Fasting Ayurvedic Style

There is a lot of false information being spread about fasting, making it difficult to understand when and how to fast correctly. Fasting is believed to be a state of deprivation; however, you should consider fasting as a short break from the constant barrage of food and the consuming experience.

According to Ayurveda, regular fasting will help you maintain your health.

Ayurveda defines fasting as your choice while consuming anything, be it food, a breath of air, or even sensory thoughts and experiences. By choosing to avoid what can be potentially harmful, we open ourselves to receive what can be beneficial and enhance our mind and body.

Ayurveda does not define fasting as the absence of food, however, it proposes a lighter and cleaner food intake, based on our natural constitution.

Why do we need to fast?

We often overeat, but we are still undernourished.

Our foods are mixed with many pesticides, preservatives, or chemical additives. A large consumption of these foods can lead to disease and an imbalance of health.

Ayurveda states that you are not only what you eat, but also everything you digest.

If our digestive energy, or agni is low, we tend to slow down our digestive process. This leads to the accumulation of a large amount of toxic food waste in our intestines. Over a period of time, these toxins cause mood swings, fatigue, confusion, sluggishness, anxiety, etc. It is important to periodically cleanse our body of these toxins on an empty stomach.

Benefits of fasting:

Our digestive system is one of the largest systems in the body and consumes most of our energy. During a fast, our digestive system can rest, which helps our bodies use free energy for healing. Fasting helps eliminate toxic waste and cleanses our body.

Our body is quite capable of healing itself, as long as it is offered the right kind of nutrition.

With a new burst of energy, we can focus more and make good decisions.

Ancient Ayurvedic practitioners proposed fasting as a means of gaining knowledge and spiritual growth.

An ayurvedic ayurveda:

During the fast, we must eliminate all types of sugars or refined carbohydrates, gluten, processed foods, commercial meats and dairy products, fast foods, leftovers, caffeine and alcohol. One should always fast according to his constitution. Always start a fast under the guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner.

When to fast?

If you generally wake up in the morning with a coating on your tongue, you feel sluggish and bored, then you need to fast according to your constitution. This could include a water fast or a general fast until the coating clears.

Also, if you experience belching, bloating, heartburn, or a burning sensation, then it’s your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.

Let your digestive system rest and flush out accumulated toxins.

It is better to fast if you are fatigued and cannot focus or focus on your work.

What to eat during the fast?

According to Ayurveda, the ideal is a short and regular fast. Prolonged fasting can damage your digestive system. A cooked mixture of a handful of rice, split green lentils, cumin, turmeric, and salt (called kichari) is suitable for any constitution during fasting. In addition, you can have a monodiet of easily digestible fruits or vegetables, juices

A water fast or no food or water is not recommended.

General tips to improve your digestive health:

• Select the duration of your fast appropriately. During your fast, you should not be very hungry, irritated, or experience weakness. If you experience any of these symptoms, eat something solid.

• Eat only if you are hungry

• Lunch should be your most important meal, as your digestive strength is highest during the day.

• Triphala is a mild detoxifier that helps you get rid of toxic waste during fasting.

• If you want to fast every week, select the same day each week

• Decrease your daily activities and exercise while fasting and allow your body to rest to ensure proper healing.

• After finishing your fast, don’t jump into your daily diet. Gently work into your regular routine by initially consuming easy-to-digest meals. A successful fast will reduce your food cravings and you will be attracted to natural foods that are beneficial for your body.

• Pregnant, lactating or menstruating women, or the elderly and very young should avoid fasting.