How to Begin a Long Fast

To fast is to willfully abstain from eating and drinking. There are several popular reasons for choosing to go on a fast, including religious or spiritual purposes, desire to cleanse the body of toxins, and weight loss. A person may decide to fast for a short amount of time, while others may choose to fast for much longer. In order to complete a longer fast, a person needs to know how to go about it in a healthy manner.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine how long the fast will last. A fast is considered long if it lasts more than seven days. If it is longer than a week, you should get medical supervision. A doctor will monitor your vital signs and make sure that you are healthy enough to complete a long fast.

• 2

  Choose what you will specifically abstain from. Some people will not consume food or drink. Others abstain from food but allow liquids such as water, juice, and lemonade.Some people simply incorporate some solid food into a fast, such as fruit or rice. The amount of food is kept at a minimum, however.

• 3

  Start out slow. If you have never fasted before, it is recommended that you start out with a 24-hour fast and then build up from there. This will help you gauge how your body reacts to it.

• 4

  Integrate food slowly when you end the fast. Eat easy to digest foods and keep away from spicy or grainy elements. The reason for this is due to the fact that fasting affects the production of enzymes and the mucus lining on a stomach. Going slowly at first helps the body re-acclimate to eating normally again.