesirable elements like fertilizers and pesticides that are commonly found in watersheds near agricultural land, or heavy elements in aging urban infrastructure. And distillation doesn't remove certain volatile organic compounds at all. When I switched to a Water For Life ionized water purifier, there was a marked difference in taste and smell, as well as how I felt when drinking it long term. I haven't gone back to pitchers or distilled water since. Check it: (http://waterforlifeusa.com/)

[pigram86]

I fast for 20 hrs every day while on the Warrior Diet. I find fasting is better than under eating for me. As i have tried to come off the WD, I gain weight no matter what. I love it

[Dynamic]

Fasting for 20 hours a day puts you at risk for insulin issues. Might wanna think about your health instead of your weight.

[pigram86]

You maybe correct. I will find out in April when I have blood work and a physical. I do have a handful of almonds occasionally during the day. so not every day is a complete fast. Are you familiar with the warrior diet and Ori Hofmeckler?

[exp626]

Fasting for 20 hours a day puts you at risk for insulin issues. Might wanna think about your health instead of your weight.

Interesting assertion. I have not seen any studies indicating this to be the case. What are your references and which exact insulin "issues" are you referring to? Everything I have seen points to an increase in insulin sensitivity, which is a *good* thing.

[Miykael]

Interesting assertion. I have not seen any studies indicating this to be the case. What are your references and which exact insulin "issues" are you referring to? Everything I have seen points to an increase in insulin sensitivity, which is a *good* thing.


This is what I heard and more importantly experienced. I have had no issues fasting 19-20 hours often.

[pigram86]

Fasting for 20 hours a day puts you at risk for insulin issues. Might wanna think about your health instead of your weight.

Here is an a chapter from the Warrior Diet on google books that relates to insulin insensitivity and sensitivity.

http://books.google.com/books?id=I_f39J6wJi8C&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=insulin+sensitivity+warrior+diet&source=bl&ots=A-Grt1laqf&sig=Cfix1cjz3AgJWuV_gBN65WfIycY&hl=en&ei=UoRDTe_yL8OB8galkqCcAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=insulin%20sensitivity%20warrior%20diet&f=false

[groomy]

You should also check out Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon. He has written an excellent "manual" on intermittent fasting and has the research to bust a lot of the popular myths around fasting and low calorie eating. By far the best resource for intermittent fasting that I have come across.

[ghostfist]

I too have fasted with the warrior diet concept. for me I loved the feel and way of it. On occasion -depending on the workout load of the day I do suplement with a hand full of nuts for example.
One point of concern for me is that I have classes on certain days that end at 8pm at night - so to eat a full meal that late..??

[pigram86]

I too have fasted with the warrior diet concept. for me I loved the feel and way of it. On occasion -depending on the workout load of the day I do suplement with a hand full of nuts for example.
One point of concern for me is that I have classes on certain days that end at 8pm at night - so to eat a full meal that late..??

If you follow the WD as Ori states, you are right on it eating that late. Just give yourself 2 hrs before going to bed. I made my best gains while having my main meal at around 7 Pm and going to bed at 11:00 pm. However, that made family dinners out of the question. So now I eat my main meal around 4-4:30 with the wife and kids and everyone is happy.

I have been slacking most of last year, but I have a food journal blog that really helps. When you actually write down what you eat it will shock you. here is the link if interested. I just started logging again while on my journey to quit my 29 year addiction to smokeless tobacco.

http://pigram86wd.blogspot.com

[budhawarfare]

It appears to me that fasting increases resistance to stress.

According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal stress responses occurred less in fasting subjects than in those who were administered glucose. Also, at Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America they found that intermittent fasting included the benefits associated with caloric restriction (increased insulin sensitivity, stress resistance, reduced morbidity and increased life span) but also reduced serum glucose and insulin levels and increased resistance of neurons in the brain to excitotoxic stress.

An excess of sugar leads to insulin release. Excess insulin leads to hyperglycemia to make the blood sugar fall. When blood sugar falls the body tries to get energy levels back up by either stimulating the adrenal gland to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Or when the brain becomes hyperglycemic it releases neurotransmitter glutamate which is the primary transmitter for excitability. An excess of glutamate leads to cell damage or cell death in the brain; this process is called excitotoxicity.

[Jess Campbell]

I second Groomy's comment.
Brad Pilon has a heap of useful fasting related info.

Blog http://bradpilon.com/
Eat Stop Eat ebook http://www.eatstopeat.com/index2.shtml
ESE-U program with John Barban (Eat Stop Eat University).