There is a physical and a spiritual aspect to fasting. I'm going to discuss the physical aspect and how it benefits your body, how to practice safe fasting by suggesting what to eat before and what to eat after fasting.


There are many spiritual reasons as to why we fast that I've been taught since I was a child. But I've always believed that there is more to it than just feeling for the poor, appreciating food and water, teaching us patience, and so on so forth. I knew there was a health reason for it as well. Why did Ghandi, Buddha, and Dali lama all fast? I began doing some research and I was amazed by the good fasting does to your body. I was always told, in order to be healthy you have to eat and eat some more. So how can not eating for an entire day be good for your body?


"The only reliable way to extend the lifespan of a mammal is under-nutrition without malnutrition." A study was performed on earthworms that demonstrated the extension of life due to fasting. The experiment was performed by isolating one worm and putting it on a cycle of fasting and feeding. The isolated worm outlasted its relatives by 19 generations (the equivalent of a human living for 600-700 years!!) , while still maintaining its youthful physiological traits. So what happens when you fast? How does your body benefit from fasting?


Once the body is deprived of food, this is where the benefits of fasting begin. Due to the lack of incoming energy, the body will start turning into it's own resources. This process is called Autolysis, it's the process of which your body begins to break down stored fat in order to produce energy. Human fat is valued at about 3500 calories per pound, which is approximately the amount of calories your body needs to survive for one day, of course this is depending on the persons size, age, and level of activity. This fat gets created when your body receives an excess amount of glucose and carbohydrates that don't get used for energy so your body simply converts them into stored fat. The main benefit of this process isn't the fat loss, but rather the detoxification process. Fasting will eliminate/neutralize toxins throughout your major organs such as liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, and skin. When the fat reserves are used for energy during fasting, the fatty acids release chemicals in your system which are then eliminated through the aforementioned organs. These chemicals are absorbed from our environment, then stored in your body and cause you to grow weaker by harming your immune system and simple body functions.