Fasting is an ancient therapy that has been used to heal both body and mind for millennia, but it has been somewhat neglected by modern medicine.  That may be changing as fasting is making a big comeback.

Fasting is much more than merely a fad.  Fasting centers have opened in many countries such as Germany and Russia where patients undergo a fasting program under medical supervision and guidance.  But most people are drawn to fasting because of its simplicity.  One can try it for a short period in the comfort of their own home, for practically free.   People who try fasting report improvement in their cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, clarity of mind, weight loss and surprisingly even improved energy.

For these reasons some people are incorporating fasting into their regular routine.  One such method is known as the 5:2 Fast Diet.  Quite simply, eat regularly for five days a week, and fast for the other two.

Intermittent fasting has additional benefits too.  A 2011 study by the Utah based Intermountain Heart Institute showed that 24 hours of water-only fasting had protective effects against the onset of diabetes.

Fasting is also becoming a topic of intense medical research in many areas such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic disease prevention, and cancer treatment.  For example, experiments in mice have shown that fasting prior to chemotherapy improves its effectiveness through increased oxidative stress resistance while limiting the chemotherapy’s adverse side effects.

When fasting it’s important to take adequate amounts of fluid.  It is important to keep well hydrated with fluid such as bone broth, electrolyte substitution drinks, or natural drinks such as coconut water.  If you were to only intake water, it could cause dangerous electrolyte abnormalities.

Please consult your physician before trying fasting.  Reintroduction of solid food after a prolonged fast should be done gradually and carefully.

Want to know more?  Start here:
All About Fasting
The Five Stages of Fasting
The Science of Fasting (Amazon Prime Documentary)