By ,
ANNAPURNA C C,Asst Lecturer, JSS College of nursing
Introduction:
Fasting is powerful therapeutic processes that can help people
recover from mild to severe health conditions. Some of the most common ones are high
blood pressure, asthma, allergies, chronic headaches, inflammatory bowel disease
(ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), irritable bowel syndrome, adult onset diabetes,
heart disease, degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, acne, uterine
fibroids, benign tumours, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
DEFINITION:
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or
both, for a period of time.
An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for
a defined period, usually a single day (24 hours), or several days
Fasting gives the digestive tract time to completely rest and strengthen its mucosal lining.
A healthy intestinal mucosal lining is necessary for preventing the leakage of incompletely
digested proteins into the bloodstream, thereby offering protection against autoimmune
conditions.
A fast that is appropriate for your situation will allow for you to experience
some or all of the following:
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More energy
Healthier skin
Healthier teeth and gums
Better quality sleep
A clean and healthy cardiovascular system
A decrease in anxiety and tension
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Complete elimination of aches and pains in muscles and joints
Decrease or elimination of headaches
Stabilization of blood pressure
Stronger and more efficient digestion
Stabilization of bowel movements
Loss of excess weight
Elimination of stored toxins
Improvement with a wide variety of chronic degenerative health conditions, including
autoimmune disorders
The Benefits of Fasting
The main benefits include
a. Detoxification
b. Rejuvenation
c. Awareness
Detoxification
During a fast:
 The natural process of toxin excretion continues, while the influx of new toxins is
reduced.
 This results in a reduction of total body toxicity.
 The energy usually used for digestion is redirected to immune function, cell
growth, and eliminatory processes.
 The immune system’s workload is greatly reduced, and the digestive tract is spared
any inflammation due to allergic reactions to food.
 Fat-stored chemicals are released.
 Cleanse your liver, kidneys, and colon.
 Purify your blood.
 Help you lose excess weight and water.
 Flush out toxins, clear the eyes and tongue, and cleanse the breath.
 Detoxification relieves many common ills, such as headaches, joint pain,
indigestion, constipation, fatigue, allergies, and anxiety.
 Can have a favourable effect on bacteria in the gut
 Fasting is an effective treatment for many autoimmune diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
 It allows the immune system to normalize itself.
Rejuvenation
 The term, "rejuvenation “is to describe the partial restoration of youthfulness to
the tissues and organs of the body.
 This may be achieved through hygienic care including fasting.
 Cells may be drastically changed, but not structurally damaged.
 After growth, the cell will have a portion made of new protoplasm
 Fasting rejuvenates--the feeling, the look, the utility of function; an increased
energy and capacity which are visible through the disappearance of many lines,
wrinkles, blotches, pimples and pathological pigmentations.
 The skin becomes much more youthful and acquires a better color and texture.
 The eyes are clearer and brighter.
 One looks younger and more vigorous.
 The visible regeneration and rejuvenation of the eyes, skin and superficial tissues
is allied to the evidence of similar but invisible rejuvenation throughout the body.
Awareness
 Diet- what you eat, how much, when
- may trigger a change in your attitude to the food you eat and how much you eat.
 Physical awareness and sensitivity to diet and surroundings are increased.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE
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Physical effects of fasting
Mental and emotional benefits of fasting
Spiritual benefits of fasting
Weight loss
Physical effects of fasting
 Fasting initiates the body's own healing mechanisms, any ailment may show
improvement.
 Fasting frees up energy so healing can begin
Digesting, assimilating and metabolizing, these activities require a great deal of
energy.
 It is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive
organs after a heavy meal.
 Fasting itself isn't necessarily a "cure" for anything. What it does is "set the
stage" or create the environment in which healing can occur. Our bodies know
how to heal themselves. We just have to "get out of the way", and this means on
all levels of our being. Fasting has a way of rebalancing us on all those levels.
Mental and emotional benefits of fasting
 Fasting improves mental clarity and focus. It can become a tool in your life to give
you greater freedom, flexibility, and energy to get done the things and projects that
are important to you.
 Many experienced fasters find it helpful to fast whenever they need an additional
boost for a major project or deadline.
 E.g. writing a paper, preparing for a big presentation. Artists and writers often talk of
foregoing food during great creative inspiration.
 Emotionally, you will feel calmer, clearer and happier. Fasters often report that
depression lifts, goals begin to feel more obtainable as obstacles are put into proper
focus. Doctors have reported patients experiencing improved concentration, less
anxiety, sleeping better and waking more refreshed.
Spiritual benefits of fasting
 Another one of the benefits of fasting is that it promotes we take our attention
inward that we listen, become quiet. And that quiet quality time feels you with
you, will also allow, if you are willing, a greater sense of kinship with your Inner
Being.
 After any major detox symptoms have passed, the body takes on a lighter, less
dense, feeling. This helps to create a subtle separation from ordinary physical
reality and all its worldly things, and instead you begin to sense the presence and
power of things beyond this world.
 Meditation or prayer becomes clearer.
Weight loss
 On average, a typical faster loses approximately one pound per day during a
water-only fast. Initially, the loss may approach two or even three pounds per
day for the first few days if the person is retaining significant sodium and water.
This can decrease to approximately half a pound per day in the later stages of a
fast. From day two onward, the body begins utilizing fatty tissues for energy,
thereby conserving as much muscle tissue as possible, a mechanism called
protein sparing.
 The more fat tissue is burned during a water fast, as your body must rely exclusively on
fat reserves to supply its energy needs after the first 1-3 days of water fasting. Your
body stores the bulk of incoming toxins in your fat reserves. As these reserves are
burned for energy during a fast, any stored toxins will be released into your circulation,
to be eliminated through various eliminative channels like your urine and respiratory
tract. This mechanism of detoxification also occurs with juice fasting, but at a slower
pace.
