Fasting: Cleansing or Starving - Research Paper Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade Inserts Here (Day, Month, Year) Fasting; Cleansing or Starving Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food. (Fasting) Fasting is practiced in all religions as a symbol of spiritual reverence and religious observance. Its history dates back to thousands of years into the Stone Age. The purposes and conditions of Fasting have evolved over the ages. Fasting was practiced as a source of gaining spiritual elevation and closeness to the Greatest Existence. Abstinence from worldly desires, which include food and nutrition, is often believed to be the course of obtaining closeness to Him. History also holds accounts where Fasting was done as an observance for the prevention of a foreseen catastrophe and to seek forgiveness for an individual’s own sins. Less than a century ago, history has evidences for Fasting being practiced to record rebellion and resistance, especially in the subcontinent by a Hindu leader named Mahatma Gandhi. His fasts allegedly were triumphant over oppression and hence are attributed for the administration of peace in the region. Similar discourse was also employed by Martin Luther King to demand and approve humane treatment of African Americans who then faced similar trials and brutality on the hands of Native Americans. (Dowling) Earlier Christian accounts depict that Fasting was also associated with penitence and purification and was therefore made a prerequisite for the ordination of Priests and Popes. There have also been accounts where Fasting was practiced as compensatory return for the fulfillment of a person’s desires. Fasting has been in practice since time unknown. Some replications of those who observed fasts are also existent in Buddhism. These noble beings, by relinquishing all worldly needs and desires, portrayed absolute spirituality. Hinduism also contains references of fasts observed for spiritual cleanliness and for repentance. (What is Fasting) However, Islam dedicates the entire month of Ramadan to obligatory fasting as religious observance. The concept of voluntary fasting is also present in Islam regarding fasts kept on days other than the month of Ramadan. Today, however, Fasting is widely practiced for both religious and scientific reasons discussed ahead. There are three types of fasts which further have an assortment of variations. The three broad categories include Dry or Absolute Fasting, Liquid Fasting and Partial Fasting. (Types of Fasting) Dry Fasting refers to abstinence from both food and liquids. It is often observed as religious rituals and for spiritual purification. Dry Fasts, due to their extreme nature, are observed for short time periods only. Moreover, Dry Fasts’ history dates back to thousands of years when it was practiced by the Chinese as a method of self discipline. Hence the Chinese Traditions of medicine and acupuncture have heavy influences from this ritual. Furthermore, nowadays, Absolute Fasts are not recommended by most people for its extremity. Liquid Fasting, as the name implies, is abstinence from all solid foods and instead sustenance on liquids. Its variations include Water Fasting and Juice Fasting. An individual observing a Liquid fast forgoes all solid intakes and instead consumes prescribed liquids only. Water Fasts allow the intake of Water only whereas the more recent Juice Fasts allow the intake of juices for complementing the body requirements of nutrients nonexistent in water. Water Fasting predates Juice fasting considerably. Liquid Fasting, for its flexibility and moderateness, is more recommended than Dry Fasting. Liquid Fasting is practiced more for physical and scientific reasons rather religious reasons. Last but not the least; Partial Fasting includes partial abstinence from nutrition. It implies that the individual observing this type of fast can consume selective foods and liquids. This “selective” nature of the fast makes it Partial Fasting. This type of Fasting is relatively recent to all types of fasting and is observed solely for medical and health purposes in contrast with other fasts observed for religious inclinations. The variations of Partial Fasting are infinite for its unbounded flexibility. However, since all types of fasting involve abstinence, hence all types of fasting have similar results evidenced by numerous records. Fasting has numerous benefits attached with it. The benefits include the ancient traditional purposes of fasting, which were aimed at spiritual clarity and closeness to the Ultimate Truth as already mentioned. Even nowadays, Fasting is practiced feverously as religious observances all over the world. All religions have retained this ritual in their obligations, thus we find fasting still embedded in the Books as a sacrilegious practice. Some religions also contain instructions regarding when to observe fasts to maximize the spiritual benefits. However, scientific developments have discovered benefits of fasting apart from the religious aspects. Nutritionists have also studied the effects of fasting extensively and have concluded that fasting is beneficial for healthy lifestyles. Amateur Science explains the effect of fasting in terms of decreased or “slow” metabolism rate with the decrease in food intake, so once a person resumes normal intake, the reduced metabolism induces more storage of nutrients and hence weight is gained. However, this is not the case. Fasting makes the metabolism more effective and efficient, resulting in conservation of energy for other bodily functions. (Coghill) This means that normal bodily functioning is by no means diminished, rather, the process is made more efficient for maximum yield. Also, fasting detoxifies the body by which harmful toxins injurious to health are removed. Consuming diets high in carbohydrates and fats that we generally do can cause a buildup of unnecessary deposits in the digestive tract and other vital parts of the body. During Fast, the entire biological system of the human body is rid of these unnecessary deposits which hinder proper absorption of nutrients. (Healthy eating and diet) This results in efficient absorption of nutrients and hence the body retrieves more energy