Procedure Followed While Fasting

People fast for spiritual reasons and at times they feel by doing so, they enhance their physical health. Fasting improves ones will power, gives relief to the digestive system and teaches one to be patient and not be selfindulgent. Many religions expect their devotees to fast like among the Muslims in the month of Ramadan devotees fast throughout the day. Similarly, Hindus also fast during several festivals and also for personal salvation. Fasting needs to be performed in a particular prescribed way as otherwise it would affect ones health. Just fasting the way one wants to is not recommended. Be it a juice fasting or water, there is a procedure to be followed. What Procedure to Follow While Fasting?

People go on short and long term fasts. Some go on a 2 cycle program or a 14 day cycle program. In both the cases, the initial period of fasting lasts for 7 days. Before beginning ones fast one must be clear as to why one is fasting? Is it for spiritual reasons or dietary reasons or for guidance or for Gods help in a crisis? Then one has to decide the method of fasting, whether one wants to fast for a few days or for several weeks or for 40 days. One initially can begin with few days of fasting and then slowly stretch it to more days. One has to be clear as to what type of fasting one will undertake, will it be juice fasting? Water fasting? Or fruit diet. In case it is juice fasting, then one must decide how many times one would like to drink? And how much? Then one has to decide upon which cycle to follow- 7 day cycle or 14 day cycle.

7 day cycle One has to prepare ones body three days in advance. In case you are on medication or suffering from a chronic ailment then it is better to consult your physician. Prepare the body to eat small amounts and avoid sugary food foods and those high in fats. For 2 days before the fast, eat raw vegetables and fruits . After the 7 day cycle is over then again prepare your body so that it is in position again to have normal diet intake. 14 day cycle Make sure all your clinical tests are over such as blood test, urine test etc. Once the cycle has been completed then the tests are conducted again

Preparation for the Fast 2 weeks before one starts to fast, one must avoid taking meat, white bread and sweets. One must limit the intake of dairy products as well. Drink only herbal tea, non-carbonated drinks, juices and avoid drinking coffee, tea, carbonated beverages and alcohol. 2 days before fasting one needs to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of vegetable juices as well as fruit juice. One can take non-carbonated drinks and low mineralized water. In case of constipation one can take salt. While fasting for 7 days one must stick to low mineralized water, noncarbonated drinks as well as herbal tea. One must avoid alcohol. Kind of intake to be taken While on fast one must take an 8-ounce glass of steam distilled water during the day and juices and 2 cups of herbal tea per day. All the juices must be diluted with water adding about 1 part water to 3 parts of juices. Avoid orange and tomato juices and do not take juices with sweeteners or other kinds of additives. These will upset your stomach or cause headaches. Cabbage and carrot juices are very good. The best form of juice is lemon juice. Add juice of 1 lemon to some warm water. Green drinks such celery, grape juice, beet and apple juices are also very good. They are very good detoxifiers. Raw cabbage juice is very good for cancer, colon problems and ulcers. The cabbage juice must be drunk as soon as it is prepared. If it sits too long, it looses out on its vitamin content. The first meal after the fast must be a small meal. Also, before fasting one must not go on a binge. Cooked foods need to be avoided immediately after the fast as the desired effect of the fast would be negated. Fasting in different religions Procedures vary in different religions with regard to fasting Among the Muslims, the holy month of Ramdan is auspicious for fasting. One whole month, the devotees fast throughout the day without taking any water. Only in the early hours of the morning they eat. They break the fast for the day in the evening. They break their fast by eating dates and plenty of fruits. Among the Hindus, Shivaratri is an auspicious day for fasting. Many women fast the whole day. In fact, on other occasions also they fast. Many unmarried girls fast in praise of Jai Santhoshi Maa to secure a good husband or wives fast in praise of her to protect their husbands from any evil. Karva Chauth fast is very popular in the North of India, when married Hindu women keep fasts in order to ensure long life for their husbands. After seeing the moon in water they break the fast.

Fasting should not be done in light heart manner. One must do it according to prescribed procedures as it may affect ones health. It is very therapeutic in nature and makes one feel rejuvenated.

How to Break Your Fast?

