fasting

While not arguing about medical facts, purely cos I don't know any better, I fasted a couple of times for about three days. I was solely on water and herbal tea.

This was for both detox and a way of readjusting my dietary habits. In both cases it worked quite well, however I wouldn't recommend it for everyone and I certainly wouldn't use it as a means to losing weight (I tried that once too... ended up with dietary supplements of an antidepressant sort!).

I would only think about it if you are both physically and psychologically in reasonable shape.

IF you decide to try it try single days to three days max for the first couple of times. Don't get macho and feel you have to complete it if you start feeling unwell. Also, don't be stupid about it and try doing lots of weights etc (the body still needs nutrients and a drop in sugar levels aint nice) and be careful about driving/ operating machinery etc.

I stand completely by my post, and no qualified nutritionist/dietician with any credibility that i know of would advocate the cessation of nutrient supply to the body. Absolute lunacy. During the time you are fasting, your body will breakdown muscle tissue to feed itself, and waste products will increase in the blood stream as a result of catabolism. This is true scientific fact. I can not put my case more clearly or accurately than this.
All are more than welcome to their opinion, Dr Kellog believed that a combination of cornflakes and colonic irrigation would benefit health and 'cure' people of sexual urges, I put fasting in this category of crazy I am afraid. YOU NEED FUEL TO LIVE. THE BODY'S FUEL IS FOOD. NO FOOD= BAD.
Have you ever thought of the pyschological ramifications of promoting positive aspects of fasting to all and sundry? When does 'cleansing' become anorexia? Positive enforcement of starvation has potential to sow dangerous seeds.

Fast all you want, there is a reason people die of starvation. I guess this is going to have to be pounded into people’s heads over and over. Your body MUST have food. You MUST have a certain number of calories a day in order to maintain basic bodily functions like breathing and blood circulation. If your not eating, your not taking in calories, if your not taking in calories your body will start taking nutrients from your lean muscle and your body will start to shut down.

As for your books you suggest. I've never heard of "the toxic cure" but the other book you suggest is written by a man with NO background in nutrition what so ever. The writer, Kevin Trudeau, is not only a nutritionist but an ex-con with no education on the subject to speak of. He's an infomercial "guru" who is only looking to make a buck regardless of the cost. Follow his nutritional "advice" if you want but don't encourage others to put them selves in harms way with your misinformation.

It's one thing to discuss personal experiences here. It's another to promote unhealthy and potentially deadly habits. I suggest you use a little foresight before starting a topic such as this next time. We have no control over who views this forum but we do have some responsibility for the impression we give them. Feel free to link to any “scientific backing” from an academic source. The Kevin Trudeau book you mentioned is far from justification.

Kevin Trudeau, fraud?
http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/FTCActions/trudeau.html

http://www.ftc.gov/os/1998/01/trudeau.cmp.htm

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/09/trudeaucoral.htm

You mean this book?
http://www.infomercialwatch.org/tran/trudeau.shtml

Have you found any peer-reviewed, Medical Journals or periodicals that encourage fasting?

Why exactly, have you decided to fast?

Forcing yourself to go without food is illogical. Your body will fight it and eventually win. There are some weird people out there with weird ideals. I saw a woman on 'wife swap' that stands outside naked staring at the sun to gain nutrients. She believed it is the cure for world hunger! Her family didn't cook anything and basically lived off of salad and birdseed. They all looked terribly unhealthy!
Food,it does a body good.

Boy, I really have to read...less.

Going through the Main Index and what do I see with Harlan's name beside it ... "Wife Swap". Why did I immediately click on this?

i "fast" every night while i sleep!!!! but i break it every morning

{looks around, doesn't see harlan, leaves.}

I don't see how fasting is all that bad. I don't think there's a lot of research on it at all though, pro or con.

It's medically proven (As much as anything is scientifically proven) that the human body accumulates various particles of negative effect. In fact, it's recommended men over a certain age give blood regularly as a means of reducing the buildup of PCB's/heavy metals in the blood. So yeah, toxins definitally build up in the body. 15 lbs though? 15 lbs of what exactly? I think 15 lbs of most lasting blood bodily contaminates would kill you.

I don't know of any research that's proven fasting helps clean the body, I also don't know of any studies that disprove it. I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt considering there really aren't any negatives that I can see.

Fasting without some kind of nuitrion certainly seems like a terrible idea. Who advocates this?

When I fast(Which is quite rare, every few years maybe) I usually survive on lemonade. 2 Tbs lemon joice and 2 Tbs maple syrup in 1 quart of water - Adequate nuitrition in easily digestable form. I avoid any any real excersize and pretty much just relax for a few days. I haven't noticed any negative side effects, any loss of muscle mass I haven't noticed.

On what planet does a spoon of maple syrup in water constitute 'adequate nutrition'?
i would strongly urge anyone considering the activity of fasting to read Laff's post, mine, and the others who raise the dangers of self starvation for 'health'.
If anyone can provide links to genuine medical research that proves starvation to be beneficial for normal healthy humans then please do so. Advocating fasting 'because you like it' yourself is irresponsible and dangerous. I feel my first thread lock coming on.....

Read the forum rules. This is NOT a place for religious discussion.

Fasting can be very beneficial for your body to "clean house", A lot of people in western culture are very weary of fasting. But ancient cultures have been fasting for thousands of years.

What it all comes down to is "the proof is in the pudding". I have fasted and know many people who have fasted therefore I know from my personal experience that it works. Many friends of mine have done the master cleanse (lemonade diet) by Stanley Burroughs and one friend of mine said after the third day you are not even thinking about food and have soo much energy. The reason for the energy is your body has all of that energy that it uses to digest solid food free to use. But on a one day fast you may not feel this way.

I would recommend a juice fast the first time because it is much easier on your system. Plus the juice helps your body deal easier with the toxins being released from your organs etc.

Of course before you do your fast read a bunch of literature on it and plan out your "battle plan" Therefore you know what to expect.

One great benefit of fasting is time seems to slow down and a more humble attitude is cultivated since you are controlling your body's desires. And when you do eat again you are much more grateful for your food that comes in.

And when done your fast you will be very sensitive to your food coming in. Try to eat good food as opposed to lots of food and you will have more energy because you are giving your body more efficient fuel.

As for training try not to do too much strenuous activity on your first fast take this time to slow things down, do some stretches, go for walks in nature take this time to cleans and rejuvenate. Also don't engage in ual during fasting it will suck your vital energy out of you.

You can even go to a naturopathic doctor or holistic nutritionists and do the fast with them for safety and guidance.

Hope I helped a bit.

All the best

I'd have to liken fasting to static stretching prior to working out: It was done for thousands of years, millions of people thought it was good, but in the end, science has proved that it's actually harmful.

Unfortunately, the "it's been done that way for a long time, so it must be good" attitude still prevails, and science is ignored.

Anecdotal stories and denial are one thing, but science can't be argued.