Fasting

The purpose of fasting is that it gives the overburdened, congested internal organs a rest and time to heal and regenerate themselves. It can be a spiritual experience, bringing inner peace, clarity, insight, discipline, will power and deep gratitude.

Fasting is good for cleaning out your system and for breaking deep-seated addictions, such as emotional eating, smoking, caffeine, alcohol and drug use.

It is important to prepare for a fast at least one week ahead. This is done by going on a cleansing diet, which means eat only low stress food, such as fruits, salads, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. As well as eliminating all refined foods; sugars, flours, dairy, fried foods, meats and alcohol.

It is a good idea to drink more fresh vegetable juices and eat less and less food until the day you begin the cleanse Get sufficient rest, exercise and drink more water. Clean out the fridge and cupboards, make room for new healthy choices.

Also prepare your home and family, for your cleanse, ask for their support, not to tempt or ridicule you. Instead explain to them why this is important to you, ask them to join you, at least in eating a more cleansing diet. Finish up your business, so you can rest. You may even plan to fast away from home. Time to retreat?

During the fast it is common to experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, moodiness, headaches, nausea, coated tongue, coldness and tiredness. Having a cup of tea with raw honey, some vegetable broth or a fruit juice juice that’s less cleansing for a while, or doing an enema and rest when needed, helps a lot.

Modified fast is for those who are in poor health (kidney, liver disease, hypoglycemia etc), pregnant and lactating women. An option to fasting on fresh juices and water, is to eat small amounts of food like sprouts, raw fruits, raw vegetables, water melon and brown rice. The body will still cleanse and rejuvenate. Find a fast that works for you.

After the fast it is important to gradually start eating a regular diet. Break the fast with a fruit or a cooked yam, go back to the cleansing diet for another week, Then slowly add regular foods, but keep it healthy, organic, as raw as possible. Be mindful!

Ninaya offers personalized fasting programs, as well as a quaterly weekend group program, "The Raw Cleanse" that will guide through your fasting experience.