Associate Professor

Food and Nutrition (Home Science)Institute of Higher Learning

Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya

 Khanpur Kalan, Haryana, India 

Abstract

Fasting is the best curative therapy for all the ailments as it provides rest to the body and give a chance for relaxation and rejuvenation to the whole system. Ancient Indian  culture always promote the concept of fasting and believed in the philosophy given in a hymen in Ishvasayaupnishad (ईशावास्य उपनिषद सूत्र) which st                  “तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथा:!”

i.e. consumption with sacrifice and sharing. Try to live with minimum requirements. Fasting is defined as the total abstinence from all foods both liquid and solid except water. Singh (2002) has rightly remarked fasting as nature’s curative agent. It gives nature a chance to clean the system, gives more energy and power and also spiritual strength. So to get rid of all ailments in general in their initial form fasting can be helpful. Self healing and repairing takes place with detoxification. All religions believe in fasting in one way or the other. A lot of experimentation conducted on fasting by various scientist has approved the fasting a boon for all spheres of vitality.

Introduction

Venkat Rao (1979) advocated that by fasting once in a week, the body will have the rest for a day and get sufficient opportunity to concentrate all its energy and eliminate all the accumulated wastes and toxins from the body which are there due to our mistakes in the diet for the previous several days.

In the Anushasan chapter of Mahabharat scripture it is stated that:

“Who so ever fasts is believed in every way! He draws the benefits of all the great medicines. Buchinger is an internationally famous authority on fasting, he cured himself of severe rheumatic fever by fasting for 19 days and liver disorder after fasting for 28 days. He not only regained his health but also his full capacity to work (Jindal,1996).

Religion and Fasting

According to Murthy (2002) Fasting can be done for numerous purposes like all religions follow fasting - Viz. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Budhhism, Zorostrion and Jainism. It has been used as a non-evident but powerful tool by Gandhiji also.

Fasting is a tool to combat extreme but gradual changes in the seasons, as Murthy (2004) has rightly remarked that the month of kartik in every religion is having auspicious fasting days. According to him religion and therapeutic fasting could be well integrated to harness its numerous benefits. We can convert our religious fast to a therapeutic one to create a healthier body and a purer mind. A periodic fast for religious purpose, if done seriously and preferably under a competent naturopathy professional could prevent majority of illness and give relief in even the advanced chronic ailments (Jindal, 1996).

Birds, Animals and Fasting

When birds or animals fall ill, their first and clear impression is that fasting itself is healing (Oswald,1990). The sick or wounded animals find a secluded spot where he can keep warm and is protected from the weather, here he can have peace and quite and be undisturbed, there he rests and fasts. He may, for example have lost limb, lie in his privacy and generally recovers without drugs, without bandages or surgery.

Hibernation and Aestivation

Apart from this hibernation or aestivation (sleeping through out the summer in tropical climates) is also a manifestation of adaptation for the changing season. Some animals fast during the mating season and in many cases, during the nursing period. Some domestic pet, a dog or a cat may not eat for several days when comes in to new environment, drought, snow, cold and live for long periods when no food is available (Jussawala,1979). But human beings do not have even as much control over the palate and mind as the animals have (Oswald,1990).

Fasting is not Starvation

Fasting should not be confused with starvation. It is an established fact that people do not die of fasting, whereas people who eat liberally may die earlier due to one disease or the other, caused by over eating and over indulgence in the so called delicious food which is junk (Jussawala, 1997).

Fasting and Detoxification

Rao (1979) has explained the benefit of fasting and reported that in the fasting state, the body will scour for dead cells, damaged tissues, fatty deposits, tumors, abcesses, as well as arterial cholesterol plaques, mucus, stored up worries and emotions all of which are burned for fuel or expelled as waste (James and Batch, 1999). 

Self Healing and Self Repairing with Fasting

Fasting allows a deep physiological rest of the digestive organs and the energy saved goes in to self healing and self repairing, which is the crux of naturopathic treatment.

Experiments with Fasting

Moreover, Dr. Herbert Shelton supervised the fasting of more than 40,000 people over a period of 50 years and said that the freer the body is of toxic materials flowing through the blood and lymphatic system, the clearer is the ability to think and solve intricate problems. It can contribute in recovering from diseases cropping up from mental and emotional stress like-hypertension, diabetes mellitus and mental disorders. Serendip (2002) and Kim (2006) has also explained numerous benefits of fasting including strengthening of mind, improvement of digestion and assimilation, better teeth and gums, healthy cardiovascular system, balancing of nervous system, restoration of cell oxygenation etc.  The most commonly observed fast in naturopathy centers are fluid based fasts like water fast, lemon-honey water fast and juice fast etc. Sniadach (2000) has rightly remarked that juice fasting is safe and can allow the body to clean itself of toxins while body’s energy level remains high to carry on the normal activities because you are receiving sufficient nutrients from the juices.

Shirpoor (2003) studied the effect of Ramadan fasting on the albumin, creatinine and urea level of serum in Iranian subjects. He selected 24 young people (Male ;12 and female;12) of age 19-22 years. Blood samples were collected from all participants, in a day before 15^th and 29^th day of Ramadan. The study showed that the amount of albumin in both male and female groups showed a significant increase on the  15^th and 29^th day of  Ramadan compared to a day before .While urea level (which is produced by protein catabolism) showed a significant decrease.

Conclusion

Fasting is the best materialistic world related concept to make the new generation realize importance of exploiting minimum resources for their survival along with the attainment of physical, mental and spiritual wellness goals.It teaches a lesson of culture,religion,environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources for the welfare of society and the world as a whole. It can cure all the ailments effectively that’s why the naturopathy and Ayurveda strongly recommend for fasting at least once in a week to get all round wellness benefits.