Fasting

Yoga Life Style
Fasting is one of the secrets of long life. Your body, and your digestive organs in particular, are required to work and work without any vacation. You know that you require rest from your work or your school from time to time. In the same way, your digestive system needs a rest from time to time.

Periodic fasting provides the rest for your digestive system. It allows your digestive system to recuperate from the rough treatment that you may have given it by overeating or eating the wrong foods or eating at the wrong time.

In addition fasting also provides an opportunity to eliminate many toxins from your body. After fasting, you should take some lemon water with a bit of salt. This drink helps to flush the digestive system, eliminating waste material that might otherwise remain in the body if you didn't fast.

Fasting also helps you to keep a balanced mind inspite of the attraction of the moon on the fluids of your body. That is why our fasting system is timed in relation to the moon. The eleventh day after the new and full moons is the time when this attraction is very strong. If you fast during this period, then the emptiness of the stomach pulls down liquids that would otherwise rise up in your body under the attraction of the moon.

Finally fasting also gives you a chance to save some time and use that time for spiritual pursuits. In order to eat, you may have to spend time shopping, cooking, cleaning and of course eating. If you fast, you can use that time to do meditation, to read or some other valuable pursuit.

This system of yogic fasting has a duration from Sunrise to Sunrise. You begin at Sunrise on the fasting day and eat nothing. If your body is strong you can also refrain from drinking anything. On the next day, you can break the fast with lemon water, as I have mentioned above, and then with fruit and other suitable food.

Some people think that fasting is difficult. If you prepare yourself for fasting it is not difficult. Prepare yourself physically by taking enough food and also plenty of liquids the day before. Prepare yourself mentally by deciding the night before fasting: "Tomorrow is fasting day, and I am not going to eat anything." If you take this mental determination prior to the fasting day, you will not be hungry during the fasting day. If you don’t make a prior determination, during the fasting day you will start to think “Maybe I should eat, and fast another day!” Decide before hand and you will be able to complete your fast..

All in all, fasting is one of the best practices for maintaining physical, mental and spiritual health. I highly recommend it.

Below is some therapeutic juice fasting listing the benefits of certain fruits and vegetables.

Juice Cleanse
By Karen Kevala Parker

Article as it appeared in the Asia Spa's Magazine

Juice fasts rely on fresh, pure juices that not only cleanse and support the tissues, but also breakdown accumulated wastes that are stored in fat. These nutritive tonics, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, also rid the body of excess fluids, swelling, water retention, and inflammation. Detoxification juicing programs are based on your personal condition and cleanse-specific needs. Below you'll find some of the ingredients that make up the juice program, along with a few of their benefits.

Beet- Purifies the blood and liver, strengthens heart, improves circulation, moistens the intestines. When used in conjunction with carrot juice, it treats liver stagnancy and liver conditions in general, as well as constipation. A silicon-rich vegetable.

Coconut- Extremely high in electrolytes, promoting hydration and tissue cleansing.

Carrot- Very high in the antioxidant beta-carotene (provitamin A), carrot juice is an exceptional tonic for stimulating the removal of wastes and detoxifying and repairing the liver. Also benefits the lungs, strengthens spleen-pancreas functions, eliminates putrefactive bacteria in the intestines that contribute to poor assimilation of nutrients. Carrot juice is contraindicated for those with diabetes, hypoglycemia, Candida and other insulin-regulation health issues.

Celery- Celery juice is a potent alkalizing agent that calms the nerves and relives insomnia, purifies the blood, promotes sweating, benefits the stomach and spleen-pancreas, and calms an aggravated liver. It is very high in sodium chloride, the effect of which cleanses and cools the system while regulating blood pH. A mineral-rich appetite suppressant, celery is high in silicon, which helps to rebuild joints, bones arteries, and all connective tissue. It is especially rich in magnesium, a mineral that is necessary for producing alkalizing enzymes for Detox purposes. This vegetable's nervine properties soothe nervous disorders, and help to calm the body and mind while going through the Detox process.

Cucumber- Cucumber mitigates toxins and cleanses the blood while acting as a digestive aide. This non-sweet fruit contains a digestive enzyme called erepsis, which breaks down and cleanses the intestines, and is particularly beneficial to the large intestine.

Parsley- Parsley is a strong alkalizing agent with a particular cleansing effect on the kidneys and bladder. This chlorophyll-rich food detoxifies the liver and reduces inflammation in the urogenital canal. It contains several times the Vitamin C as citrus foods, and is one of the better sources of provitamin A, calcium, sodium, magnesium and iron. Parsley also strengthens the adrenal glands and enhances optimum nerve brain functioning.

Watermelon and Watermelon Rind- One of the most alkalizing fruits, watermelon aides the kidneys in dissolving and preventing kidney stones. In general, it is an excellent internal organ cleanser. Watermelon rind is wonderfully rich in chlorophyll, and directly counteracts spikes in blood sugar that are associated with eating sugars, including fructose.

Papaya- Loaded with the enzyme papain, papaya's supplies of protease enzymes are known to have medicinal value both as digestive aides and detoxifying agents. Papaya is very effective in cleansing the intestines, helping to wash away putrefactive wastes from the excessive consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products.

Apples- Very cleansing to the digestive tract while aiding in digestion, apple juice is known for reducing fevers and tissue inflammation that sometimes occur with Detox because it helps dislodge heavy toxins and release them into the bloodstream for excretion. The pectin in apple juice acts as a strong intestinal detoxificant.
 

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