Fasting improves health as well as beauty!

Do not read further if:
- you are pregnant or lactating, or in menses
- you are already malnourished.
- you have a weak heart.
- you just had.surgery or are about to go for a surgery
- you are already experiencing weakened immune system.
- you have no time to rest and relax.

indications for detoxification
- Bad body odour
- Bad taste in mouth
- constipation
- constant tiredness
- coated tongue
- itching
- frequent cough/cold/flu

also if suffering from
- acne
- allergies
- psoriasis
- kidney stones
- eczema
- poor immune system
- uterine fibroids
- weight gain
- gallstones
- Menstrual irregularities,
- Leucorrhea
- PCOS

As we age, our health may diminish or deteriorate. Over the years we
get a build up of toxins in our bodies. One form of toxicity is by
heavy metals and is an excessive build-up of metals in the body.
These include mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and many more. Common
sources of heavy metals are: dental amalgams, vaccinations, food,
water and the environment. While most toxins are excreted from the
body through the kidneys and bowel, over time a build-up of these
poisons does occur.

Sedentary lifestyles, processed foods, water and air pollution have
contributed to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise that
allows chemically-laced food residues to sit in the liver/colon for
longer periods of time. Ayurveda calls this as ama. ama causes
cravings, if parasites start gettoing fed on ama. Their prolonged
effect on bowel tissue can lead to the growth of polyps, and
ultimately, to colon cancer.

Toxic metals and other environmental pollutants are known to be a
cause of many serious or chronic health conditions. Even low levels
of lead intoxication may cause aggressive behavior and learning
disabilities. Accumulation of aluminum and mercury may contribute to
Alzheimers disease. Some research points to parasites as being a
primary cause of cancer. Ayurveda menstions several diseases of
reproductive system caused by parasites(one reason for leucorrhea may be
oarasites). Pesticides and chemicals
used in solvents or various household products, may very well
contribute to diseases such as Parkinsons or Multiple Sclerosis. Some
even believe that all illness is a result of toxicity brought about
by yeast and fungus infections, which are great decomposers of ama.

Removing toxins from the body will help a person who is already in
pretty good health to be able to continue that good health for a
longer period of time. In addition, removing toxins from the body of
a diseased person, will allow the bodys natural healing processes to
work a lot better. Thus, the person will have a better chance to
regain optimum health.

Fasting is another mode of slow detoxification of the body and does
not mean starvation but merely abstinence from food for a period of
time. Ancient sage devised a number of festivals which required
fasting. The fasting occasions were concentrated in monsoon season,
especially Lunar months Ashadh, Sravana, Bhadrapada, Aswin. Many observe
rules not to eat Non-vegetarian food during Ashadha month. These four
months are called Chaturmas and even Jain monks observe various
fastings. It is worth noting that Chaitri Navratri fasting coincides with
Spring detox period. Fasting takes care of most ailments, adds to the
beauty. The force of the disease decreases by fasting. Try this if
suffering from yeast infection, ringworm, eczema etc. Fasting takes
care of mental diseases also. Author was taught various fasting
methods to take care of even arthritis, sciatica, rheumatism etc.
Unfortunately, very few come forward to adopt those drugless
approaches. How long one should fast varies from person to person,
best left to the decision of Vaidya. The most stringent form is water
fasting. A milder form of fasting is juice fasting, involving the
juices of fruits and vegetables and herbal teas also for some. The
results vary depending on how intense detox program is.

During fasting, digestive organs including the stomach, intestines,
pancreas, gallbladder and liver, work in relaxed mode. These organs
and each tissue, cell is freed up to clean up, repair and to flush
out toxins. Cell membranes become flexible if proper juice scheme is chosen.
Weight loss is most rapid
early in the fast. Fasting can also generate discharge such as mucus
from the GI tract, respiratory tract, sinuses or urine.

In terms of symptoms, headache is a common occurrence on the first
day or two. Sensitivity is also increased and sense of smell can be
exaggerated. Some people even experience insomnia. Loose motions,
catarrah, cold, cough, low fever, itching, small eruptions, rashes
are part of healing crisis which generates as immune system becomes
active during detoxification process. These symptoms are temporary
and will not last. You may feel
worse before you feel better! As the body begins the process of
getting rid of toxins and parasites, you may be very uncomfortable.
However, this may indicate that your cleansing process is truly
working.

Fasting becomes starvation when the fatty tissue stores become
inadequate to fuel the body's metabolic needs. Starvation sets in
when the body begins to metabolize essential tissues (such as
the organs). First organ to become victim is fat stored around navel, hence
fasting is a effective root to reduce central obesity. For most of us, fasting
is pretty safe as we have
sufficient reserves to fast for a good number of days. But fasting
under religious banner, allowing several items, leaving salt or
specific items such as green veggies are not fasts in ayurvedic
sense, though Jains and Hindus observe such fasts. Teenager girls are
made to undertake fasts on religious grounds.

