Fasting

I have fasted before to bring myself closer to The Lord. It makes you think differently. When I fast I try to spend those days meditating on His word and I pray and read the Bible. I usually only drink water and small amounts of grape juice as a symbol of His blood.
 
mycroftt said:
Can you say hyponatremia?
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I can not only say it, I've seen it in mental patients who intentionally ingest very large quantities of water over a very short period of time to get their electrolytes all wonky and get high. That's why they call it "water intoxication". It's most common in post-op patients recieving IV fluids and long distance runners and cyclists who are consuming water without added electrolytes while sweating out large quantities of sodium. In fasting none of those things is happening although, to be fair, I will agree that you should not run a marathon while fasting.

With a water fast you drink ONLY water not MORE water.

Jack
 
Krefcenz said:
Has anyone done a water fast? Nothing but water or tea for one day to several weeks? Just curious. I've read some materials on theraputic fasting to treat colds, flu, high blood pressure, etc. Some fast for religious purposes. Just curious what your experience is.

Kref
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I fast for religious purposes. I've learned to prepare my system at least a couple days before the fast and it helps. Certain foods I'll cut out and this will vary for each individual...as you know your system best...but one universal item I've noticed is knocking off coffee ahead of time. If you don't...you may get a whopping headache during your fast.
Maybe thats why some drink the tea...but I'm not allowed that in my fast.
Any way..I guess my point is...try to plan your diet to prepare for the fast, if you can.
For some reason...I really crave bread most while fasting...or the first choice of food after. It also seems easiest on my system afterwards...and I don't end up with heartburn. Some say a good salad works for them...but it doesn't work at all for me.
You may get to know your body a lot better through fasting...and I hope you find a healthier mind, body and spirit.
Please let family or friends know you are fasting..just incase. :)
 
Whatever you do don't deprive yourself of water. Water is the univesal solvent in the body and as we work off electricl impulses from the brain a higher viscosity of blood due to a lack of hydration will only slow you down mentally and physically. It will also put a lot of stress on your renal system and may even cause damage.

Your body will not absorb water by pouring it on you. Your skin is designed to stop this, whoever said this clearly has no understanding of the subject. Martial artists are OK at what they do, unfortunatley they think that if they can chop a board it also qualifies them as a physiologist and nutritionalist too. I remember one guy here in Japan saying turtle blood improves your stamina, what a crock. The Koreans think dog meat gives you stamina, especially brown dogs :rolleyes: good grief!

Top and bottom, fasting isnt good for you in the long term. There are too many nutrients that get flushed from the body that need constant replenishment to think that it is. If you want to 'clean' your body drink lots of purified water, eat lots of fiber, keep away from animal fats and exercise or take a sauna to sweat. Studies indicate that sweating will help the body to remove nasty toxins from the body.

People do a lot of crazy things to their body in the hope of acheiving some mystical result. All you are really doing is giving your system a hard time.
 
I didn't realize fasting was so prevalent in religion...

On a desert survival program we had intended to fast for 48 hours. Partly for the 'cleansing' effect, but also to experience doing without. It didn't work the way we planned. We didn't find water in the expected places, so after 39 hours we broke our fast to eat cans of pork-and-beans. That gave us the energy we desperately needed to shoot an accurate compass bearing and locate ourselves on the map. After eating our pork-and-beans, it was another 24 hours without food or water before we reached the Escalante River.

-Bob

OT:
Quackwatch.org has the lowdown on lots of 'stuff'. I took a Health Quackery class in college - very informative.
 
Your body already has an extremely effective detoxification system. It's called your liver.

Prolonged fasting may well bring on visions. One of the most common is a vision of the floor rising up and smacking you in the face. This is called collapsing.

As to alleged religious aspects to fasting, you may also wish to diversify into these methods, all of which are also guaranteed by their practitioners to induce revelations:

Flagellation:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06089c.htm

Hitting yourself repeatedly in the head with a straight razor:

http://www.cultureofiran.com/muharram.php

Crucifixion:

http://pages.zdnet.com/AsiaBill/id11.html

Enjoy!

maximus otter
 
Actually in Islam you're not allowed to hurt yourself. I don't know where they got that idea of hitting yourselves till you bleed. That's just not right. Actually as a sunni we can't accept any shiite views since we don't believe they're proper muslims. And hitting yourself with chains is all the evidence i need to see that they're bonkers. Enough. That's a topic for the Political Arena.

Temper:

Why wouldn't skin absorb water? We put all sorts of stuff on our skin and it gets absorb? Why not water?
Not looking for an argument. Just clarification. FYI i don't follow that pouring water on the body thing.

Whatever your reasons for fasting make sure that your body can handle it. Consult a doctor if you have to. Fasting is not supposed to make you suffer. So it ain't worth it getting revelations of the floor coming at you.
 
Among the aphorisms I use as a guide to life is this one:

Avoid religions that feature funny dietary practices.
 
