Fasting: For Physical And Spiritual Fitness

It is no surprise that almost all religions observe some form of the act of fasting. Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years, being traced as far back as the times of primitive man.

In ancient societies, the act of fasting was performed for physical, spiritual and ceremonial reasons. Refraining from eating certain fruits, vegetables, and meats during certain times of the year, because they may have been tainted, or out of season and not fit for consumption, was common practice.

Fasting was also performed before spiritual ceremonies and as a form of physical or spiritual purification and cleansing. It was even thought that the act of fasting could ward off evil spirits or even encourage the spirits of the earth to send appropriate weather needed for plentiful harvests.

Fasting is the act of not taking any food or drink (or both), for a specific period of time. There are also limited-liquid intake fasts, "juice diets", that provide the body with nutritional intake while it goes through the detoxification process. Other fasts are less restrictive and only observe eating or drinking less than normal for a period of time, or even just excluding one or two items, such as meat or dairy, from the diet periodically.

Fasting for religious purposes is the most common form of spiritual cleansing although some religions merely practice the act of fasting for the maintenance of good health, such as the ordained Buddhist Monks and Nuns, who do not eat any meals after the noon hour of each day. This is also thought to aid in their meditation practices as well as maintaining a healthy body.



In Christianity, fasting is observed in a various number of ways. The Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church both observe a forty day partial fast, Lenten, which commemorates the fast of Christ during his days in the desert when he was being tempted. The Ethiopian Orthodox church also observe a partial fast, excluding both milk and meat from their diets, for several weeks during certain times of the year.

The Holy Bible tells of David's fast for the purpose of humbling his soul, Moses' fasting twice in the book of Deuteronomy, and in the book of Acts, Saul fasted for three days after his conversion to Christianity.

In Mormonism, a complete fast is observed every first Sunday of the month. No food or drink is taken for a 24 hour period and all of the money that would have been spent on food for that day is required to be donated to the church as a "fast offering". And, as in many other religions, individuals and families can fast on their own free will to show repentance or as a way to show gratitude toward God.

In Islam, during the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are prevented from eating any food, drinking any liquid (including water), and engaging in sexual activities. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and considered a highly important act of worship. In addition to restraints from food and drink, one observing the Ramadan fast must also temper his spirit by practicing only "good behaviors"; no swearing, no telling of lies, and no unkind acts or lustful thoughts.

Judaism recognizes Yom Kippur, and it is considered the most important day of the Jewish year. Yom Kippur is one of six fasts that are required of the Jewish people.

Each religion that requires mandatory fasting also has exceptions, like for children of a younger age and the elderly; However, some religions still require that some form of self-pleasuring sacrifice or the making of financial donations to the church instead of fasting is accepted, if you meet the exclusions.

In the book Back to Eden, Jethro Kloss recommends fasting for only a day or two at a time, and he also states that drinking plenty of water and doing concentrated, deep-breathing exercises will be most beneficial. He goes on to say that excluding rich foods and eating small amounts of plain food for days and even weeks will aid the body in ridding itself naturally of the poisons and toxins that have accumulated over time.

Fasting can be used as an effective weight loss plan, combined with eating the right foods and doing exercises on a regular basis. If you are under the care of a physician for any medical reason it is best to consult with your doctor before fasting or starting any exercise regimen.

For those who fast there are multiple health benefits such as increased life span due to the slowing of the aging process and reduced risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and disorders of the immune system which leads to all forms for disease.

If you are already not fasting for religious or other reasons, I encourage you to start as soon as you are able. The benefits will increase your overall quality of life and you can be a living testament to others. Here's to your health, and mine!