MORE ON THE AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING
A few days ago, I wrote Part I of this short series on juice fasting and juice feasting. Today I'd like to continue discussing this topic by saying a few more things about FASTING itself.
I believe that juice fasting and juice feasting are keys to good nutrition and tips to eating healthy with the Uri Feast.
In today's posting, I will continue on this topic of fasting, and I will explain in greater detail WHY FASTING IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO REGAIN YOUR HEALTH AND REJUVENATE YOUR BODY
The primary causes of physical health problems and aging are found in the processes of cell metabolism and cell regeneration.
According to Hans Selye, the famous Canadian stress doctor and author of The Stress of Life, "Life, the biological chain that holds our parts together, is only as strong as its weakest vital link." In other words, you are as young or as old as your smallest vital links, which are your CELLS. Yes, it's true: YOU ARE AS YOUNG OR AS OLD AS YOUR CELLS!
AGING takes place when your normal process of cell regeneration and rebuilding slows down, which is caused primarily by the accumulation of waste products in the tissues which interferes with the nourishment of your cells. Each of your cells is a complete living entity with its own metabolism, and each of your cells needs a continuous supply of oxygen and sufficient nutritive substances for nourishment.
Dr. Paavo Airola, world-famous nutritionist and naturopathic doctor, states, "When due to nutritional deficiencies, sluggish metabolism, sedentary life, overeating and consequent poor digestion and assimilation of food, lack of fresh air and sufficient exercise and rest, our cells are deprived of the nourishment they need, they start to degenerate and break down, the normal process of cell replacement and rebuilding slows down and your body starts to grow old, its resistance to diseases will diminish and various ills will start to appear. This may happen at any age. Sluggish metabolism, constipation, and consequent inefficient elimination causes retention and accumulation of toxic wastes in the tissues which interfere with the nourishment of the cells, causing disease and premature aging."
At any specific time, only about half of your CELLS are in the peak of development, vitality, and in good working condition. One fourth are usually in the process of dying and being replaced, while the other fourth are in the process of development and growth. The healthy vital life-processes and youth are only maintained when there is perfect balance in this process of cell break-down and replacement. If the CELLS are breaking down and dying faster than the new cells are being built, then the process of AGING begins to set in. It is very important that the aging and dying cells are decomposed and eliminated from the system in an efficient manner because fast and efficient elimination of dead cells stimulates the building and growth of NEW CELLS.
HERE'S WHERE FASTING COMES IN AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO RESTORE YOUR HEALTH AND REJUVENATE YOUR BODY.
During a FAST, the process of eliminating dying and dead cells is accelerated, and the building of new cells is stimulated and speeded up. According to Dr. Airola, "At the same time the toxic waste products that interfere with the nourishment of the cells are effectively eliminated and the normal metabolic rate and cell oxygenation are restored."
HOW AND WHY FASTING CAN ACCOMPLISH SUCH AMAZING RESULTS
First, after the first three days of a prolonged fast, your body will start to live on its own substance. In other words, when your body is deprived of food, it will burn and digest its own tissues (cells) by the process of "autolysis" or self-digestion. However, your body will not do this indiscriminately. In its God-given wisdom, your body will first decompose and burn those cells and tissues which are diseased, damaged, aging, or dead. When you fast, your body will naturally feed itself first on the most impure and inferior materials, such as dead cells and morbid accumulations, abscesses, tumors, fat deposits, damaged tissues, etc. These dead and inferior cells and tissues are utilized and consumed first, while the vital organs and essential tissues, the glands, the brain, and the nervous system, are spared. It is for this reason that Dr. Buchinger Sr., one of the greatest fasting authorities, refers to fasting as "a burning of rubbish," and a "refuse disposal." In summary, this self-digestion is the hidden secret to the extraordinary effectiveness of fasting as a health-restoring and rejuvenating therapy!
Second, during the process of fasting, not only are the old and diseased cells and tissues decomposed and burned up, but the building of healthy NEW CELLS is stimulated and accelerated. This may seem impossible since no food or only a limited amount of nourishment in the case of a juice fast, is supplied; however, this is a physiological fact. During a fast, the proteins needed for new cell building are resynthesized from the decomposed cells. In this way the body is able to use and re-use the same proteins and other nutrients over and over where they are needed.
Third, during a fast, the cleansing and eliminative capacity of the eliminative organs (the lungs, liver, kidney, and skin) is greatly increased, resulting in the quick expelling of masses of accumulated metabolic toxins and wastes. This is due to the fact that the eliminative organs are relieved from the normal task of digesting food and eliminating wastes, and therefore they can concentrate on cleansing the body's tissues of accumulated toxins and wastes. This process of elimination is evidenced by typical fasting symptoms such as offensive breath, dark urine, skin eruptions, perspiration, continuous and generous discharge from the colon with enema, catarrhal elimination of mucus, etc.
Fourth, during a fast, the digestive, assimilative, and protective organs of the body experience a physiological REST. After fasting, food digestion and nutrient absorption is greatly improved, and sluggishness and further waste retention is prevented. In this whole process of fasting and cleansing, the body's rejuvenated cells are supplied with oxygen and nutrients more efficiently.
Lastly, the process of fasting exerts a normalizing, stabilizing, and rejuvenating effect on all the vital mental, nervous, and physiological functions of the body. Glandular chemistry and hormonal secretions are stimulated, the nervous system is rejuvenated, biochemical and mineral balance in the cells is normalized, and mental powers are improved.
