6 replies to this topic

[wayfarer.]

(NaturalNews): The evidence throughout time supporting fasting is incredible. There was a guy back in ancient Greece named Aesculapius that said, "Instead of using medicine, fast.

"Hippocrates recommended prolonged fasting instead of taking health-destroying pharmaceuticals, which is the God of modern day medicine, most of the religions in the world advocate periods of "abstinence" from food to attain physical and spiritual purity and even animals and babies, through their natural instincts, refuse to eat food when they feel ill. Yet, most people are clueless about the benefits of fasting when sick and always advise those that they care about to "Eat to keep up your strength." During illness, there can be no worse advice to lower vitality.

When you fast there is an increase in the amount of energy available for the eliminative and cleansing process due to the absence of large amounts of food requiring digestion and assimilation, which require energy as well.

The body then is able to redirect this increased energy toward elimination of the obstructions to the vital life force in the form of toxic waste and since vitality equals the life force minus any obstructions, as they are removed higher levels of vital energy are available for more rapid elimination.

Elimination begins as soon as the first meal is missed. As the fasting proceeds, usually during the first three days and reaching its maximum by the third day, this elimination activity manifests in the appearance of a coated tongue, bad breath, headaches, muscular aches and general fatigue.

These symptoms arise due to the increase of toxins in the bloodstream being passed out of the channels of elimination. The sooner these symptoms manifest, the more toxic is the system.

Usually around the forth or fifth day a general feeling of well-being comes about.

But, and there's always a but, this state of well-being lasts in degrees of varying intensity interspersed with periods of lack of energy and fatigue as more toxins are eliminated. At about ten days the body is able to get rid of a large amount of deep-rooted toxins and waste matter.

At that point if one experiences flulike symptoms or skin eruptions or other various eliminations, the fast is doing its job and in a short time the feeling of increased health and vigor will come back big time.

For people that have never fasted before, start with one day. Eventually, when that settles in, anywhere from three days to three weeks will be a piece of cake. When you can handle one day a couple of times, go to at least three days. From there, knock yourself out.

When fasting it's always good to drink lots of water and freshly squeezed juices. Stay way from all the pasteurized [Edited Out] that you get when you buy bottled juices and stay away from fluoridated water. We are talking about getting rid of toxins not continuing to ingest them.

Breaking the fast properly is probable more important. Remember that your body has undergone a heavy detoxification and elimination process so you want to start light and proceed slowly to heavy.

For every three days you fast you need one day of transition. Let's say you do 10 days. Ten days equals 3 to 4 days of getting back because this process has to be a gentle process for your system. The first day should be fruits, water and fresh juices. Day 2 should be fruit, adding stewed fruits, salads, water and fresh juices. Day 3 can include soups with lentils and peas and/or a light sandwich and steamed vegetables. The more you fast the more you spread out the break-back-in.

Food for thought: you just eliminated a ton of [Edited Out] from your system. Look at what put you there in the first place and decide if you really want to go back to putting back all those toxins you just got rid of.

At this point you might want to re-think what fuel you want to put in your gas tank. Remember that you are now rebuilding tissue and you should want that to be as healthy and constructive as can be.

Learn more: http://www.naturalne...l#ixzz22VcWDhP1

[Jaysro]

I assume you're talking about a 10 day straight fast?

If so, am I allowed to do this during ramadhan?

breaking my fast with water for 1 day then 3 days...

or is that haram?

Ramadan Moubarak and thanks for the info!

[coldcow]

Please, do not try fasting for extended periods of time like this. The maximum you should be fasting for is 24 hours. If you have a good grasp of nutrition, you may be able to extend that fast, but I would recommend no more than 20 hours for the average person. Please read my responses below on why this is not a good idea.

When you fast there is an increase in the amount of energy available for the eliminative and cleansing process due to the absence of large amounts of food requiring digestion and assimilation, which require energy as well.

False. Your body uses energy as it sees fit. In fact, in the absence of food, it will redirect its efforts towards fat metabolism, not any sort of "eliminative and cleansing" process. Not even sure what those processes are.

The body then is able to redirect this increased energy toward elimination of the obstructions to the vital life force in the form of toxic waste and since vitality equals the life force minus any obstructions, as they are removed higher levels of vital energy are available for more rapid elimination.

What toxic waste does the body store that it can't normally remove? What is "life force" and how do you subtract/quantify "obstructions"?

