Why fasting is the best detox to improve your health
/By Paul Scicluna
Fasting seems to attract a lot of hype, interest and even opposition. But why? Is it because the common belief that if you don’t eat you will die? I have fasted numerous times from as little as 1 day up to 30 days on water, or my special blend of fruit and vegetables juice. Many of my family, friends and colleagues were against me fasting. However, what I find incredible is that they have never fasted themselves so were just pushing an opinion onto me.
My belief that fasting is the best detox to improve your health was realised over 10 years ago; it is one of the best body cleansers. My curiosity led me to undertake extensive research into fasting. It was then I decided that I wanted to experience it myself and debunk the myths or prove them right. Generally, I believe that if you don’t have a go you’ll never truly know. I had aimed to do a 7 day fast, however after 7 days I was feeling so good I kept going all the way to 30 days.
The benefits of fasting were truly amazing – I felt more energised, revitalised, my senses were heightened and my skin was so clear. So let’s have a think about it...
Every day for your whole life you eat food and consume drinks. It’s like driving your car - imagine stepping on the accelerator of your car and driving it flat out all day and all night without stopping. It wouldn’t last long and something would eventually break. So throughout your life you are not giving your body a break from all the foods and drinks that are continuously consumed. Your poor body then has to constantly process these foods and drinks, using up vital energy. Also, the toxins from many foods and drinks as well as environmental toxins accumulate in your body throughout your day to day life.
Fasting is the best detox for your body. It gives your body the ultimate chance to heal, repair and make strong. With a true fast, only liquid goes through your body and you abstain from foods and solids. Therefore your body doesn’t have to break down solid foods, like a steak, into a liquid paste to go through the intestinal wall and into the blood stream. The liquids are easily taken up with little to no energy expenditure compared to digesting solids.
The liquid that you consume when fasting is either water or a specific type of juice. Through consuming these liquids the gastrointestinal tract is given a rest which frees up energy – this “free” energy then goes into healing and repairing to help the body go through the detoxification process at a quicker rate.
I love the quote by Benjamin Franklin: “To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. The best of all medicines are rest and fasting."
Fasting truly is the best detox to improve your health. There is no better feeling than being energised, having vitality, experiencing enlightenment and seeing all the external benefits that a fast has to offer.
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