foodconsumer.org: Fasting:  Good for the Soul and the Body

Fasting:  Good for the Soul and the Body
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admin on 08/23/2009 02:35:00
 
By Rachel Stockton (rachels@foodconsumer.org)
We've all heard the grim news:  more Americans than ever before are obese,
according to the CDC.  Most doctors' offices reflect this reality, as it's been
estimated that 70% of all doctor visits are lifestyle related.
According to many health and wellness professionals, many of our physical
ailments have to do with the fact that we are taxing our digestive systems by
forcing them to try and figure out what in the world to do with all of the
calories we're consuming.
Remember how you feel after eating Thanksgiving dinner?  Digesting all of that
food is a tremendous energy drain; so much so, that it's hard to do anything
else but head toward the couch.
In order to give our systems a break, the spiritual gurus among us suggest
looking to a certain spiritual practice that is not only good for the soul, but
is actually good for the body as well:  fasting.
Even though the thought of fasting may seem foreign or extreme to the Western
mind, most religious traditions incorporate some form of fasting, either
behavioral or physical, into their spiritual practice.  For Christians, Lent is
typically a time of fasting, prayer and self reflection. For Muslims, late
summer is the beginning of Ramadan, during which the adults fast from sunup to
sundown.  Jewish tradition also looks favorably toward the practice of fasting;
one day of fasting means going without food from one evening to the next. 
Norman Fisher, a Zen Buddhist Priest, recently wrote of his experience (New York
Times) attending a meditation retreat on Puget Sound, where participants not
only fasted in the traditional sense, they fasted from oral communication as
well.
Spiritually, it's not too difficult to see the benefits of the practice. For
some, fasting reminds them that they are at the mercy of a higher power for
daily sustenance.  For others, it improves discipline, resulting in sharper
mental focus, and strengthened resolve to steer clear of harmful habits.  Fisher
writes of a realization that facing pain is a necessity, during his retreat. 
Certainly, fasting is good for us, metaphysically.
Fasting is good for us physically, also.  In addition to giving our digestive
tracts a much deserved rest, it also aids the body in getting rid of toxins that
have accumulated through the years; toxins that our bodies don't have time to
rid themselves of because they're too busy moving that McDonald's quarter
pounder with super-sized fries through our systems.
And, for the record, fasting does not have to mean that you eat nothing at all. 
Baron Baptiste, founder of the Baptiste Power Institute urges his students to go
on a three day fruit fast.  Fruit can give us energy without clogging up the
system.  Because fruit is so full of water, it flushes out the body, leaving us
feeling sated on fewer calories.
If you decide that you'd like to try a period of "restricted calorie intake,"
here are a few tips that will make the process easier:
1.        If you're not used to fasting, don't automatically think you have to
go through an entire day to be "successful."  You can begin by merely skipping,
or putting off lunch until the middle of the afternoon.
2.       Don't give up at the first sign of discomfort.  Many times, hunger
pains will stop after about 20 minutes or so.
3.       If you decide that you want to bring some sort of spiritual practice
into the experience, set aside some time to meditate.  Professor Zafar Nomani,
professor emeritus of Human Nutrition and Foods at West Virginia State and a
practicing Muslim, suggests doing something for someone else during a fast.
4.       Be smart about breaking your fast.  Don't overload your body with a lot
of carbs.  Baptiste recommends lean protein and vegetable soup. Professor Nomani
suggests fruit or a cup of water with a little sugar to level out blood sugar.
Editor's note:  Muslims in the Middle East are observing the holy month of
Ramadan starting on Saturday, according to Voice of America. Ramadan fasting is
one of the things Muslims do during the period.
Below are some paragraphs cited from wikipedia regarding Ramadan fasting:
The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of
Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sahur, the pre-dawn
meal, then they perform the fajr prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking
before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib.
Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next
morning's fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over.
Ramad?n is a time of reflecting and worshipping God. Muslims are expected to put
more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and
irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting
hours are also forbidden.[Qur'an 2:187] Purity of both thought and action is
important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship
in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities,
its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also
allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control [6], sacrifice, and
empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity
and charity. However, a certain level of self-control can be lost by those who
suffer from eating disorders.
The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting,
although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their
missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their
menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists
among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they
miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed While
fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavor to
complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those
traveling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[Qur'an 2:184] More
specifically, Twelver Sh?‘ah define those who travel more than 14 miles in a
day as exempt. The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and
have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a
person who cannot afford it, or else they can host him in their house and have
him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not
fast. [Qur'an 2:184]
A person who is observing Ramadan might break the fast accidentally, due to
having forgotten it. In such an instance, one should spit out the food being
eaten or cease the forbidden activity, immediately upon remembering the fast.
When Ramadan came to overshadow Ashura in importance, it took on some
characteristics of the latter. According to the well-known hadith, the person
who observes Ramadan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According
to another, "When Ramadan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, Hell's gates are
closed, and the demons are chained up" and who ever passes away will enter
paradise.
There are exceptions in certain Muslim communities that deny practicing fasting
in Ramad?n such as Alevi people in Turkey.