Tip 158. Fasting For More Efficient Digestion
Fasting is highly beneficial in practically all kinds of stomach and intesti
n
al disorders.
It is curative and in serious conditions of
the kidneys
and liver. It is a miracle
cure for eczema and other skin
di
seases and
offers the o
n
ly hope of permanent cure in many cases. The various nervous disorders also
r
espond favorably to this mode of treatment.
Fasting sh
o
uld, however, not be restored to in
ev
ery illness. In cases of
diabetes, a
d
vanced stages of t
u
berculosis,
and extreme
cases of n
e
urasthenia, long fasts will be harmful. In most cases, how
ev
er, no harm will accr
u
e to fasting
patients, pr
ov
ided they take rest, a
n
d are under proper professional
car
e
.
Tip 159. Not all fasts are equivalent.
Not all fasts
are equivalent.
The durati
o
n of the fast
depends u
p
on the age
o
f the patient,
the nature
of the dise
a
se and the amount and type of drugs previously used. The
d
uration is i
m
portant, because long
p
eriods of fasting can
be dangerous if undert
a
ken without
competent professional
guidance. It
is,
therefore, advisable to
undertake a
series of
s
h
ort fasts of
t
wo to three days and gradually increase the duration of
each succ
e
eding fast
b
y a day or
s
o.
The period
of the fast,
h
owever, should not exceed a week of total fast
in
g at a time. This will enable the chronically sick body to gradually and s
l
owly eliminate toxic waste matter without seriously af
f
ecting the
n
atural functioning of the
body. A correct mode of living and a
balanced diet after the
fast will res
t
ore vigour and vitality to the
individual.
Tip 160. The K
e
y
Rule for Fasting and Fatigue
Only
very s
i
mple exercises like sho
r
t walks may be undertaken during t
h
e fast.
A warm
wa
t
er or neutral bath may
b
e taken during the peri
o
d. Cold baths are not a
d
visable.
Sun and air baths should be taken
d
aily. Fasting sometimes produces a
state of sle
e
plessness which can
b
e overcome
by a warm tub bath, hot
water bottles at the feet
and by drinking one or two glasses
of hot water.
The craving for food will,
however, gradually dec
r
ease as the
fast progresses. Seriously sick persons have no desire
f
or food and
fasting co
m
es naturally
to them. The simplest
r
ule is to stop eating
until the ap
p
etite returns
or until one
f
eels compl
e
tely well.
Tip 161. Unless
y
ou break
y
our f
a
st proper
l
y
,
its benefits will be los
t
.
The succ
e
ss of your fast depends l
a
rgely on how it is brok
e
n.
This is
t
he
most significant phase.
T
he main rules for breaki
n
g the fast a
r
e these:
* Do not ov
e
reat.
* Eat slowly.
* Chew
your food thoro
u
ghly.
* Take several days for the gradual change to the normal diet.
If the transit
i
on to eating
solid foo
d
s
i
s
carefully p
l
anned, there will be no
discomfort
o
r damage. The patient
should also
continue to
t
ake rest during the transition period.
The right f
o
od after a
fast is
a
s
important and
decisive for
proper results as the f
a
st itself.
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