Water is essential to flush out toxins and waste from the body. It
also helps to transport essential nutrients. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of
water everyday. It is better to boil the water such that only 50%
remains. This makes it sharper increasing its bio-availability. A hot
bath increases blood flow and capillary action near the skin's
surface. Pores open due to the heat and this can speed up body
detoxification. Visit hot springs, sulphur springs if possible.

A detox diet consists of fruits, vegetables, herbal teas, juices and
boiled water. Banned items include Tea/coffee, alcohol, cooking oils, iodised
salt,
sugar and processed food. People have reported better immune system,
fewer skin problems and higher energy levels especially after a
dedicated detox and cleansing program.

Fast days are very beneficial to help the body cleanse and heal. It
is recommended that you fast twice a month for a couple of days or
better yet, fast one day a week. Try to fast at least one day a month
to start. Ancient acharyas connected fasting to spiritual and
religious practices, so that people will undertake with enthusiasm.
For instance, 11th lunar day is Ekadasi and our subconscious resides
either in Crown Chakra or heart chakra depending on brighter
fortnight (ending with full moon) or darker fortnight (ending at new
moon). It is recommended to fast on ekadasi so that we obtain
increased satva guna. Satva guna means health of mind while Rajas and
Tamas are considered doshas of the mind. Food offers us Prana shakti,
every mouthful of food should be chewed adequately with satvik
thoughts in mind so that health will increase. The health of the mind
is seen as beauty and serenity on the face. When doshas increase,
they do not allow patient to fast, tempt him (through cravings) to eat forbidden
foods.

There is a way around this. Those who eat 3-4 times a day can take
food once only. If you stop food totally, take fruits or vegetable
juices.


Because most of us are filled with toxins, it is much harder on the
body to fast by consuming only water. A juice fast is recommended
over a water fast for people beginning fasting for the first time.
The juice of fruits and vegetables is filled with healing, cleansing
properties, which allow the body to gently and safely detoxify. Juice
is packed with vitamins, minerals, living enzymes, antioxidants and
phytochemicals. The nutrients go into the body and the toxins come
out.

Juice fasting can include fresh juice, herbal teas sweetened with
honey, vegetable soups, Barley grass or wheatgrass juice. Juices of
vegetables which are fruits of creepers, e.g. bottle gourd, snake
gourd, bitter gourd can be taken in quantity suiting the individual.
If excess quantity is taken, one will have loose motions as a result
of toxicity in vegetable (bitter gourd is most well known for this).
Leafy vegetable juices also offer the fiber required to clean colon. How much
old fecal matter (black or chocolate color) comes out, you can find out for
yourself.

Best time for detoxification is March-April and Sept-Oct every year.
Though most procedures of home panchkarma or detoxification advise
taking some laxative at bedtime, the type of laxative should be
chosen to suit the individual. Ayurveda offers a number of herbs, but
it is seen that one herb which is laxative for someone, does not
appear so to another or even may constipate for third person. Secondly, the
laxative may not be necessary if leafy juices are taken.


Your detoxification plan may have to be modified if you have health
restrictions such as diabetes or hypoglycemia. Sweet fruits such as
bananas, dates, raisins are slow to digest and help maintain a stable
blood sugar level. Their high calorie content slows the intensity of
the fast and, because they are easy to digest, the body still devotes
energy to cleansing. Authors all diabetes patients consume dates or
raisins! Though fasting is a simple technique, it is better to
consult Vaidya who can advise correct fruits/vegetable juices, herbal
teas etc.

Periodic fasting is a great way to get your body on the fast track to
detoxification and resulting health. Even patients suffering from
peoblems of endocrine glands (e.g. Thyroid) are seen to benifit.And lastly, the
glow on the face adds to the beauty!

Though there is a great propoganda that third world countries are
suffering from inadequate nutrition, author feels that affluent
people suffer from excess nutrition rather than inadequate nutrition.
This excess adds to Tamas and Rajas in mind, leading to more greed
and difference in wealth distribution in society.


--- In ayurvedaonline@yahoogroups.com, "grman53" <grman53@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I have a 2 part question. My wife (53 yrs old) is on syntroid for a
> thyroid condition. not sure if its too active or inactive. Is there
> anything that she could take to help with her situation?
> Next,
> I hear people talking about colon hydrotherapy and colon cleaning.
I
> take triphala daily. I want to fast and do a general "house
cleaning"
> for spring. I also hear that people can carry pounds of fecal
matter
> inside. Is this true? I want to know if it is worthwhile to have a
> colon cleaning?
> Thank you,
> Rick