On the Fast Track

When I was 20-something, living alone, on my own terms, awash in silence and serenity (ahh...), I fasted one day each week. Now wait a minute - I know many of you, like my husband, would never voluntarily go without food. Hear me out! I'm not suggesting that you torture yourself, or go days starving in misery. In fact, you already fast every night; that's why your first meal in the morning is called break-fast. Occasional, controlled fasting is nothing extreme, and doctors such as Andrew Weil, MD recommend it as part of a balanced lifestyle.

Why would anyone say going without food is good for you? Actually, there are several reasons. The first is that we Americans tend to overeat. Even the healthiest of us eat too much food. I recently tried tempeh for the first time, and although it was surprisingly tasty, the modest, homemade sandwich (as opposed to the monster meals most restaurants serve) was still too much food. Good food, healthy food, but just too much. Fasting gives your digestive system an opportunity to catch up. Additionally, if you're having any digestive issues, giving your tummy a break will allow it time to heal, too. Years ago a friend gave up drinking alcohol cold turkey. After 6 weeks, he noticed that food tasted different, and that (and this is what really struck me) colors seemed brighter. It was as if he had walked out of a fog in which he never knew he was travelling. Many people find that they didn't realize they were having digestive issues, feeling bloated or sluggish, or eating too much until they fast and remember what lean feels like. Another side effect of fasting is increased mental clarity. You know how after a huge meal, like Thanksgiving dinner, you could happily pass out in your favorite easy chair? That's because much of your blood, and oxygen, is going to your tummy to digest that mountain of food. When your belly isn't bogarting your blood, more oxygen reaches your brain and you can think more clearly. You feel better and can think better, but you don't have energy to spare. Perhaps now it's easy to see why fasting and mediation go hand in hand.

Recently, due to an insane schedule involving small children, pets, Scouts, school, and volunteering, I accidentally went 24 hours without eating. I did drink clear liquids, but had no food. Late at night, I was hungry, but my chronic insomnia has always been more of an issue than hunger (that's another story altogether). The following morning, the hunger had faded and I felt wonderful, better than I have in months. I enjoyed my morning with my family, laughing and catching up. Finally, I accepted that I needed to eat. I didn't want to, because I felt so good and I knew that breaking my fast would bring me down. I was right. I don't know what the perfect post-fast food is, but I've never found it. Everything seems so rich and heavy after the lean, light feeling of a fast. Still, I know the fast did my mind and body a world of good. I felt so refreshed! I'd forgotten the quiet, calm strength that comes with a fast, but now that I'm reminded, I plan to schedule more fasts in my future.

If you decide to try fasting, there are a few points to consider. First and foremost, check with your doctor. Some people should never fast, including but not limited to pregnant or nursing mothers, children, diabetics, and people with eating disorders. There are numerous ways to fast, but for most people, simply not eating solid food for a day is a good start. Drink plenty of clear liquids such as water, tea or broth during your fast to stay hydrated. Plan your fast for a day when you have no other obligations. You may feel like staying in bed or reading all day, which is fine, but know that you should not plan to do anything strenuous. Until you know how you'll react to a fast, have food available and have another responsible adult supervise you. If you start to feel weak or ill, introduce food gradually until you're feeling better. Do not fast for more than 24 hours without a doctor's supervision.

Having read all the warnings, you may be having second thoughts about fasting again. But consider this: For millions of people on Earth, it's not called fasting, it's called life. Perhaps the best reason for an occasional fast is to remember those who don't have food to eat, to remember what a hunger pang is, and to gain a bit of insight and compassion for those in need.

Namaste'.