A fasting experience
Nathan Keasler
Issue date: 7/22/10 Section: Life
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Knowing that it would be a bad idea to jump into it blindfolded, I did some research. I discovered the main benefit is the detoxification of organs. When the digestive system has a chance to take a break, built-up toxins are released from body fat and released into the bloodstream, then flushed out. There are, however detox symptoms that mimic timid flu-like feelings, which I found to be tolerable.
A fast does not necessarily mean abstinence from all food and liquid. A few options include going on an apple fast, a water fast, or a juice fast, where the only thing consumed are apples, only water, or juice. The most notorious of these is the total fast, where nothing solid or liquid enters into the mouth. My source advised against the total fast and recommended that a three-day juice fast would be the best for beginners, like myself. Generally, it is recommended to frequently drink distilled water while fasting.
I took the advice of doing the juice fast. At first, I thought this meant drinking apple juice or grape juice, but then found that I needed a vegetable juicer for organic vegetables. Although I wasn't happy about having to purchase a juicer, I had already made the decision. Having found special recipes for fasting, I filled my refrigerator with organic carrots, beets, cucumber, lemon, ginger root, green apples, romaine leaves, parsley, celery stalks, tomato, cilantro and spinach.
Before beginning the fast, it was recommended that I have a small meal the day before and to avoid caffeine, as all stimulants like coffee, alcohol or tobacco only add to toxin build-up. Also, if a large meal is eaten the day before, it would only make the fast harder. Taking the advice, I enjoyed some plain brown rice and water.
On the first day of the fast, I started off strong, enjoying a breakfast recipe, but soon after I was overtaken by a terrible headache. This stymie was due to either a wicked addiction to coffee or a detox symptom…or both.
The second day was particularly rough. Although I was spared another headache, I was hungry all day, having nonstop cravings for anything solid. It may have been due to my intentionally refraining from solid foods, which kept hunger on my mind. I was busy helping a friend move that evening and was away from my apartment…and juicer, meaning I missed dinner. Despite my lingering hunger, I had a sense of confidence that I would be alright with skipping just one meal and would just have my normal meal in the morning. That night, I had unsettling dreams and was awoken by the sensation of my teeth snapping down on imaginary hamburgers.
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