Therapeutic Fasting and How to Properly Do It

A balanced diet and an active lifestyle are just two of the key elements to achieve optimum health. Most of the time, when your body doesn’t meet these two important elements, your health suffers. Today, more people have become aware of therapeutic fasting as a mean of restoring good health. The process itself means allowing your body to build a unique physiological healing response. In return, this became one of the most popular benefits of fasting. However, there are more links between health and fasting.

Before Therapeutic Fasting: Is it Safe?

In therapeutic fasting, one needs to completely abstain from all substances except water. Also, the environment where he or she can completely take a rest is highly relevant. Therapeutic fasting is known to bring various benefits, but it is not for everyone. To practice safe therapeutic fasting, one must be aware of the following:

• Contraindications

Fear is a known contraindication to fasting. When you fail to understand fasting, you may experience certain problems. Another fasting flaw is an extreme weakness, which happens when the body muscles are overworked.

Also, inadequate nutrient reserves and various medications can upset the fasting process. Severe kidney diseases and certain types of cancer can also hamper an individual from fasting. 

• Proper Supervision

With careful clinical monitoring and proper professional supervision, therapeutic fasting becomes more effective. But, just like any other activity or practice, inherent risks are present. Therefore, therapeutic fasting encourages you to seek a certified IAHP professional for guidance.

The International Association of Hygienic Physicians is an association of physicians, specializing in therapeutic fasting supervision. Every certified member is a licensed osteopath, chiropractor, or medical doctor. All these have accomplished a minimum six-month program in a certified institution which focuses on therapeutic fasting.

As a result, there has been plenty of related therapeutic fasting research. This entire research has helped many practitioners have an effective and safe fasting experience.

• Pre-Fast Evaluation

You need to undergo a pre-fast evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate for the practice. This includes many factors to fulfill. Such are a complete health history, a physical exam, and a lab evaluation, which makes you a suitable candidate.

During Therapeutic Fasting: What You Should Do?

If you haven’t tried therapeutic fasting before, here’s what you need to do. Consider trying a one-day fast to see if you won’t experience adverse effects. Therapeutic fasting that exceeds more than three days, requires a consult with a professional. 

Fasting can be physically and mentally draining. Therefore, you must prepare yourself carefully by doing the following:

• Eat foods that are rich in energy before fasting.
• Pick a time that will allow you to relax and rest. A day without work is ideal.
• Avoid fasting if you feel exhausted or unwell.
• Refrain from doing any physical activity such as exercise.

While you are fasting, it is important to drink enough water throughout the day. If you are tempted to drink more water than usual know this can also reflect negatively on your health.

When you decide to end a therapeutic fast, you should avoid eating too much at once. Otherwise, this could make your stomach upset. Most fasts end with the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits.

After Therapeutic Fasting: How to Keep Your Health in Check?

When you fast, your body lacks the fuel it needs. So, expect to feel low on energy and exhausted while fasting. People who do not eat anything usually feel nauseous, dizzy or weak. If these symptoms progress, it is essential to have a bite just to prevent serious side-effects.

You can conserve energy by getting an ample amount of rest. At the same time, avoid intense workout, and sitting down. Of course, it is normal to feel tired. But, if the condition worsens, seek medical advice at once.

The Bottom Line

Therapeutic fasting is one of the most effective ways to assist the body in healing itself. Improper application or abuse of the practice may be harmful to one’s health. This is why it is important to read up on therapeutic fasting plans. In such way, you will accelerate the process of using all benefits of fasting. After a thorough research and consultation, make sure that you fast right. Otherwise, it’s better if you do not push through with it.

There are many health benefits that you can note in therapeutic fasting. Still, reducing overall calories is a much safer alternative and just as effective if you aim for a weight loss. You can also consider other alternatives such as intermittent fasting. Some of the benefits this type of fasting provides is lessening the risk of diabetes and heart disease.