Fasting heals

Why Fast?

When one is fasting, the system is relatively free from regular digestion activity. This time is utilized by the body to cleanse i.e. detoxify the body of germs, chemicals, unwanted matter, excess fat etc. Any pending healing work for sickness or repairing of damages is also prioritized and worked on by the body. Hence, regular fasting is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy body.

Good frequency of fasting?

For a healthy person fasting twice a month, once every fortnight is suitable. If a person does not feel healthy and active, all the time but experiences small pain, inflexibility or difficulty with body processes e.g. digestion etc. , (s)he needs to fast once a week, regularly. 

If a disease has been diagnosed, specific fasting program may be required for a few days.

An annual fasting of around 10 days - 2 weeks continuously, might greatly help to clean the system and heal multiple health problems. This shall help rejuvenate body, mind and spirit.

How to take a health oriented fast?

It's good to plan your fast prior and decide what you would / would not eat during fasting. Choose health oriented, simple and 'satvic' foods here, and avoid all kinds of over-processed, cooked-for-taste kind of foods. 

Remember the purpose of fasting is to give rest to body and gain health. 

When fasting for just one day in a week or fortnight, one can do strict fasting of eating only once during the day, for example or take fruits only etc.

However, when fasting is planned for few days together, one can be flexible, while observing few restrictions.

Following recommendations are important:

1. Eat meal only once, in the day, if possible. 

When hungry in-between, one may take water, fresh juices, fruits, vegetable salads or a small quantity of dry-fruits, vegetable soup, roasted makhana / peanuts  etc. Avoid adding sugar, salt, spices, as best possible. Please eat minimum quantity as per essential requirement, only when hungry.

2. Do not consume any tea/coffee and fast food. Avoid processed food, restaurant food or packaged food, candies etc. during the day. Avoid fried snacks too.

Meat and Non-veg foods are not recommended during fasting. Only consume simple, vegetarian food, for better results. 

3. The meal during fasting need to be light, easy to digest and minimum quantity as needed.  

Few examples are: simply cooked or boiled vegetables, curd, 'sabudana' porridge,  sweet potato halwa etc. 

During fasting heavy to digest grains like wheat, rice, gram flour, lentils are advised to be restricted.

Also all spices are avoided except a few like - cumin and rock-salt. 

4. While fasting, take some additional rest to reduce mental or physical work (avoid as best possible). It is recommended to relax yourself, sleep properly and do some 'pranayama', meditation, 'shav asana' etc.

5. At the end of day, you may break the fast with a small quantity of fruit or juice (something light and small quantity only). Give a gap and  then have regular meal, when hungry after at least half an hour.


Proper practice of fasting can restore health and bring many surprising, miraculous benefits. Do not miss this self treatment and allow yourself a little restriction to bring about welcome, positive changes.