I would like to add...not so much in defense of religious fasting, but more as clarification. I don't presume to know others practice, but I certainly benefit from mine, or I wouldn't bother with it.
Ours is a one day fast...and I'm not about to proselytize to any "alleged religious aspects." I'll simply say it teaches us just how mortal we are...and how we can take our many blessings for granted....how thankful we need to be with each meal. This is not a pulpit...and stems simply from a gentleman member asking for ....others fasting experiance. Just because someone claims their experiance is based upon their religious practice....there is a tendancy to want to judge and criticize as fanatical....to "induce revelations" or I suppose we are hooked on hallucinating. If I sensed that were the case with someone...yeah I too would voice caution with regards.
People who fast for religious purpose..do seem to have ongoing...learned experiance...and maybe something to offer as points to consider...if you are asking. We all seem to have the ability to sence B.S....or a wacko. I haven't seen that yet in this thread.
Those who caution against fasting are doing so out of care and concern...more so than being prejudicial I think. This isn't for everyone, but it is a personal choice...and can be based upon many motives.
I frankly have taken my religious fasting beyond its motive and apply it on a personal level. I have always had a very healthy appitite for food. Now as I'm getting older...I can't allow myself to eat like a lumberjack. So, from time to time when I notice I'm endulging myself too much...I'll toss in a one day fast...and it seems to really help me control my appitite.
One has to fast 8-12 hours before a blood-test...and even that is tuff if you try it. Simply shows how weak we are, when as tough guy's we don't like to see that side of ourselves.
I think if you are planning to fast...this is a good subject to draw from others experiance. And this may seem odd..but I also attribute fasting to helping me strengthen my resolve and dicipline. I was able to stop smoking...and I believe mostly because I learned what I am capable of. But please don't "read" too much into that...because I've left out many other considerations that helped too, which I promised I wouldn't bring into this. :)
 
I'll simply say it teaches us just how mortal we are...and how we can take our many blessings for granted....how thankful we need to be with each meal.
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I have done a bit of fasting, and this is certainly one of the lessons that I have personally gained from being deprived of food for a relatively short period of time :) Interesting subject, btw. I have recently found that I'm hypoglysemic, so I endeavor to eat when necessary. If I felt a need to fast, I'd certainly do it under intense scrutiny and make my family aware of my activites, so as to be safe. So, at the present, the prospect of me fasting is a rather hypothetical undertaking :cool:
 
maximus otter said:
Your body already has an extremely effective detoxification system. It's called your liver.
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This is a bit OT, but I'm less optimistic than you are about the liver's ability to adapt to an ever expanding onslaught of persistent chemicals in the environment including perchlorate (rocket fuel) that is increasingly being found in foods at unsafe levels. I think that the increase in degenerative diseases bears this out.

Prolonged fasting may well bring on visions. One of the most common is a vision of the floor rising up and smacking you in the face. This is called collapsing.

As to alleged religious aspects to fasting, you may also wish to diversify into these methods, all of which are also guaranteed by their practitioners to induce revelations:
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To the best of my recollection this discussion was never about visions or revelations. It was about health. The use of fasting in religion (hardly alleged, it is a religious rite for some and an injunction for others) was only brought up to show that fasting is not the sole domain of "faddists".

mwerner:all religions have funny dietary practices. It just depends on your perspective.

And since the thread has devolved to the point of links to flagellation I will wish Krefcenz well in his endeavors and a good day to you all. :)

Jack
 
to supervise your fast. The next move is yours. Fasting has been an excellent alternative to drugs for high blood pressure (see my previous post) when limited in duration (48 hours or less) and followed up with an appropriate diet/lifestyle change. It's also excellent for treating arthritis.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/disease/arthritis.aspx

Giving the body a break in my view is a wonderful idea. Isn't it interesting how it has also found a home in some of our most sacred religious traditions. Misused, fasting can lead to death or health impairment. But also can't many life endeavors if we aren't paying attention. I guess, I just wanted to touch base with BF members about where, if it's applicable, you are with fasting. It seems like many who choose to do it do so for religious purposes. Your experience is just as valuable as those like myself who do so for secular purposes. Thank you to all have contributed to this thread. Didn't Jesus fast? Anyway, Jesus, Goldhammer and Fuhrman. I'm in good company. Thanks.