Fasting is done for religious as well dietary reasons. It is therapeutic in nature. One has to of course follow certain guideline while fasting. It is not just question of staying away from food. One has to be careful of what one has before the fast, during the fast and after the fast. Fasting involves refraining from food. It is a difficult task indeed. After all, the temptation to eat is there. It requires a lot of will power. No doubt, one may make a success of it, but the problem arises when one tends to eat more before fasting and do the same after fasting. Many people have a heavy dinner the night before as they feel they will be fasting the next day and not eating anything throughout the day. This heavy meal proves to be heavy on the digestive system, with the food remaining in the stomach throughout the night. Similarly, after fasting many go on binge as they feel they have been deprived of food throughout the previous day or throughout the day. Those who keep a fast throughout the day tend to have a heavy dinner at night. This also proves to be heavy on the digestive system. Naturally, the question that rises in our minds is what should we eat after breaking a fast? In other words, how should one break a fast? Here are a few tips: Steps for breaking longer Fasts:

Have one special meal for every five days you fast. Do not have a heavy meal immediately after breaking a fast. The special diet should consist of dead fruit juices or perhaps herbal teas. In other words juices which one has bottled or heated to kill enzymes. The enzymes in fresh juices shock the digestive system. Fresh juices that are bottled are pasteurized and the enzymes are deactivated. Take pure fruit juice which does not contain any sugar. One should try to squeeze the juice by oneself and then heat it up. Simmer the contents for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature and then let it cool down. Grape fruits and acid fruits are the best to have.

Steps for breaking shorter Fast: In the case of shorter fasts, the bacteria does not get destroyed or the digestive system does not get shut down.

One meal consisting of fresh fruit each day of the fast. In case, one fast for three days, then the first three meals should consist of fresh fruit. One day fast should be broken with fresh fruit.

Other Steps to Follow to Break Fast:

One can take plain yoghurt after fresh juices. Yogurt has good bacteria which helps in restoring the intestinal flora. One can break a juice fast by eating small amounts of raw vegetables and fruits for the initial five to about six days helps the digestive system to waken up. Do not over load the digestive system with food as it causes sluggishness, apathy and depression. Eat when you are hungry. On the initial day immediately after the fast, one can eat a piece of fruit in the morning. After that one can take a bowl consisting of raw vegetables for lunch. On the second day one can have soaked figs or prunes for breakfast. For lunch one can have a small bowl consisting of vegetable salad, which is fresh. For dinner one can have some vegetable soup without salt. In between meals one can have perhaps two apples or fruit salad. This can be had in addition to fresh juices as well as broths. On the third day one can have the same menu as the second day. The only addition is some raisins or dates. On the fourth day you can come back to your chosen diet. Only one should have small meals, chew the food properly and eat when one is hungry.

Fasting is good for health as it restores the digestive system. One has to follow certain guidelines while fasting. One needs to eat right before and after fasting.

15 Interesting Ways to Fast, How to Fast?

Fasting is good for the body as it restores the digestive mechanism. By fasting one is able to give relief to usually overburdened digestive system. People often fast for religious reasons, but the effects are physical in nature and mentally, of course, one feels fresh, more confident and vibrant as one can lose weight if necessary.

Fasting no doubt means abstaining from food, but that does not imply that one can just fast the way one wants to. In other words, eat whatever one considers best. One has to follow a particular kind of diet in order to keep a fast. Let us try to understand this better. How to Fast? Tips for Fasting

Begin with a moderate approach then become more stricter in your fasting regimen. Beginners should start by small fasts each day. To prepare for fasting one has to overcome some habits such as consuming alcohol, taking caffeine and sugar, poultry and red meats etc. Eat fresh fruits and raw vegetables or rather salads. One can also take fresh fruit juice. Initially, you may feel irritated or hungry, but in due course you will be able to adjust to it. Do not overeat the day before the fast or after the fast. Have a meal consisting of juices, fresh fruits, tea or vegetable snacks to avoid symptoms of irritation, headache etc. It can be a vegetable meal consisting of starch or protein. The detoxification process will be slow in this manner. One can also on partial fasting like skipping one meal. Water fasting is also very popular. One should not fast when one is not feeling too well. Take more liquids. Reduce calorie intake by 20 to 30%. Do not avoid meals. Avoid performing strenuous tasks. Do not binge at the time of ending the fast.

Fasting is done in many religions. It is both spiritually and physically good for our body system. One has to take a proper diet consisting of fresh fruits and juices as well as raw vegetables. It requires a lot of will power.

