"The greatest discovery by modern man is the power to rejuvenate himself physically, mentally , and spiritually with rational fasting."
Fasting is considered an important medicine in Ayurveda, as long as it is not a long-term fast that would deplete the individual. It’s nature’s ancient, universal remedy for numerous ailments. By expelling ama (toxic buildup) from our digestive system, fasting frees up energy for healing and strengthens the immune system.
In modern life, we are bombarded with many new fads in fasting, juice cleansing, lemon fasts, water fasts—the list goes on. It’s hard to know which are helpful and which are harmful. In Ayurveda, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to fasting. Furthermore, some of these popular fasts can actually be detrimental if they’re incompatible with an individual’s unique constitution. A fast that may be good for one person isn’t necessarily good for another. It is important to take your constitution into consideration when choosing a fast.
Fasting in a larger context means to abstain from that which is toxic to the mind, body, and soul. One way to approach fasting is to think of it as the elimination of physical, emotional, and mental toxins from our being, rather than simply cutting down or stopping food intake. Fasting for spiritual purposes usually involves some degree of removal of oneself from worldly responsibilities. It can mean complete silence and social isolation during the fast, which can be immensely restorative to those of us who have been directing our energy outward. When fasting with a spiritual intent, one withdraws from everything that is toxic to the mind, body, and spirit. This allows the mind to become freer, to achieve higher states of spiritual communion, and to release ama from the mind and the body.
Ayurvedic fasting is an effective way to kindle the digestive fire and burn away accumulated toxins from the body and mind. It also eliminates gas, makes the body light, improves mental clarity, and preserves overall health. Ayurveda favors regular, short-term fasting over infrequent, long-term fasting. Short-term fasting could entail fasting on the same day each week or setting a few days aside each month to fast, depending on your constitution and cleansing requirements. Ayurveda suggests that a more extended fasting is best at the change of each season. According to Ayurveda, fasting for up to a week can cause metabolic imbalances that can take months to rectify.
In determining the appropriate type and length of a fast, it’s important to take into account your constitution, digestive strength, level of ama, and overall vitality. It’s never advisable to deplete your energy during a fast. If you’re new to fasting or have a chronic illness, we recommend consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner for specifically tailored guidance.
If you are of vata constitution you should never fast on water or undertake any other severely restricted diet, nor should you fast for more than two days at a time. Consuming light foods, such as kitchari and conjee, is a good option for the vata constitution. Vata individuals can fast once a month or at the change of seasons.
Pitta individuals can fast on liquids, such as, fruit or vegetable juices and broths or on lightly cooked vegetables, but never on water alone. Pitta should never skip on quantity. Ideally they should consume diluted fruit juices, like prune, grape, or pomegranate. Cucumber juice, which is both astringent and bitter in taste, is another good choice, and they should avoid strong, sour-tasting juices. Fasts can last two to three days, and it is suggested that pitta types fast only four times a year, at the change of the seasons. If you are of vata-pitta constitution please add kitchari to your fast, or focus on grounding vegetable broths.
Kapha individuals can easily do prolonged water fasts if they so choose. Otherwise, they many use raw juices or warm vegetable broths. For kapha people to maintain good, strong digestion, they should do weekly fasts, picking one day each week to fast. Kapha types should avoid strong-tasting sweet and sour juices.
Sipping warm teas throughout the day is also a highly effective way to flush out accumulated toxins from the body. Simply place the ingredients in a medium saucepan with 4 cups filtered water, bring the water to a boil for 5 minutes, and then steep for 2 to 5 minutes. Always add the lemon while the tea is steeping. Strain into a teapot or thermos.
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
1 cinnamon or licorice stick
10 fresh basil leaves
Squeeze of lemon juice
Simple fresh ginger tea and a squeeze of lemon is a good option as well.
Note: In juicing, please do not combine fruit and vegetables juices, and be sure to use no more than two different fruits or vegetables at a time. Otherwise slow digestion and bloating could result, and you could reverse the beneficial effects of fasting. It’s best to choose a fasting period in which you’ll be able to follow a peaceful, nonstressful routine. We recommend following daily and nightly routines based on Ayurvedic principles. It’s also important always to break your fasts properly. The most important rule to remember is to begin eating again gradually, slowly working your way up to solid foods.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease.