I love fasting. I dislike health trends.
Fasting as a trend, lacks historical context. It misses political aspirations, spiritual connection, and safety with respect to existing health conditions, and medications.
When I hear boasting of intermittent fasting, I cringe internally because the focus has become self-centered and self-seeking. The external quest to meet the constructed beauty images of slimness and be accepted without self-acceptance leeches fasting from the personal journey of growth. It lacks the spiritual development of self-appraisal and coats over feelings of low self-esteem. I’ve seen remarkably restricted diets, and other diets consisting of buffets and gorging that fit into a windowed time of eating.
While I appreciate health-conscious learning and experimentation, I suggest those look deeper than the benefits of fasting and examine the how’s, the why’s, the when’s, and bring in an element of personal insight and honesty.
Recognizing the Negative and Positive Effects of Fasting
Risks of Fasting
- Lightheadedness & impairment
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Food binging
- Medication contraindications and concerns
- Body
dysmorphia - Headaches
- Intense physical discomfort
- Disappointment or disillusion of expectations
- Nutrient and caloric deficiencies
- Weakened immune system
- Danger to those pregnant and bodyfeeding to both the individual and the child.
Benefits of Fasting
- Feelings of lightness and energy
- Initiating autophagy; the removal of damaged cells
- Profound healing at the cellular level
- Weight management
- A deepened sense of connection with self
- Heightened appreciation of ‘body listening’
- New found enjoyment of savouring life
Efficacy of Fasting
Fasting can act as an art form in one’s life; a skill that one can practice and use as a teacher. If used only for seeking a specific goal, some of the more meaningful benefits may lose their importance. The reason for historical, religious, environmental and political fasting buries its roots in humanity at its finest and its worst.
Spiritual piety and discipline, famines, war-driven starvation, and hunger-strikes seem far removed in our world of accessible abundance. The impetus to not eat as a means of making a statement for change, as seen throughout history, rarely make major headlines, yet this tactic still matters.
In 2024, Saskatchewan inmates began a hunger strike requesting clean drinking water. The month of Ramadan, celebrated worldwide by the Muslim faith, fasts from sunrise to sunset. Taking pride in the ability to abstain from food contrasts with the rampant food shortages in the world today.
My own experience with fasting, I have approached from a few angles: curious health conscience, poverty, and ‘should’ based ideologies. My first fast stemmed in the early 2000s, after reading Joel Fuhrman’s ‘Fasting and Eating for Health’, I felt inspired to try my first fast. My experience moved me.
Another time, my idea that I should fast resulted in feeling defeated by not reaching my goals.
Later, financial transitions had me facing a time without income for food. I surveyed my options and choose to take on a fast. I fasted gracefully for 12 days with gratitude. Check out my crocheted art and poetry on day 8.
Methods of Fasting
Fasting safely focuses on 3 factors:
- the type and length of the fast
- breaking of the fast
- knowing your reasons and being open to learning
In Accompanied Fasting*, I discuss the prominent types of fasting, how to fast with respect to hormonal cycles, how to fast safely and effectively for each individual, while providing support, guidance, and professional care.
*If the workshop has passed, please get in touch with me.