Benefits of Fasting
Fasting is performed as a ritual in many religions such as Islam, Christianity and Judaism as well as Hinduism. One abstains from all kinds of substances, except water giving the body complete rest. Many argue that fasting is good for physical health. Spiritually, of course, many fast as they feel they would gain in many ways. They try to appease the Gods. Physically, those fasting feel that it has a positive effect on the body system. Let us have a look and see in what way fasting benefits physical health.

Benefits of Fasting The top fasting benefits are:

Fat stores in the body get burnt. Once this is over and burning of protein in the body begins to produce energy, then one loses weight. Good for the digestive system. Provides temporary relief to the digestion process which is strained throughout the other days on account of our consumption of food. Strengthens will power. Those who have weight problem will be able to control their tendency to eat much and as a result lose weight. Detoxification takes place. Toxins in liver, colon, lungs, kidney, lymph glands as well as skin are neutralized. Healing system in the body is promoted by fasting. When one is fasting one is consciously diverting energy from the digestive system to the immune system. Growth hormones get released when one fasts as there is increased efficiency in the production of hormones. Reduction in core temperature of the body system. One feels rejuvenated and a sense of life being extended. Addictions can be got over by fasting. Fasting is helpful where surgery or drugs have been recommended. The effects of the health conditions are lessened by fasting. Fasting helps in the treatment of chronic conditions. Eating less can result in psychological well-being. Any person would like to lose that extra pound. Organs are given rest when one fasts.

Fasting is good for the body system. It requires a lot of will- power and determination. It provides a sense of spiritual and physical well-being. Who would not like being slim after all? The slimmer you look, the better your selfesteem.

http://www.herbal-home-remedies.com/blog/279/how-tobreak-your-fast/ How to observe Ekadasi Ekadashi Vrat Fasting Method

Ekadasi Fasting is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is observed on the 11th day of waning and waxing phase of moon in a traditional Hindu calendar. This is one of the most popular Vrat observed in Hinduism. How to observe Ekadashi was narrated to Arjuna by Lord Krishna and is found in the Bhavisyottara Purana.

When to start Ekadasi Fasting?

Lord Krishna advices Arjuna to begin the Ekadasi fasting in the autumn season with Utpanna or Uttpatti Ekadasi occurring during the waning phase of the moon in November December.

Ekadashi Vrat Fasting Method

Ekadasi is the name of the Goddess that arose from Lord Vishnu to defeat Demon Mura. Happy with her divine act, Lord Vishnu blessed her that anyone who observes Ekadasi fast will be freed of their sins and will attain Moksha. Some people only take a single meal on the Dasami day, the day before Ekadasi. Things needed for Ekadasi Puja and Prayer

A picture or photo or idol of Lord Vishnu Fruits Tulsi leaves (The tulsi leaves should not be picked on the day but on the previous day) Yellow bananas And other normal puja items

Observance

Wake up early in the morning. Take bath and offer prayers. Perform a simple puja to Lord Vishnu at home by lighting a lamp and offering fruits and Tulsi leaves. Pray or meditate for few minutes. If there is a Vishnu temple nearby visit the temple and witness morning pujas and rituals.

Complete fast or Upavas on the day is the main observance. Ekadasi Fasting

Fasting is for 24 hours. It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss. If you have any health problem or are taking medicines, please consult your doctor before deciding on fasting. You can also opt for a partial fast by avoiding food made of rice. Do not eat food made from rice on Ekadashi. Strictly avoid eating rice and grains, honey, meat and eating on a bell metal plate. Do not apply oil on the day. (What food can be eaten on Ekadasi for those observing partial fast?) Those taking partial fast can consume fruits and milk.

Afternoon Take bath and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu Evening Prayers

Take a bath in the evening. Repeat the morning puja to Vishnu Visit Vishnu temple and witness the evening puja and rituals.

Prayers for Ekadashi

Vishnu Ashotharam Vishnu Sahasranamam Simple Chanting of Om Namo Narayana Or any prayers dedicated to Lord Vishnu or Sri Krishna

No Sleep of Keeping Vigil at Night Staunch devotees who observe Vaikunta Ekadasi fasting do not sleep on the day. They spend the whole night at Vishnu temples or by singing prayers or listening stories dedicated to Lord Vishnu. But those devotees who have health problems sleep at night. Those people who work, take rest at night and avoid keeping vigil at night Next Day Morning The fast is broken on the next day (Dwadashi) after taking bath. Offer prayers to Lord Vishnu by lighting a lamp and then you can break the fast.