Types of fasting
 Dry fasting.
 Liquid fasting
-water fasting
-Juice fasting
-Master cleanser or Lemonade diet
 Partial fasting.
Dry fasting
 Dry fasting. Also known as Absolute Fast. The most extreme of the types of fasting,
 Dry fasting can cause too severe detoxing.
 It's usually only done for one day or less.
 It is not recommended.
Liquid fasting
 Water fasting: People detoxify and heal more quickly with water fast than with a juice
fast. This is because with water fast, your digestive passageway and organs are able to
rest completely, allowing for all of your energy to be used for cleansing and repair of
damaged tissues. But water fast can be more difficult to commit to for the beginner.
 Juice fasting: During a juice fast, any variety of fruit and vegetable juices are consumed.
It is extremely popular and offers a medium of nutritional support in a pure and natural
form. Almost any fruit or vegetable can be juiced.
 The Master Cleanse or Lemonade diet is a relatively new approach, becoming popular
in the 1970s. It includes calories in the form of pure maple syrup. Intestinal cleansing is a
major part of the lemon.
Partial fasting
Also sometimes called selective fasting, Partial fasting includes some solid food-anywhere from a very little to a lot of solid food. It's not the amount of food, but the exclusion
or limitation of certain foods that makes it a partial fast. Cleansing diets and mono-diets, like
rice fasting are partial fasts.
 Metabolic rate fluctuates according to our moment-to-moment physiological needs.
When we are active, our metabolic rate speeds up. When we sleep, our metabolic rate
slows down. In the same way, when we fast, our metabolic rate slows down because
our physiological needs are lower than they are when we are consuming food and going
about our regular activities. When a fast is broken and a person returns to eating and
more activity, her metabolic rate increases to match her increasing physiological needs.
Length of fasting.
 Three day fast - aids in eliminating toxins and cleanses the blood
 Five day fast - begins "healing and rebuilding the immune system"
 Ten day fast - heads off problems in the making and helps to prevent illness, including
degenerative diseases
 If you've never fasted before, a commitment of a day or less is needed. First experience
to learn what your body's particular reactions are. Everybody is unique. You need to
learn about yours.
 The length of your transition periods can be based upon the length of the fast. You
would take half the number of days of the fast for each transition period. A three day
fast would take 6 day of transition period.
What to watch For while fasting?
 sudden drop in blood pressure
 persisting feeling of extreme cold
 prolonged, rapid and weak pulse
 extreme weakness
 difficulty breathing
 acute anxiety and emotional distress
 liver or kidney problems
 acute psychosis
If these symptoms are seen, request the person to stop fasting.
Who Shouldn’t Fast?
 Diabetics shouldn’t fast without prior permission from their doctor.
 Anyone who is severely underweight
 Pregnant and Lactating females
 Infants
 Anyone taking prescription drugs of any kind
 Anyone habitually using “social” drugs including tobacco and alcohol
 Eating disorders. Such as anorexia or bulimia.
 After surgery or a major illness. Time should be taken to recuperate before attempting a
fast. Also, don't fast directly prior to major surgery.
 Anyone who is afraid of fasting. Fear does not put you in the proper frame of mind for
fasting and can lead to an unpleasant experience.
 G.I. Bleed and acute ulcers
 Severe Epilepsy
 Severe Migraine
Effects of Fasting on Carbohydrate Metabolism
1. Slight fall in serum Glucose (to 60 mg)
2. Serum Insulin decreases
3. Serum Glucagon and Growth Hormone increases
4. Increase in sympathetic activity
5. Increase in liver Cyclic AMP
Fasting and Lipid Metabolism
 Decrease in both Total Cholesterol and Triglycerides in first few days then rise to pre
fasting levels
 Increase in HDL
 Effects are variable according to quality and quantity of food consumed
Endocrine functions in Fasting
 Fall in free T3 but rise in rT3
 Slight fall in total T4 but normal free T4 and TSH
 TSH response to TRH unchanged
 Serum Testosterone, LH, FSH may be normal or slightly low
 Plasma Prolactin and PTH are normal
Renal Function in Fasting
 Urinary volume, osmolality, solute and electrolyte excretion remain normal
 Slight increase in BUN (insignificant)
 Increase in Uric acid
Other Effects of Fasting
 Slight rise in Bilirubin but no change in SGOT or SGPT
 Fall in Gastric secretions
 No change in Heart rate and BP
 No change in Ca+ or Electrolytes
 No change in Hb, blood counts or Fe store
 Weight loss of 1.7-3.8 Kg (obese lost more weight than non-obese)
 Decrease in appetite due to ketosis and increase in Beta-endorphins
General advice for those who fast
 Consult your (Muslim) doctor first
 With the approval of physician switch to either long acting or twice daily medication
 Elderly patients on NSAID should have frequent monitoring of renal functions
 Anticoagulant and Antiepileptic medications should be given at night.
CONCLUSION
Fasting is powerful therapeutic processes that can help people recover from
mild to severe health conditions. Fasting for the purpose of starvation or for political reform is
obviously not the healthful therapeutic fasting. One must differentiate between fasting and
starving. To fast is to abstain from food while one possesses adequate reserves to nourish his
vital tissues; to starve is to abstain from food after his reserves have been exhausted so that
vital tissues are sacrificed. Fasting provide physical, mental, spiritual and emotional benefit to
the person. A healthy digestive tract also helps to protect the blood and inner organs against a
variety of environmental and metabolic toxins.
REFERENCE
http://www.allaboutfasting.com
www.google.com