Around the world, fasting is known as a religious practice. Many people fast from food for hours, days, and even weeks to cleanse their mind and body from food toxins and it also has many therapeutic effects. Water fasting, where you consume only water, has been shown to have many benefits, from healthier skin to fighting aging.
Drinking sufficient amounts of water overall is good for your health, but embarking on a water fast helps to increase benefits such as:
Overall health. During a water fast, toxins that enter the body from the food we eat are flushed out of our system. With no food to digest, the energy required for digestion is preserved and is focused on other processes. This allows toxins to be flushed from the body at a faster rate. Mental clarity, reduced headaches, weight loss and lower blood pressure are all positive results of our bodies being cleansed of toxins.
Skin health and fights aging. Water fasting improves blood circulation and tones the skin. Because of the increased consumption of water during a water fast, the skin is more hydrated and able to heal and renew itself faster. It also helps to heal scars faster and help problems such as acne and eczema.
Precautions
If you are considering embarking on a water fast there are precautions you should be aware of, such as discomfort and withdrawal symptoms. The body will more than likely not be used to being deprived from the food it regularly eats so you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and tiredness towards the beginning of the fast. After fasting for a couple of days, your body will become accustomed and your symptoms will fade or become easier to deal with. You will also feel a level of discomfort due to hunger and emptiness of the stomach.
How To
There are a few different ways to go about a water fast. You can fast for a set number of hours during the day or night or you can do a water-only fast where you only drink water for an entire day. If you choose to fast for a set number of hours during the day, you can choose to sacrifice breakfast, lunch or dinner and instead of eating food during that time you replace your meal with water. If you choose to do a water only fast for an entire day make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day and drink twice as much water as you normally would. Water that contains electrolytes like Smart Water helps with hydration. Stay away from drinks that contain sugar like Gatorade.
Although the benefits of a water fast are great, it is important to maintain your health while fasting. Water fasting for a stretch of time slows down the metabolism and Naturopathic Concierge Physician Dr. M. Samm Pryce recommends not to fast longer than three days at a time. How you end your fast is just as important as how you begin it. Dr. Pryce also recommends to end your fast drinking freshly squeezed juices, broth and soup for one to two days afterwards.
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