While there are many reasons and traditions relating to fasting, any such
activity should never be taken lightly, or without proper preparation. As
always, consult with your physician beforehand, and remember these five
healthy guidelines for fasting.

(1) Remember fluids
Should you choose to avoid food for any length of time, you will still
need to keep yourself hydrated. The human body can function fairly well
for up to three days without food, but you shouldn’t go even a few hours
without water or juice.Fasting

(2) Keep it short
After about three days without food, the body will go into starvation mode
– and this may happen in less than three days if you begin without a big
meal before your fast. It takes about a day for the body to run through
stored carbohydrates, and then your body will start to burn fat and
protein for energy. Burning fat may sound tempting, but around the third
day, it leads to a buildup in the bloodstream of acids known as ketones –
a condition known as ketosis, which can result in nausea, dizziness and
stomach pain, along with severe bad breath. As days turn to weeks, it
eventually leads to organ damage. While a two- or three-day fast might
not be dangerous, even just a few hours without calories will impact you
mental and physical performance.

(3) Don’t fast to lose weight
As stated at the beginning of this article, there are many reasons and
traditions for fasting, but losing weight should never be one of them.
Basically, fasting to lose weight is not a good idea because starvation
leads the body to absorb all the fat and oil that you eat later, which may
actually lead to weight gain.

(4) Prepare your body
A few days before your fast begins: stop eating foods with high caffeine
and sugar content; begin drinking more water than usual. The day before
your fast begins: eat something small every two hours; avoid foods with
caffeine and salt; drink plenty of water. The meal before your fast
begins: plan the menu of this meal to contain high carbohydrate and low
salt foods; sit down for the meal at least an hour before the fast begins
so there is no rush to eat quickly; do not eat too much in the meal before
the fast, but drink plenty of water.

(5) Fasting isn’t for everyone
Some people should never fast: pregnant women, diabetics or anyone on
medication that needs to be taken with food – not to mention anyone else
with a medical condition that requires regular food intake. And, people
younger than 18 should also never fast, as they are still growing and
developing. Additionally, at younger ages, fasting can set up
psychological issues with food.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fasting-diet/AN02161

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/fasting-health_b_1557043.html

8 Comments

  1. Marian Green says:

    This is why fasting does not have to center around food. If you are fasting because you are laying a request before God and are sincerely seeking an answer, then fast or give up someting that is important to you. Because if it’s not important to you, your fast won’t be important to God. Give up tv, internet, cell phone, computers in all their forms or anything you feel you can’t live without. Trust me, fasting this way really works also!

  2. I think this a wanderful article on fasting I know the bible reccomends fasting and praying the problem is that when we think of fasting we normally think of getting off of food or water, what if food and water is not the problem. Do I still need to give them up, In my opion, one should fast to get closer to God and if food and water keeps you from spending time with the Lord then give them up using the guidelines that stated in the healthy fasting article. What playing video games kept me from dedicating time to God can I fast from these, or watching to much TV should I turn it off for more quality time with God.

  3. Lorina Emeka says:

    can diabetics try some for of fasting?

  4. victoria says:

    i wpould like a diet to loose wait

    thank you

  5. Darlene West says:

    I agree with Marian. Due to medical reasons, I can’t go without food. But I can go without chocolate and/or sweets, and one can do that for a long time. In addition, fast your time, wake up an hour or two earlier (before sun rise) and give that time to God: praying and studying the Word. You would be amazed by how God moves in the wee hours in the morning, especially when you are going to bed early to get up early for Him! Yeah, you would be fasting TV and other things as Marian suggests, so you can get in bed earlier. I find I ask God how He wants me to fast, and He’s very creative. After all, He created us and the universe. Before you know it, He’ll be calling you to a fast.

  6. Delores says:

    Thank you for this information.

  7. Anthony Banks says:

    I thank God for you Dr. Colbert. You have been a major blessing to me. I am a type 2 non-insulin diabetic. I purchsed your book, “The Bible Cure For Diabetes.”. It has been a major blessing. I have ellecent readings. Thank you Dr. Colbert!

  8. Andy says:

    I’ve never tried fasting because I don’t think I can last a day without any food even if I will consume a lot of fluids.

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