How Fasting Can Help You Lose Weight

Fasting is an age-old tradition that is used across almost every religion and culture as an aid for health, wisdom, purity and communion with god. The virtues of fasting have been known for centuries, and yet it is a practice that many people and cultures have allowed to dwindle in this modern fast-paced world.

Every time you eat your body goes through a process of digestion in order to break down, process and absorb the food you take in. In this process it has to sort out nutrients from toxins, tag and eliminate the unwanted substances and break down the nutrients into useable parts - all of these functions require a tremendous amount of energy, vitamins and minerals. The byproducts of this process, which is called metabolism, are molecules called free-radicals.

Free radicals are tiny particles that are highly-reactive, which means that they can attach to various tissues in your body and cause a reaction like inflammation or damage. In order to neutralize these free radicals we need anti-oxidants like vitamins C, E, and A and bioflavonoids from foods like green tea, dark colored berries, and raw cocoa.

For many people, especially those with chronic illness, fatigue or obesity, actually need to fast in order to give their body a rest from free radicals. By giving your body a break from digestion and metabolism, you can focus your vital energy on repair and cleansing. Additionally fasting allows your body a break from any foods to which it is sensitive or even allergic.

Benefits of fasting:

* Allows your body and tissues to repair and rebuild

* Jump-starts the weight loss process by dumping toxins

* Helps to rid the body of hidden parasites and Candida

* Reduces intestinal inflammation secondary to allergens

* Allows your intestinal tract to heal and repair, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like leaky gut syndrome and autoimmune disease

* Increases energy and vitality

* Increases life span1

* Shrinks the stomach and prepares the body for smaller meals

* Decreases free radical load, helping your body fight cancer and chronic illness.

The story below, taken from The Miracle of Fasting by Paul and Patricia Bragg, is just one of many examples of how powerful fasting can be:

Fasting Aids in Flushing Deadly Poisons from the Body

When we fast (stop eating) all the Vital Force that has been used to convert food into energy and body tissue is now being used to flush poisons from the body! When Patricia and I travel throughout America and the world lecturing, we are fortunate to know health-minded people everywhere. We are usually well supplied with organically homegrown fruits and vegetables from their health gardens. But sometimes only commercially grown foods are available, which may have been sprayed with poisonous pesticides. But, we fast faithfully to cleanse toxins out, even when traveling, one 24 hour fast weekly.

I do four 7 to 10 day fasting periods yearly. When I go on a 7 to 10 day complete water fast, I take a specimen of my urine each morning upon arising. I put it in a small labeled bottle to let it cool and settle. In a few days, I can see little crystals forming in the urine. I have had my urine examined for chemicals, and the examiner has told me time and time again that traces of DDT and other deadly pesticide residues have appeared in my urine. On one occasion, I took a 21 day complete water fast. On the 19th day, I had terrible pains in my bladder. When I urinated it felt like red hot water passing through me. I had this urine examined and sure enough, it was filled with DDT and other poisons!

A great feeling of energy flowed over my body when this poison had passed out of it. The whites of my eyes were as clear as new snow. My body took on a pink glow and my energy surged. Now, remember I had been fasting for 19 days. Yet, I drove from Pasadena, California to Mt.Wilson, which is six thousand feet high, and climbed the trail with absolutely no fatigue! I ran with ease most of the way down the winding trail. I felt that a tremendous burden had been lifted from my body! In my personal opinion, fasting is the only way to rid the body of the many commercial poisons found in foods.

Fasting means going without solid food. Usually fasting is just water but it can also be done with broths or fresh juices-which is safer and helps keep your blood sugars normal. The goal of fasting is to give your body a break from digestion and to remove toxins from the body. This can also be achieved with a detoxification diet composed only of organic fruits, vegetables brown rice, and a detoxification protein drink like GI Detox Support 10 which has all of the supportive nutrients and cofactors necessary for detoxification giving your body a break from toxins and foods which are difficult to digest but still allowing you to eat regularly.

To prepare for a fast it is extremely helpful to eat a diet of fruits, vegetables and rice for a couple days beforehand to allow your body to transition into the fast. It is also important that during the time you will be fasting you allow yourself to focus on the fast. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, restful time and gentle exercise - your body will benefit from some tender loving care!