FASTING THERAPY
Introduction
• Fasting is a complete voluntary abstinence from taking
any kind of food for a definite period of time.
• Fasting in sanskrit ‘upavasa’ literally means staying near
god.
• Fasting is a remedy.
• Dr. Herbert M. Shelton ,who administered cure through
fasting to thousands of patients says - It is an art and
science of living .
• Dr. Plutarch said that ‘instead of using medicines, rather
fast a day’.
History of fasting
• The origin of fasting for illness perhaps dates back the
development of the present forms of animal life.Among
undomesticated animals it is a common practice to fast
when ill, though this is a course of instinctive procedure
rather than a planned therapeutic measure.
• The first records of human fasting for the remedy of
disease go back to the ancient civilizations of Greece and
the north east america.
• The ancient Egyptians were said to treat syphilis with their
fasting cures, and the great Greek physicians,Hippocrates
prescribed fasting during the critical periods of disease.
History of fasting
• Celsus is said to have used it in the treatment of jaundice
and epilepsy.
• In the 17th century , Dr. Hoffman wroyte a book entitled
Description of the magnificient results obtained through
fasting in all diseases.
• Fasting has also been used in nearly every religion in the
world, Including christianity , jainism , buddhism, hinduism
and islam.
• In one of the famous political acts of the last century, the
indian leader mahatma gandhi fasted for 21 days to
promote peace.
Classification of fasting
According to duration
1. Short fasting
2. Intermittent fasting
3. Long fasting
Depending upon the purpose
1. Political
2. Religious
3. Therapeutic
Classification of fasting
Depending on the method
1. Dry fasting
2. Water fasting
3. Juice fasting
4. Fruit fasting
5. Mono diet fasting
Depending on condition
1. Fasting in healthy
2. Fasting in acute illness
3. Fasting in chronic illness
4. Fasting in destructive disease
Auxiliaries of fasting/ basic steps of fasting
• Rest
• Activity/ exercise
• Warmth
• Water drinking
• Bath
• Sun bath
• Enema
Crises during fasting
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Cramps
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Vomiting
• Slow pulse
• Fever/ rise in temperature
Physiological changes during fasting
Tongue-
• Toungue coats heavily, thickness and the foulness of this
coat may continue to increase as the fast progresses due
to elimination.
• After a short while before return to hunger , the cleansing
process of the toungue starts and become clean.
The breath-
• In the beginning peculiar noxious odour appears and
continues throughout the fast.
• It is depend on the coating of the tongue .
Physiological changes during fasting
Temperature-
• Rise in body temperature
• Lowered temperature is a sign of depleted vitality.
• Only in the first few days of fast.
Adipose tissue in fasting
Carbohydrate metabolism
Fat metabolism
• Increased degradation of TAG-
caused due to increased catecholamines.
• Increased release of fatty acid -
Hydrolysis of stored TAG.
bound to albumin.
Glycerol produced from TAG degradation is used as a
precursor for gluconeogenesis by liver.
Adipose tissue in fasting
• Decreased uptake of fatty acid
Lipoprotein lipase activity of adipose tissues is low
• Increased fatty acid oxidation
Obtained from TAG hydrolysis in adipose tissue.
It provides NADH and ATP required for gluconeogenesis.
• Incresed synthesis of ketone bodies
When the concentration of acetyl CoA exceeds the
oxidative capacity.
Starts during 1-2 days of fasting.
Can be used by most of the tissue including brain.
Breaking the fast
Indications for breaking the fast
• Returns of hunger
• Breath becomes normal
• Toungue free from coating
• Temperature becomes normal
• Pulse become normal in rate and rhythm
• Urine becomes light.
Breaking the fast
Long term fasting
• Should be break on liquid foods.
• Fruit juices- orange,tomato, grape fruit juice ..
• 1st day- half a glass should be given every hour.
• 2nd day- whole glass of juice every two hours .
• 3rd and 4th day - whole fruit.
• 5th day- boiled food.
Short term fasting
• Whole glass of juice every 2 hours the first day.
• 2nd day- 3 fruit meals.
• 3rd day- boiled food.
Benefits of fasting
• Insulin levels drop and increase in the human growth
harmone.
• Reduces levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the
body.
• Protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
• Reduce insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels.
• Reduce risk of heart disease.
• Reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Boosts metabolism.
Scientific evidences
• Intermittent fasting favoured the resolution of salmonella
typhi infection in middle aged persons.
• Long term orange juice consumption is associated with
low LDL - cholesterol and B apolipoprotein levels in
hypercholesterolemia subjects.
• Glycogen shortage during fasting triggers liver-brain-
adipose tissue to facilitate fat utilization.