Elimination begins as soon as the first meal is missed. As the fasting proceeds, usually during the first three days and reaching its maximum by the third day, this elimination activity manifests in the appearance of a coated tongue, bad breath, headaches, muscular aches and general fatigue.

These symptoms arise due to the increase of toxins in the bloodstream being passed out of the channels of elimination. The sooner these symptoms manifest, the more toxic is the system.
This bad breath, muscle aches, head aches, fatigue, etc, aren't symptoms of "elimination," they are symptoms of ketosis. Ketosis is the process by which your body converts fat into keto-acids, which it then uses for energy since you aren't providing any energy by food. These ketones/keto-acids are comparable to acetone (nail polish remover), and are actually toxic to the body in high concentrations. So you are actually filling your body with toxins when you starve yourself for excess periods of time.

Usually around the forth or fifth day a general feeling of well-being comes about.

But, and there's always a but, this state of well-being lasts in degrees of varying intensity interspersed with periods of lack of energy and fatigue as more toxins are eliminated. At about ten days the body is able to get rid of a large amount of deep-rooted toxins and waste matter.

At that point if one experiences flulike symptoms or skin eruptions or other various eliminations, the fast is doing its job and in a short time the feeling of increased health and vigor will come back big time.

For people that have never fasted before, start with one day. Eventually, when that settles in, anywhere from three days to three weeks will be a piece of cake. When you can handle one day a couple of times, go to at least three days. From there, knock yourself out.

Your brain will eventually adapt to having to use ketones for energy, which is why the headaches will go away, but your red blood cells still need glucose for energy. There is no way around that requirement.

When fasting it's always good to drink lots of water and freshly squeezed juices. Stay way from all the pasteurized [Edited Out] that you get when you buy bottled juices and stay away from fluoridated water. We are talking about getting rid of toxins not continuing to ingest them.

Breaking the fast properly is probable more important. Remember that your body has undergone a heavy detoxification and elimination process so you want to start light and proceed slowly to heavy.

For every three days you fast you need one day of transition. Let's say you do 10 days. Ten days equals 3 to 4 days of getting back because this process has to be a gentle process for your system. The first day should be fruits, water and fresh juices. Day 2 should be fruit, adding stewed fruits, salads, water and fresh juices. Day 3 can include soups with lentils and peas and/or a light sandwich and steamed vegetables. The more you fast the more you spread out the break-back-in.

Food for thought: you just eliminated a ton of [Edited Out] from your system. Look at what put you there in the first place and decide if you really want to go back to putting back all those toxins you just got rid of.

At this point you might want to re-think what fuel you want to put in your gas tank. Remember that you are now rebuilding tissue and you should want that to be as healthy and constructive as can be.

Protein is essential to the immune system, as well as digestion, and many other processes in the body. By eliminating protein from your diet, you are at risk of a weakened immune system, as well as weakened ability to digest. So the advice about slowly reintroducing light to heavy food does make sense, but you shouldn't be eliminating it in the first place.

Also, generally speaking, eating the actual fruit is better than drinking the juice. When you eat the actual fruit, you get all the added fiber and other nutrients.

[Ruq]

One of the things that concerns me sbout the kind of fast we do in Ramadan is the lack of water. How can dehydrating ever be good for us? Surely it concentrates the toxins in the body and puts thebody under a lot of stress?

Also, how can eating all the food of the day after nightfall and before sunrise be good for the body? We are slways warned that eating meals before bed time is bad for you right?

Im interested in the health benefits of fasting, but the recommended ways of fasting by health professionals never seem to resemble the method of fasting during Ramadan.

Edited by ~Ruqaya's Amal~, 07 August 2012 - 01:11 PM.

[wayfarer.]

Please, do not try fasting for extended periods of time like this. The maximum you should be fasting for is 24 hours. If you have a good grasp of nutrition, you may be able to extend that fast, but I would recommend no more than 20 hours for the average person. Please read my responses below on why this is not a good idea.

Please, please consider improving comprehension skills before posting. The method of fasting described here is not the type of fasting (total abstinence from food and water, among other things) that muslims do. Maybe you have missed this line ---> "When fasting it's always good to drink lots of water and freshly squeezed juices." Even though it is not the total abstinence from food & water kinda fasting which Allah orders, but its still partial fasting. The overall idea of posting the article was to highlight how non-muslims are slowly coming to a realization about the innumerable benefits of fasting and inshallah one day, they will uncover the extra benefits of fasting the way muslims fast.

