Benefits of Fasting

We do fasting in our life for various purposes. But we don't know exactly the use and different kinds of fasting. In this article you would come to know about that.

In the Anushasan Chapter of the famous epic Mahabharata, it is written: “Whosoever fasts is blessed in every way!He draws the benefit of all the great medicines. All his diseases are cured and he becomes strong and virile”.

Fasting is indeed a natural method to live healthily. Also, it is a natural way to cure many diseases. Actually the basic cause of our diseases is the accumulation of toxic matters in the digestive system. So, we have to regularly cleanse our digestive system in order to avoid diseases. By fasting, we in a way, overhaul our complete system. All the mechanisms of the body which do produce necessary blood, flesh, body juices, bones etc. are cleansed through fasting. During fasting a part of the body energy which earlier was used for some nutritional purposes is now used for cleansing and intoxication purpose.

On the day of fasting, one should not do all the daily works. One must have to have complete rest. Talking should be reduced considerably. Otherwise, most of the part of energy which was to be used for cleansing purpose is used up in talking only. Now the question comes, “how can we determine that our purpose of fasting has been fulfilled”?

The answer to this question is: “Fasting cannot be considered completely effective till your tongue becomes clear, appetite normal and body agile”. If you think these conditions are not satisfied, then you can increase your period of fasting, provided that your health permits. A person who has not done fasting even once in his/her life will face a bit of difficulty for the first time or may be the second time too. But after that, the body as well as the mind will get habituated to behave normally during fasting.

Now comes the different types of fasting. Fasting can be done in many different ways. They can be categorized in mainly the following groups:

1. Complete Fast: In complete fast, every two hour a glass of water and every next hour warm water together with some lemon juice is taken. The main purpose of taking lemon juice in warm water is to prevent gas formation. If one needs some energy during this period, then a spoon of honey may also be taken with lemon juice in ordinary water also. Water of a tender coconut may also be taken during this fasting.

2. Milk-Banana diet: In his kind of fast, one cup of skimmed milk and a banana is taken alternatively three to four times a day. Added to that honey and lemon juice and lemon juice in warm water may also be taken.

3. Fruit diet: In this kind of fast, a person lives only on fruit and fruit juices. Again, in this fast, water and lemon juice in water can be continued. But his fast must not exceed 6-7 days; otherwise the body will become deficient of essential enzymes and amino acids.

4. Fruit and Vegetable diet: In such a diet, lightly boiled or steamed vegetables can also be taken besides fruits. But the use of salt must be avoided. This fast can also not exceed more than 6-7 days at a stretch.

5. Traditional Fast: In this kind of fast, a light meal is taken only once a day. This meal may contain a little of salt, sugar and fat. But one does not take any fruit, vegetables, tea, juices besides that meal. Ordinary water or lemon juice in warm water may be taken alternatively. This kind of fast is traditionally kept on full moon day or on the first day of the solar month.
In the first four kinds, no fat, salt or sugar is taken. Thus, the burden on the digestive system lessens and it gets sufficient time for cleansing operation.

One thing must be kept in mind that during fasting ordinary excretion of faeces, urine and sweat must continue otherwise the toxic materials will again get absorbed in the blood.