The influence of fasting

We eat much more than we need to

I am sure and it is my belief that you cannot say fasting is more important than exercise or eating vs exercise is gradually different — we need both. In modern societies, people are not really active. In addition to that, we eat more than we require. This leads to a vicious circle of eating too much food, which brings energy into the body that can not be used, and due to a sedentary lifestyle, leads to obesity and metabolic problems. So, at the end of the day, we need both to stay healthy. We have to eat according to how active we are, but we also have to be physically active because that’s how humans are meant to be.

If you look at athletes, they have to eat more because they are physically active. Hundred years ago, people were more physically active in their work, so they had to eat more. These days, people sit at the computer, not climbing stairs and taking the elevators, etc. The only activity is, moving  the computer mouse. In that case, we do not need a lot of energy, but we do eat like people did hundred years ago —  and that is our major problem.

Other benefits of fasting besides weight loss 

The benefits of fasting in whichever way, is mainly to protect our health. All our civilisatoric diseases are related to overeating. Weight loss is not the major aim of fasting. Mainly, we want to stay as healthy as possible and we also can treat different diseases by fasting. But in that way, fasting can be compared to a surgery without knife and you need a well-educated and trained physician to guide you through this period of fasting as a medical treatment. 

Of course, fasting is not only the way to eliminate physical waste, it is also a way to clear the mind and to undergo an emotional cleansing process. You can compare it to looking in a mirror to see the inside of your body, soul and spirit. If you look at religions across the world, almost every founder recommended fasting and practised fasting himself, before he formed his religious and spiritual thesis. We do have a lot of clients who fast with an aim to clear their mind and thinking. Also, they look at it as a way to improve concentration and creativity, which is important for their professional success.

Historical context behind fasting

Historically, I am sure, we had always periods of fasting during the process of evolution of human beings. In those days, our forefathers didn’t have a huge meal or three meals in a day. They were hunters and gatherers, and of course, there were always days in between, where they did not get enough to eat, which is also a kind of fasting. Therefore, periods of fasting have been always part of human life.