False.

Just because you think something is false doesn't mean it really is.

Your body uses energy as it sees fit. in the absence of food, it will redirect its efforts towards fat metabolism, not any sort of "eliminative and cleansing" process. Not even sure what those processes are.

Er....did anyone say that the body does not use energy as it sees fit? You like using a strawman for your arguments? I honestly hope you are not a troll, so I can save myself some time. Since you mentioned fat metabolism, what do you suppose it entails? Please read and learn the detailed processes that are involved in fat metabolim and describe it to us in your next post. This is your homework for today.

Fat cells are the preferential storage area for toxins that your body can't get rid of in some other way. What happens when you fast? Hint Hint--- I will use your own words and say that the body 'redirects its efforts towards fat metabolism'.

References: "Toxicological Sciences"; Associations between weight-loss induced changes in plasma organochlorine concentrations, serum t3 concentration, and resting metabolic rate; Pelletier C; 2002

-American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology- Weight loss induced in plasma pollutant is associated with reduced skeletal muscle oxidative capacity; Imbeault P; March 2002

What toxic waste does the body store that it can't normally remove?

Various phthalates, organochlorines and bisphenols just to name a few.

What is "life force"

anything that fights the environmental toxins and promotes better health

and how do you subtract/quantify "obstructions"?

by doing some research and calculating threshold levels of various toxic substances present in the environment and food

This bad breath, muscle aches, head aches, fatigue, etc, aren't symptoms of "elimination," they are symptoms of ketosis.

Irrelevant strawman.The kind of fasting described in the article is not ketosis-inducing due to regular intake of juices.

Ketosis is the process by which your body converts fat into keto-acids, which it then uses for energy since you aren't providing any energy by food. These ketones/keto-acids are comparable to acetone (nail polish remover), and are actually toxic to the body in high concentrations. So you are actually filling your body with toxins when you starve yourself for excess periods of time.

Your brain will eventually adapt to having to use ketones for energy, which is why the headaches will go away, but your red blood cells still need glucose for energy. There is no way around that requirement.

Irrelevant. Good info, but not applicable here as there is no ketosis.

Protein is essential to the immune system, as well as digestion, and many other processes in the body. By eliminating protein from your diet, you are at risk of a weakened immune system, as well as weakened ability to digest. So the advice about slowly reintroducing light to heavy food does make sense, but you shouldn't be eliminating it in the first place.

No one is denying protein is essential to the immune system. Its understandable the writer of the article would espouse abstaining from protein because most of their protein contains toxins due to the non halaal way of slaughtering their animals.

Also, generally speaking, eating the actual fruit is better than drinking the juice. When you eat the actual fruit, you get all the added fiber and other nutrients.

Strawman again. No one is denying that, generally speaking, eating the actual fruit is better than drinking the juice. However, non-generally speaking, when one is fasting in the way these non muslims are fasting, then consuming juices is a speedier way of obtaining instant energy. Oh, and generally speaking, juices with pulp is better than drinking jucies without the pulp.

I assume you're talking about a 10 day straight fast?

The writer of the article is talking about a partial fast, with liberal intake of water and juices, while fasting - which is not the way we muslims fast.

If so, am I allowed to do this during ramadhan?
breaking my fast with water for 1 day then 3 days...
or is that haram?

This should be directed to your marja. I tend to think its borderline haraam, but thats just my opinion.

Ramadan Moubarak and thanks for the info!

Likewise!

[wayfarer.]

One of the things that concerns me sbout the kind of fast we do in Ramadan is the lack of water. How can dehydrating ever be good for us? Surely it concentrates the toxins in the body and puts thebody under a lot of stress?

During Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.

In 1994 the first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan", held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients' health or baseline medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.

Also, how can eating all the food of the day after nightfall and before sunrise be good for the body? We are slways warned that eating meals before bed time is bad for you right?

Easy way to resolve that problem is to organise our schedules in such a way that we avoid eating immediately before going to sleep.

Im interested in the health benefits of fasting

The size, amount and type of food we eat have direct impact on our body. The food we consume affects our behaviour and personality. Overeating is long been disliked by ISLAM. Overeating increases the worldly appetite and makes our body sluggish and lazy which directly results in dulling our soul and spiritual growth.

