Everyone has heard stories of famous fasters. Saints, political figures, and celebrities have raved about the physical benefits of fasting. By taking a break from food for a few hours, you are ridding your body of potentially harmful toxins. But what about our minds?
If your mind is cluttered or you are chronically anxious, fasting is a great way to gain a new perspective on your life and shift your priorities. Fasting is essentially abstaining from food (and sometimes drink) for a pre-determined amount of time.
Most religions have fasting periods that are designed to show your faith, repent, or clear your mind. Many people have used fasting as a means to eliminate addictions, bad habits, and unhealthy thought patterns because it’s a great way to gain mental clarity. By eliminating their focus on food, many people are able to become more introspective and honest with themselves about their goals and current status in life.
Since fasting is a deeply spiritual practice, it heavily emphasizes the importance of that inner voice in your head. Here are some more spiritual benefits of fasting:
- When we stop catering to our physical needs, we are able to concentrate on what we need spiritually
- Fasting increases your will-power. It’s tough to deny your physical desires, but controlling our temptations helps us to increase our inner strength.
If you are interested in meditation, fasting is a great way to purge your body so you can cleanse your mind.
So, is fasting safe? Fasting for a day or two definitely won’t hurt you if you are a generally healthy person. However, if you fast repeatedly or don’t eat for prolonged periods of time, it can become harmful. Your body has certain caloric and vitamin needs that come directly from what you eat. By continually fasting, you are depriving your body of much-needed vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. This can cause a whole slew of symptoms including irritability, fatigue, dizziness, dehydrated, and gallstones.
Even short-term fasting isn’t recommended for pregnant women or diabetics because it can cause dangerous highs and lows in blood sugar levels. Before you decide to embark on a fasting regimen, consult your doctor to find out whether it is safe strategy for you!
