Fasting Before Feasting

The night air is getting downright cold, and visions of leaf raking and pumpkin gatherings begin to emerge. Tons of Halloween candy and huge turkey dinners are looming large in the not too distant future.

Fall is a wonderful time of year to make changes and prepare for Winter, and one of the best ways is to go on a fast- don't scream!  People are scared of the thought of fasting, but it is a marvelous way to renew and refresh your body, mind and spirit, to "lighten the load," so to speak.

When I say "fasting," I don't mean in the religious sense, where no food is taken for hours or days.  A cleansing fast is easier and a lot more pleasant than that. If you are new to fasting, I suggest you begin by going on a fruit and juice fast, it's easy.

Start on Friday evening  and end Sunday night.  Eat nothing but fruit and juice for a couple of days.  Eat when you're hungry, as much as you wish, fruit and juices only. And please, no strenuous exercise.  Walking or swimming is fine if you have access to an indoor or a heated pool, but no weight training or jogging for now. Of course, NO ALCOHOL! 

As you rest your digestive system, rest your body as well.   Catch up on your reading, see a movie or figure out how to do those evil Sudoku puzzles. Napping is encouraged. Sip herbal or green tea, or indulge in a huge fruit plate, you can eat all day if you wish, smoothies are mandatory! Use any juice and mix with fruits and a couple of ice cubes, blend and sip it slowly, a real treat.

The purpose of fasting is to rest your entire digestive system, clean out your bowel, and restore your body to a lighter state of being.  Yes, you will lose a bit of weight, but in all honesty, half will be water and you'll gain it back.  The purpose of the fast is not to reduce, but to renew. Use your own juicer, or you can purchase organic fruit juices at many markets, Rita's Real Foods in Bayport has a good selection.  Just remember to dilute all juices half and half with water, which makes a container of juice last longer and also cuts the sugar naturally present in the juice. 

Use organic fruits, especially watermelon.  Watermelon is extremely healing and cleansing to the bowel as well as being delicious.  Always eat any melon first, as it will ferment if eaten after a heavier food.  The rule is melons first, bananas last.  You can make fruit "ice cream" if you have a Champion juicer.  The Champion is pricey, but it is indispensable to those who follow the natural lifestyle.  It homogenizes frozen fruit into a delectable concoction that is like ice cream without the dairy, calories and fats.  My favorite flavor is fresh fig, mango and banana.  

Each night before bed, soak in a warm tub to which you add a half cup of Dead Sea Salts and the juice of one lemon.  You'll be amazed at how the aches and tensions melt away and you will be detoxifying through your body's largest organ, your skin.

Break your fast with a light meal, heavy on veggies, light on carbs and proteins.  Be sure to drink filtered water, half your body weight each day as a general rule. Fasting at the change of seasons is a great thing to do for your body.  Once you lose your fear of being hungry, you will see the benefits of easing up every now and then and giving your body a break. 

When it is relieved of the work of digestion, it can do the work of healing and renewing itself. I heartily recommend the books of the late Dr. Bernard Jensen, a pioneer and icon of Natural Healing.  They are available online or at the bookstore and can perfectly guide you into the practice of fasting.