Changes That Occur In Our Body during Ramadan

Changes that occur in the body depend on the length of fast-day. Technically our body enters into a fasting state eight hours or so after our last meal, when our gut finishes the absorption of nutrients from the food.

First Stage

In normal state the glucose is the main source of energy which is stored in liver and muscles. During a fast this store of glucose is used initially, in order to provide energy.

Second Stage

When these stores of glucose run out, then, fat becomes next source of energy for our body.

Third Stage

Only with prolonged (continuous) fast of many days or weeks does the body eventually turn to protein. Now this is technically called starvation and is clearly unhealthy.

You don’t have to worry as during Ramadan you get an opportunity to refill your energy stores at "sehree" and "iftaree" meal times. So during Ramadan first you use your glucose and then gradually the fat as the main source of energy. But having two meals also protects you to starvation stage which is not good for the body (it means when all glucose and fats are used up the body starts consuming the protein).

The use of fat for energy helps in weight loss which has many benefits, such as:

• Better control of diabetes,
• Reduces blood pressure,
• In long run, it also reduces blood cholesterol level.

Foods to Be Taken In Ramadan

Balanced food and fluid intake is important in Ramadan. Fasting can improve your health. But if right foods are not consumed then you may get negative results. The main factor is not the act of fasting but the type of food that you take between "sehree" and "iftaree". The diet should be simple, keep it like your everyday meals and don’t make it a feast or party food.

Sahree

Don’t skip it with just a few sips of water. It is like a breakfast. This meal should be a moderate meal that can provide energy for many hours. Food which release energy slowly in our body should be used. Like WHEAT, CEREALS etc. I will recommend a chapatti (bread) with egg or any curry and a cup of tea.

Iftaree

This meal, as we follow our beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) traditions, could be started with dates which provide the refreshing burst of energy. Similarly, the fresh fruit juices give an instant and healthy energy boost. As i said earlier that meal should remain a meal not a big feast with lots of unhealthy dishes.

but the recommended ways of fasting by health professionals never seem to resemble the method of fasting during Ramadan

Thats perfectly understandable because "health professionals" are not yet as knowledgeable about the human body as the Almighty, our Creator

[coldcow]

Obviously Jayspro thought it would be ok to drink only water for 3 days while fasting, perhaps he was trying to misrepresent what you were saying too? Even if I was completely wrong, most people don't know much about these things. You think it's possible that they may get confused by your post?


Anyways, I'm not going to multiquote as it would take too long. How does fasting increase the amount of energy available for detoxifying? If you'd like to point me to the biochemical reaction, that's fine.

Are you familiar with volume of distribution, or apparent volume of distribution? It's a metric used in pharmacology. I'm not sure what the Vd of your toxins are, but assuming they're low, the body will eliminate it on its own very quickly. Assuming they are medium, the body will eliminate it on its own over a slightly longer time. Assuming it is extremely high, then it will go and settle down in your fat and sit there enjoying itself and not leaching into your system. Or if it does leach into your system, it will do so at a very slow rate. And your reference about weight loss and toxins would seem to suggest that weight loss results in these toxins have a negative effect on you, as opposed to just leaving them there.

Now if we were to go on a fast, and provide ourselves with minimal nutrition, we start to dip into our fat reserves. In the process, we start mobilizing those toxins, right? Assuming we're on a pretty extreme caloric deficit, a lot of fat will get metabolized. In that process, a lot of those toxins that were nicely sequestered will now be mobilized into your blood stream as lipase pulls out fatty acids. Your caloric deficit may even be causing you to pump out cortisol which, when combined with your negligible protein intake, is likely wreaking havoc on your muscle mass, especially if you aren't doing resistance training.

Also, how does the halal slaughtering method remove toxins from an animal when compared with non-halal? When slaughtering an animal either way, you still have to remove organs and blood as soon as possible to allow heat to escape and prevent spoiling. Unless the animals are free-range, grass fed, they're likely fed the same [Edited Out] that non-halal animals are fed.

So one question. If these toxins are in our fat, and losing fat "detoxifies," why do you need to fast in order to achieve this? Why not just go on a normal calorie restricted diet coupled with exercise to slowly lose the fat?

Now to be honest, I actually do fast every day for 16-18 hours, even when it's not Ramadan, but I don't do it to "detox." I don't drink any juices, and I eat my normal healthy diet in two very large 1200 calories meals that are high in fat and protein.