6 Tips to Safely ‘Reset’ Your Body With Fasting

08 Dec 6 Tips to Safely ‘Reset’ Your Body With Fasting

History, culture, science, and our own bodies’ evolutionary adaptations confirm that a well-planned fast is good for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Read my previous blog, “Is Fasting a Reward or a Punishment for Your Body?” for more of the science behind why fasting is such an effective “reset” for your body.

If you’d like to intentionally fast, before you get started there are some things you need to know. First, prepare yourself. For all its benefits, fasting can be a very uncomfortable and stressful experience if you have never done it before. But take heart, despite the discomfort, you’ll be fine. Your body was actually designed for this. The unpredictability of food availability in earlier times led to the development of bodily mechanisms to avoid malfunction when resources are scarce. We are naturally well prepared for when food is lacking or completely absent for a period of time.

Who Should NOT Fast
Take note! Even though fasting has been around for a long time, not all practices are right for all people. Individuals who suffer from any type of eating disorder, a body mass index below 20 or above 40, kidney or liver disease, gastric ulcer, severe morbidities, alcoholism, psychosis, pregnancy, lactation, unexplained weight loss, or who take medication with diuretics or immunosuppressive premedication (except corticosteroids), ought to consult with an open-minded integrative healthcare professional. This list is not exhaustive, so if you suffer from any condition you may wish to discuss your personal health history with a medical provider before commencing any fasting regimen.

Things You Need to Know
If you are healthy or have the green light from your health practitioner to engage in a fast, here are some guidelines to get you started. Consciously planning a fasting protocol can help you to enjoy the amazing health benefits, while limiting potential negativity associated with the experience. Some basic steps that should be followed are:

1) 1-2 days before prior to the fast, increase your liquid intake in the form of pure water or herbal teas, such as cat’s claw, boldo, uva ursi, or sage.

2) In the same time span, modify your diet by increasing raw food consumption, particularly concentrating on fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Try to eliminate all flours, sugars, meats, coffee, dairy, or any processed foods.

3) Once the 1-2 days have passed, start by fasting a few hours in a day. Try to schedule the fast for a relaxing day. Your body is accustomed to a disproportionate amount of calories and fasting is likely to leave you feeling dizzy, light-headed, and nauseous if you are over strained. Just take it easy.

4) For you first timers, aim for anywhere from 2 to 6 hours without eating, starting when you awake. You can also do a liquid fast in the form of juices or distilled water with a pinch of himalayan salt. I personally recommend starting with papaya, apple, or pineapple juice mixed with spirulina or chlorella, due to their high enzyme counts. This variation will be less of a shock to your body than a full fast.

5) Fasting in the morning is ideal. This is the time when the body revs up for another day by eliminating the overnight debris the body collected during sleep (remember maintenance and repair?). If the morning is difficult for any reason, you can attempt the fast from 5 p.m. until the next morning, eating light, nutrient-dense foods during the day.

6) If you choose to fast from 5 p.m. in the evening until the next morning, don’t go for the cereal box the next morning. Refuel your body with nutrient-dense, restorative foods. A super-packed smoothie would be great (Shakeology, anyone?).

Fasting for the first time is like driving for the first time; you may feel awkward, uncomfortable, uneasy, or just plain weird. Just like driving, once you get used to the bumps in the road, you’ll be fasting like a pro in no time!

Please keep in mind fasting should be intermittent. It is meant for every so often but not as a way to create another system or dogma to force the body to do something. It is meant to be done consciously and for optimal health. Listen to yourself and if you choose to do this you are the only one that knows what is right for you. It should not be for weightloss.

Comment below and let us all know your experiences with fasting. Everyone is different, and we can learn so much more from our collective experiences. Join in the conversation!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Love the Life You Live,
Darin