Have you ever wondered why your mom told you to go light on your diet when you were sick? Or why the doctor advised you have only liquids when you were burning with fever? Well, it is an age old practice to give your stomach and digestive system a rest so that it helps in the rejuvenation process. Don’t we all need the weekend after a long week of work? We need it to take a break and reduce our stress levels. Same is the case with our body. It works hard throughout the day. Whatever we eat and drink, it methodically breaks it down, digests it and supplies us with the required energy. If the body is not well rested, it will fall sick. Hence, giving it a break by not eating solid food for some time really rejuvenates the stomach and the digestive system.
Throughout history, fasting or abstinence from food can be traced. Greeks and Egyptians followed it. Scriptures of Persians suggest that fasting was a weekly norm for them. The Jews of the Old Testament and the Christians also used to fast on particular days in the calendar year. It is mainly done to detoxify or cleanse your body off all toxins and wastes. In the process, you also give the much required rest to your body so it can function smoothly after you break the fast. When the fat reserves of the body are used by us during fasting period, they release the stored chemicals from the fatty acids in to the system and are then eliminated. This cleanses the whole body. Most people feel rejuvenated, relaxed and energized after fasting period is over. Under usual circumstances, you load your body with fats, sugar, caffeine, nicotine, oil, alcohol and other toxins. Abstinence from all of these and consuming only raw fruits and juices, aid the body in regaining its strength.
One needs to be really carefully during fasting. It is not advisable for people who are looking to reduce weight in a fast way. Fasting may or may not reduce weight. But it definitely cleanses your systems and body. There are various forms of detox fasting. Some require only liquids, juice and raw vegetables; essentially a complete abstinence from all solid foods. At the same time, if a person fasts way too regularly and for long durations, it can prove to be harmful also. Complete abstinence from food for an extended period of time is extremely harmful for the body. Hence, it is advised that a person seeks medical expertise before going on a fasting program to detox themselves. It is not a practice to be taken lightly, but if done properly, it brings about fantastic results!

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