What's Up With Fasting?

Have you noticed that fasting has entered into the mainstream of diet fads? You may have heard the term “intermittent fasting” or seen the ads for a diet program that helps you jump on the intermittent fasting bandwagon. You may also have heard me say that Living WOW isn’t a diet or a fad but rather a lifestyle of awareness and a series of perpetual choices.

So when I’m asked about intermittent fasting the reality is that it is an integral part of Living WOW but probably not for the reasons you might expect. When I examined the rhythm of Living WOW that helps maintain the structure for awareness and choice I realized that fasting has always been a part of my lifestyle and I learned very early in my life the benefits of fasting although I didn’t appreciate the far-reaching effects.

As with all things Living WOW, fasting is extremely individual based on your body and your journey but there are general truths that benefit anyone as you learn to apply the principle of fasting. As you internalize this external behavior you will find the rhythm that supports you best. For the sake of examination and education, I will share with you my knowledge and experience with fasting across the continuum in which I practice and benefit.

I was first taught to fast by my mother who was well ahead of her time with lifestyle medicine, which of course, I didn’t recognize or appreciate until I came into my own realization and study of health and the critical lifestyle component. As a family, we participated in a religious practice of fasting monthly and donating the money we would use for the food we were abstaining from to donate to the needy.

It was during these formative years of my life that my mother taught me that the physical act of fasting was a way to set aside the physical needs of the body to be more closely in tune with our spirit and connect with God. I witnessed my mother frequently fasting when she needed spiritual guidance or healing. Of course, throughout all time and religions fasting has been used as a conduit for prayer to connect with the divine.

As I fell into nutritional healing and became curious about ancient and alternative healing methods, the toxicity of our planet and lifestyle became strikingly clear to me. I recognized that many of the diseases that are rampant in our world are because of the toxins that are poisoning our systems. Our bodies are designed to offload toxins and keep rogue cells in check. However, I couldn’t deny that supporting the systems of detoxification made sense because of the sheer volume and novelty of these toxins in the modern world. As I began to be aware of toxins and strategically eliminate or minimize them in my lifestyle my health dramatically improved. As I began to intentionally support the systems of detoxification regularly I found that fasting and cleansing go hand in hand.