By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Fasting has been known to man and beast since the beginning of time. Long before established religions, prehistoric man as well as animals instinctively refrained from eating when sick, thereby clearing the system from poisonous toxins. That was their first method of cure. Man also fasted to appease the gods, to seek pardon for his sins, or to mourn the dead. While its origins are unknown, it is as natural as is eating, sleeping, laughing and crying. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and other Eastern religions were quick to adopt fasting as a form of penance, a spiritual healing process of purification and communion with God. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan because it is ordained to them in the Holy Quran. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and thus one of the major acts of worship. By abandoning worldly pleasures a Muslim draws closer to God and "shields himself from Hell-fire". Abstaining from food and drink is not enough. Abstaining from all evils, falsehoods and indecency is essential, thus inspiring patience, tolerance, and brotherhood. The Holy Quran tells Muslims that fasting was prescribed for "those who came before them", meaning Christians and Jews. Christians look to the example of Jesus who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before he started his preaching. This desire for closeness to God and to God's goodness empowers us and sustains us throughout the fast. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics, over 18 and under 59, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes abstinence from all animal products, wines and spirits during Lent and Advent, so does the English Reformation Church and most American Protestants. Some Protestant denominations, like the Reformers, criticise fasting as a purely external observance. The Jewish calendar reserves seven days for fasting. Tisha B'Av, a 25- hour fast, is a major fast day that mourns the destruction of the first and second Jewish Temple, the Jewish expulsion from Spain and other tragedies that have befallen them. The second major fast day is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The five other days are the Fast of Gedaliah, the Fast of the 10th of Tevet, the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz, the Fast of Esther, and the Fast of the firstborn, which takes place before Passover and only applies to firstborn sons. Hindus observe a fast on Ekadasi (the 11th day of each lunar fortnight) involving abstinence from food and water from the previous day's sunset to 48 minutes after the following day's sunrise. Philosophers, scientists and physicians have all resorted to fasting as a healing process. We fast before a surgical procedure that requires anaesthesia in order to avoid the possibility of regurgitating food products and aspirating them, which could be fatal. The best single human known for using fasting for political purposes is India's leader Mahatma Gandhi. He effectively invented what is now known as the "hunger strike". Distressed by the partition of India and the civil war between Muslims and Hindus, Gandhi resolved to fast until the fighting stopped. "By doing so he became a spokesman for the conscience of all mankind, said Albert Einstein." Following in his footsteps were many freedom fighters including Martin Luther King Jr, Cesar Chavez, among others. Fasting is a multidimensional experience in which total body transformation occurs. Every fasting method, be it liquid, broth, herbal teas, fruit and vegetable juices, or total abstinence, cleanses toxins from our bodies producing a wide range of metabolic changes and experiences: "Our body breathes naturally and cleanses itself." Its benefits are many among which are a heightened awareness and relaxation of body, mind and emotions. All past pains are abandoned and a positive attitude towards the present and the future is developed. Unless you experience it personally, it is hard to describe its cool, crisp, heady effects, its many merits and marvels, its sense of peace and tranquillity. Penitence, purification, sacrifice, and mourning have all been reasons for fasting in many forms of worship. This union with God brought about by the elevation of the spiritual state has added to the powers of many prophets like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Christ, and Mohamed. Fasting releases toxins from the colon, kidney, bladder, lungs, sinuses, and has been beneficial and successful in treating certain conditions such as colds, diabetes, flu, fever, bronchitis, fatigue, headaches, back pain, constipation, mental illness, allergies, cancer, asthma, obesity, insomnia, and skin problems. A Norwegian study in 1994 showed that a seven- day fast of patients with rheumatoid arthritis resulted in a significant improvement in the patient's ability to grip, a reduction of pain and swelling, and an improved general functional ability. The benefits were lost when the patients fell back to unhealthy eating habits. Some of the physiological effects of fasting include a lowering of blood sugar, cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure. Detoxification is an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin dependent diabetes, obesity, and essential hypertension. Fasting is considered "the single greatest healing therapy". It is nature's universal remedy for many problems caused by our food intake or nourishment. It is the missing link in a healthy diet. "The effectiveness of fasting as a life extension measure is fairly well backed by experimental evidence," writes John Mann in Secrets of Life Extension, SF 1980. Rats that were made to fast one day out of three throughout their lives while eating normally on other days, achieved a 20 per cent increase in lifespan compared to non-fasting rats. In many cases we mimic rats in reaction. Fasting for health has been an integral part of naturopathic medicine for more that a century in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and North America. Sir Robert McCarrison studying health patterns in India in 1958, deduced that the right nutrients, whether fasting or not is more essential in order to sustain healthy living. "The Lancet", a very conservative medical journal regards supervised fasting as extremely safe. In all fairness we must draw attention to many medical dissensions. Side effects of fasting may result in malnutrition, anaemia and other health hazards. It may be particularly harmful to the liver. Juice fasting is a preferred method by European clinics, which is considered less harsh than strictly water and/or herbal teas. Prolonged fasting (over 30-40 days) leads to loss of water, sodium, potassium, with the destruction of lean and vital tissues needed for healthy living. It is particularly dangerous for children. Islam prohibits fasting for children. The Essenes, an early Christian sect, believed that our body is a temple that needs purification for God to reside there. The ancient Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Hippocrates, all used to believe in fasting therapy. Through fasting, proponents believe, we can turn our energies inward where we can use them for healing, clarity and change. Talk as we may, the bulk of mankind will continue to indulge. Most people eat too often, too much, and eat the wrong foods. We pick and choose, take and leave, pamper and pander, we give in to impulses without paying heed to consequences. Imagine if we consider fasts from phones, computers, TVs, cars, to which we are all addicted. Fasting is taking a break from food. We go on vacations from work to relax, recharge and gain new perspectives in our life. Why not from three meals a day. Whoever ordained three meals a day? Do we need all that food? Food is an allergy, even an addiction, like any other which produces toxicity. Always slow in comprehension, slow in imagination, we need to break the drowsy spell of habit and give our poor overworked stomachs a much needed rest. In Mahatma Gandhi's own words: Fasting is an institution as old as Adam It is the truest prayer used for self purification, cleansing the body, mind and soul. It crucifies the flesh and to that extent sets the soul free.
