What is fasting?
Fasting is a conscious partial or complete abstinence from solid food for a restricted period of time. As a healing cure, fasting is understood to lead to a heightened feeling of wellbeing and improved health. In addition to numerous forms of cures and fasting, several methods of purifying the body and soul under medical supervision were established in the 20th Century. All of these forms have the following elements in common: a few days of preparation, evacuation of the bowels and drinking around three litres of fluid a day. Medical examinations prior to fasting are recommended to minimise health risks. The end of the fast, formerly known as “fast-break” is carefully designed.
Effects
Food deprivation causes the body to switch to a mode knownas “hunger metabolism” within one or two days, during which it burns as little energy as possible. In order to cover its energy needs, the organism uses up its energy reserves in the form of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Around 150g of body fat from fatty tissues consisting of fatty acid and glycerine is burnt per day. The average person loses around 400g of weight each day by fasting. However, if it is not provided through supplements, protein is also broken down, resulting in muscle mass degradation. The loss after a short period of fasting can easily be made up in little time. Another effect of the stimulated metabolic processes is the build up of acetone, which becomes noticeable in the breath and body odour. Further more, water retention is reduced and the functions ofthe liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines and lungs are normlised. Long periods of fasting also cause the body to release hormones which make the “hunger phase” more tolerable. Fasting can mitigate chronic diseases and also has positive external effects, such as making skin look smoother and giving you a fresher, healthier look. However, fasting for several weeks can attack the heart muscles.Some doctors view fasting as incredibly strenuous for the body and recommend that fasting should only be undertaken after a consultation with a doctor, if at all. Fasting cures in specialist clinics and their corresponding hotels guarantee professional medical support and all the right treatments (e.g. massages) for maximum effectiveness.