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Is Fasting Beneficial?

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In preparation of the first full day of fasting, you may want to spend a few days "pre-cleansing" by cutting certain foods, such as fatty and sugary foods, from your diet. Substances such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol should also be avoided. The first full-day fast lasting up to 36 hours -- from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day -- will give new fasters an idea of what fasting is like. You may experience hunger, irritability or even headaches, but this will usually pass after you move through a two-day fast. From one-day fasts, you can move on to two- or three-day fasts with normal eating days in between. Then if you're comfortable and beginning to experience benefits, you can move on to five- to seven-day fasts. Consult your doctor before continuing a fast longer than seven days.

While fasting, be sure to schedule regular time for relaxation, meditation and fresh air. This is just as important to the detoxification of your body as the fast is. Juice fasts are the most recommended. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are easily digested and absorbed into the body and provide some of the crucial nutrition your body needs. Those with more nutritional needs may also try smoothies, though milk- and yogurt-based smoothies should be avoided because of the amount of energy and effort it takes the body to digest dairy. When breaking a fast, it is important not to overdo things. The biggest mistake you can make after fasting is overeating. It's recommended that you begin your transition back to solid food with some well-cooked vegetables such as spinach or cabbage, in order to get digestion going again. Grains such as rice can be added on the second day, and then progress can be slowly made to more protein-rich foods.

The science behind fasting is still something of controversy. While some doctors recommend it as a way to lose weight and cleanse the body, others do not. After all, the body does have organs such as the kidneys and liver that are designed to cleanse and detoxify the body. Ultimately, it is up to you and your physician to decide if fasting may be appropriate or beneficial for you.