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IMPORTANCE OF FASTING

The best medicines of all are resting and fasting

 Benjamin Franklin

Fasting is willingly staying away from food or reduction in intake. However, there are several schools of thought for this when it comes to being defined at a religious or spiritual level. There is no such obligation but it an act of cleansing oneself religiously or spiritually and somewhere satisfying our souls and mind.

Every religion has its own practice of keeping fast for auspicious occasions. As some feel it as a way to connect with the almighty and attain spiritualism in life. There are many such festivals where fast are kept for one or more than one days like Navratri, Janmashtami, Holi, Karva Chauth and keeping Roza during Ramzan month. There are several good acts followed in keeping fast for a particular occasion; like offering food or giving donations, charity, keeping Pooja, feeding the poor and much more. Several other religions have their own fasting practices too.

Coming to fasting from a health point of view and how it helps metabolism. As we all are aware that nowadays health-conscious people stick to a diet or intermittent fasting. But available resources reveal that body requires everything in the right amount and this if properly planned as a diet chart or by keeping fast can yield wonderful results.

These can include maintaining proper weight as fasting is more effective in burning fat cells as compared to dieting. Fasting also helps one to live longer and this is because it is connected with our metabolism. As we grow older our metabolism process slows down by the gradual loss of muscle tissues, fasting helps in speeding up metabolism by preventing degeneration of these muscle tissues. Fasting also helps in the proper balance of hormones which has a deep impact on our overall healthy functioning. 

Another important aspect of fasting is detoxification as well, as much of processed food we consume has a lot of toxic elements, which are absorbed by our body and they settle down causing several health issues. But when we fast the brain adapts itself to this mode such that it starts to work in providing the body the required energy in absence of food.

Finally, it also helps in speeding up metabolism and this is helped by intermittent fasting. There are several such beneficial results of fasting as the list is endless.

Fasting is an amazing idea, given to us by our religious scriptures as it gives us a healthy heart in healthy body and also helps in the spiritual cleansing of our soul.