from less food. Consequently, the body’s demand for food is lower and the digestion is proficient. It is also noted that Fasting, in terms of reduced metabolism, slows the aging process of the body, giving the body several additional healthy years of life. Fasting is also accredited for mental clarity, balanced nervous system, and safe and rapid weight loss without flab or stretch marks in addition to numerous other benefits which include rapid healing and rejuvenation process of the human body, healthier skin, lighter and freer body and increased ability to discipline oneself. (Fasting) Numerous sources support these observations. Mental fogging is scientifically linked with burdened digestive tract. Hence when the body is rid of this burden due to fasting, greater mental clarity has been observed. Also, reports indicate that fasting aids the rejuvenation of the cells in body. The natural process of the body by which old cells are broken down and new cells produced is aided by fasting. Hence, rapid healing is attributed with fasting. According to other resources, fasting changes the metabolism of the body greatly and effects all processes of the body, but also takes the body towards prevention of numerous diseases. (Roan) Hence fasting does not only keep the body healthy but also prevents the onslaught of ailments. Some sources claim fasting strengthens the body’s immune system and boosts the body’s natural killer protector cells, which explains its diminished proneness to diseases. Fasting has also been necessitated for medical purposes whereby fasting is compelled on those undergoing medical examinations so that more reliable measurements are obtained regarding the medical tests. Fasting has proved to assist proper and comparable readings concerning tests. Often, food administration alters the composition of the bodily fluids and can therefore hinder reliable results of tests. For this reason, tests are often carried out on fasting bodies. Fasting is also attributed with longevity. Though scientific research has not been made on this subject, it has been widely observed that those individuals who practice fasting live longer. Long lives are basically related to healthy lifestyles resulting from the observance of fasts, hence is indirectly related to Fasting. Fasting is also psychologically preferred as a method of curing mental ailments like depression. Fasting induces mind clarity and also reduces negative thoughts and pessimism, contributing towards mental health. Numerous researches have been conducted on this subject with widespread results in support of this cause. Fasting also allegedly improves the Chemotherapy results in Cancer Patients. (Coghill) Temporary fasting before chemotherapy has resulted in enhanced malignant cell destruction and natural cell preservation. Fast strengthens the normal cells and makes them resistant to destruction by Chemotherapy. Extensive research is yet to be done on this subject. However, the research at St. Theodore’s Hospital at Sagada supports this cause. However, extensive fasting can cause lethargy and fatigue. The bodily requirements of nutrition, if not fulfilled for long durations, can cause starvation and even death. Hence it is never advised to Fast with unbounded continuity. On the contrary, intermittent fasting is more popular with researchers and people alike. Intermittent Fasting is more suitable because it ensures the bodily requirements are not ignored. Hence it is not only easier to fast intermittently, but also medically beneficial for the body. Fasting is not suitable for everyone. There are some conditions in which Fasting can prove to be unhealthy rather than being infinitely beneficial. Some sources state that fasting is detrimental for certain patients and can prove to worsen their medical conditions rather than aid the healing process in them. Dr. Hellerstein’s research also holds evidences that Fasting not only changes the body’s methodology of using energy but also alters other vital operations of the body. The hormone levels fall, Growth stops and Reproduction becomes impossible. Hence Fasting is strictly prohibited for pregnant women. Also, looking at this evidence, those individuals interested in these attributes are not advised to Fast. Fasting is more appropriately linked with cleansing rather than starvation. When the body detoxifies and gets rid of harmful buildups in the body, it is referred to as cleansing. On the other hand, Starvation results when the body starts using up its vital tissues after all unhealthy deposits have been removed and the body is not being supplied with its daily requirements. Fasting, in its truest sense, does not imply abstinence to the extent of starvation. Rather, Fasting is encouraged to be observed for shorter time periods and with consistent supply of energy resources. To sum it all, Fasting has advantages which outnumber its disadvantages incomparably. Whether Fasting is done for religious, physical, medical or psychological reasons, it benefits everyone. No individual fasting for a particular reason is deprived of the other benefits attached with it. However, the degree of effectiveness is greatest with Dry Fasting and decreases with Liquid and Partial Fasting. Nevertheless, some benefits are reaped from all types of fasting. Though Fasting proves to be an age old traditional remedy for numerous purposes, modern scientific research has not only supported all attributes of fasting but also it has discovered several other benefits formerly unknown to people. If practiced properly, Fasting implies cleansing of the human body in contrast to starvation. Hence it will not be wrong to say that Fasting holds the key for Healthy Body and Healthy Lifestyle. References Coghill, T. "Fasting Archives." 13 May 2010. Fasting.ws. 26 July 2011 . Dowling, M. "Partition." 11 July 2005. MrDowling. 26 July 2011 . "Fasting." Dictionary.com. 26 July 2011 . "Fasting." Falconblanco. 26 July 2011 . "Healthy eating and diet." Web MD. 26 July 2011 . Roan, S. "Running on empty: the pros and cons of fasting." 2 February 2009. Los Angeles Times. 26 July 2011 . "Types of Fasting." All about fasting. 26 July 2011 . "What is Fasting." Where God builds disciples. 26 July 2011 . Read More