Kref
 
donovan said:
And since the thread has devolved to the point of links to flagellation I will wish Krefcenz well in his endeavors and a good day to you all. :) Jack
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there is a clique for what we are discussing and that's throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Fasting isn't easy, isn't for everyone and isn't without risks (what is?). That said, if you fast for your religous beliefs or are suffering from hypertension, arthristis, a cold, the flu or want just give your body a break every now and then, then what is the risk for a 1 to 2 day fast if you are otherwise relatively healthy? Pretty small I should think. Fuhrman seems to agree.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_2/103-8585572-4221454?v=glance&s=books

Is detox bs? Maybe, but it's worked for acutely PCB contaminated victims of the Yusho incident. No matter. Jack, I appreciate your good wishes. It's what America is all about. The exchange of ideas and information. The ability as individuals to make choices. Fasting is just that, a choice. You can do it or no based on who you are and what the risk is. Some have said a fast would put them in the grave. Ok. For that person, don't fast. If you are relatively healthy except you have hypertension or arthritis, you can now compare risks, the risks of fasting vs. the risks of the drugs to treat those conditions. And what is great about America. It's your choice! :D Be well Jack.

Kref
 
Part of the problem in this discussion is the word "detoxification." It gets thrown around without much understanding in the "natural health" world. Go to any health food store and you'll find 1001 things that claim detoxification. The body has a detoxification mechanism that is poorlyunderstood in entirety, although we know a lot about it. That is called the Cytochrome P450 pathway. It is a group of chemical reactions split into two groups: Phase I and Phase II. The liver does about 70% or so of this, and most of the rest is done in the GI tract.

When we talk about "detoxification" at least in my office, what I mean is doing specific things that enhance Phase I, but much more importantly, Phase II, detoxification. Pretty much anything, fasting, Nutri-Slim, whatever, will induce Phase I. Phase II is the tricky part, though, because it requires specific compounds that have to be replenished continually. Diets need to be high in foods like red peppers, garlic, broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, etc to get these compounds effectively. Every time something goes through Phase I, it becomes water soluble and either can be passed in urine or feces, or reabsorbed. Or it becomes highly toxic and needs to go through Phase II. If you've never heard of this, it's actually the drug companies that have done the bulk of the research for things like "1st pass" toxicity and that sort of thing.

So, anyway, after Phase II, the toxic reactive intermediate becomes neutralized by the addition of a sulfur group, methyl group, or a variety of other compounds that could be added to it. Then it gets passed or reabsorbed.

The problem is multifaceted:
1) People don't eat the right foods, so they don't have the capability to perform detoxification properly.
2) People are overloaded by crap in their diet, air and water. Not to mention pharmaceuticals, OTC's, and whatever else people do to themselves.

So, the burdens on the system are higher than they were a few decades ago, even. Evolution doesn't keep up with rapid changes in the environmental outlook like this.

So, yes, the liver is capable of doing things, but look around you and I think you'll see plenty of evidence that we're not so healthy, so something must be amiss. We rank in the high 20's in world health, so we're a pretty sick country by and large.

I have put people on food-based "detox" programs and the changes they experience in 3 weeks are fantastic.
 
I was in Riyadh for one ramadhan and in the UAE for another.

After the sun came out food/drink and smokes were the norm lasting till the wee hours of the morning. I was told by several "hard core" muslim's that this was a great time to party and eat like wildmen.

I edited out your comment. BFC will not tolerate religious bias.
K.V. Collucci - Community Mod.
 
Considering both are middle eastern countries it doesn't really represent muslims on the whole. arabs yes....but they definitely don't represent all muslims.

Yes people tend to eat a lot when they break their fast but of course that's not how you're supposed to do it. you definitely don't party. so when you say they're hard core...i don't know by what definition you mean hard core.

saying 'the only trusted muslim is a dead one' is getting into religion. if you had said arab...fine. but saying muslim you're attacking a whole religion. very nice of you.

i've not gone into the political arena for quite awhile so that i don't see things like that but then you come in here and post something like that...it just sucks.
 
Shrike9 said:
I was in Riyadh for one ramadhan and in the UAE for another.

After the sun came out food/drink and smokes were the norm lasting till the wee hours of the morning. I was told by several "hard core" muslim's that this was a great time to party and eat like wildmen.

Edited quoted comment.
KVC
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I'm a Catholic, and an American. I may not practice Catholicism, but I still respect other religions, regardless of what I may disagree with, or whatever extremists may exist. Maybe your comment was intended as a joke, but it didn't fly too well with me. Do I want Osama Bin Ladens head on a platter? You betcha. Do I want the people in my community hurt? Hell no.

Theres a big difference between the average joe, and terrorists.
 
Shrike9 said:
Without getting into religion or politics the only trusted muslim is a dead one.
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WTF was THAT for ??? -- If you can )!$$ ME off with a comment about Muslims, you are WAAAY out of line. There is NO excuse for casual bigotry around here. We've got good guys here from every corner of the world.

If you have a problem with cultural attitudes and their associated socio-political systems, then start a discussion in the proper forum. Until then, leave it at home.

(This is an official notice. Bladeforums does not support race-baiting or any other form of prejudice.)
 
Get this thread back on topic quickly.

Shrike,

I will not tolerate religious bias in the Community Forum and BFC will not tolerate it at all. Your comment demonized a whole religion. There are members of this forum who are Muslims yet who are proud Americans. Think before you speak. :rolleyes:
 
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