As a final note, I'd like to share the fact that I practice fasting once a week for health reasons, as well as for spiritual reasons. It's a great habit to develop and one that you may consider establishing as you start the upcoming new year. And always remember, fasting and juice fasting are keys to good nutrition and eating healthy with the Uri Feast.
To your health,
Josiah Friberg
Health and Nutrition Educator
The primary causes of physical health problems and aging are found in the processes of cell metabolism and cell regeneration.
According to Hans Selye, the famous Canadian stress doctor and author of The Stress of Life, "Life, the biological chain that holds our parts together, is only as strong as its weakest vital link." In other words, you are as young or as old as your smallest vital links, which are your CELLS. Yes, it's true: YOU ARE AS YOUNG OR AS OLD AS YOUR CELLS!
AGING takes place when your normal process of cell regeneration and rebuilding slows down, which is caused primarily by the accumulation of waste products in the tissues which interferes with the nourishment of your cells. Each of your cells is a complete living entity with its own metabolism, and each of your cells needs a continuous supply of oxygen and sufficient nutritive substances for nourishment.
Dr. Paavo Airola, world-famous nutritionist and naturopathic doctor, states, "When due to nutritional deficiencies, sluggish metabolism, sedentary life, overeating and consequent poor digestion and assimilation of food, lack of fresh air and sufficient exercise and rest, our cells are deprived of the nourishment they need, they start to degenerate and break down, the normal process of cell replacement and rebuilding slows down and your body starts to grow old, its resistance to diseases will diminish and various ills will start to appear. This may happen at any age. Sluggish metabolism, constipation, and consequent inefficient elimination causes retention and accumulation of toxic wastes in the tissues which interfere with the nourishment of the cells, causing disease and premature aging."
At any specific time, only about half of your CELLS are in the peak of development, vitality, and in good working condition. One fourth are usually in the process of dying and being replaced, while the other fourth are in the process of development and growth. The healthy vital life-processes and youth are only maintained when there is perfect balance in this process of cell break-down and replacement. If the CELLS are breaking down and dying faster than the new cells are being built, then the process of AGING begins to set in. It is very important that the aging and dying cells are decomposed and eliminated from the system in an efficient manner because fast and efficient elimination of dead cells stimulates the building and growth of NEW CELLS.
HERE'S WHERE FASTING COMES IN AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO RESTORE YOUR HEALTH AND REJUVENATE YOUR BODY.
During a FAST, the process of eliminating dying and dead cells is accelerated, and the building of new cells is stimulated and speeded up. According to Dr. Airola, "At the same time the toxic waste products that interfere with the nourishment of the cells are effectively eliminated and the normal metabolic rate and cell oxygenation are restored."
HOW AND WHY FASTING CAN ACCOMPLISH SUCH AMAZING RESULTS
First, after the first three days of a prolonged fast, your body will start to live on its own substance. In other words, when your body is deprived of food, it will burn and digest its own tissues (cells) by the process of "autolysis" or self-digestion. However, your body will not do this indiscriminately. In its God-given wisdom, your body will first decompose and burn those cells and tissues which are diseased, damaged, aging, or dead. When you fast, your body will naturally feed itself first on the most impure and inferior materials, such as dead cells and morbid accumulations, abscesses, tumors, fat deposits, damaged tissues, etc. These dead and inferior cells and tissues are utilized and consumed first, while the vital organs and essential tissues, the glands, the brain, and the nervous system, are spared. It is for this reason that Dr. Buchinger Sr., one of the greatest fasting authorities, refers to fasting as "a burning of rubbish," and a "refuse disposal." In summary, this self-digestion is the hidden secret to the extraordinary effectiveness of fasting as a health-restoring and rejuvenating therapy!
Second, during the process of fasting, not only are the old and diseased cells and tissues decomposed and burned up, but the building of healthy NEW CELLS is stimulated and accelerated. This may seem impossible since no food or only a limited amount of nourishment in the case of a juice fast, is supplied; however, this is a physiological fact. During a fast, the proteins needed for new cell building are resynthesized from the decomposed cells. In this way the body is able to use and re-use the same proteins and other nutrients over and over where they are needed.
Third, during a fast, the cleansing and eliminative capacity of the eliminative organs (the lungs, liver, kidney, and skin) is greatly increased, resulting in the quick expelling of masses of accumulated metabolic toxins and wastes. This is due to the fact that the eliminative organs are relieved from the normal task of digesting food and eliminating wastes, and therefore they can concentrate on cleansing the body's tissues of accumulated toxins and wastes. This process of elimination is evidenced by typical fasting symptoms such as offensive breath, dark urine, skin eruptions, perspiration, continuous and generous discharge from the colon with enema, catarrhal elimination of mucus, etc.
Fourth, during a fast, the digestive, assimilative, and protective organs of the body experience a physiological REST. After fasting, food digestion and nutrient absorption is greatly improved, and sluggishness and further waste retention is prevented. In this whole process of fasting and cleansing, the body's rejuvenated cells are supplied with oxygen and nutrients more efficiently.
Lastly, the process of fasting exerts a normalizing, stabilizing, and rejuvenating effect on all the vital mental, nervous, and physiological functions of the body. Glandular chemistry and hormonal secretions are stimulated, the nervous system is rejuvenated, biochemical and mineral balance in the cells is normalized, and mental powers are improved.
As a final note, I'd like to share the fact that I practice fasting once a week for health reasons, as well as for spiritual reasons. It's a great habit to develop and one that you may consider establishing as you start the upcoming new year. And always remember, fasting and juice fasting are keys to good nutrition and eating healthy with the Uri Feast.
To your health,
Josiah Friberg
Health and Nutrition Educator
