How Does It Feel to Fast and Is It For You?

Last week, we talked at length about fasting: what is it, how to do it, and what benefits you might get from this process. But you might be wondering: how does it feel to fast?

This week, we want to expand upon the subject so you can know what to expect when you fast, and you can decide if it's the right thing for you. Let's dig in!

What Is Fasting?

Fasting is a process in which you abstain from eating and/or drinking for a period of time. In general, there are two ways to fast, each of one will make you feel different.

• Intermittent fasting is a practice that involves eating only during certain hours of the day and abstaining during the others. The most popular schedule for intermittent fasting is eight eating hours, with sixteen hours of fasting; and
• Prolonged fasting, is a type of fast that lasts at least for a full day.

Both of these types of fast may allow drinking water or other drinks, like herbal tea. Dr. Sebi would accompany his fasts with agua de tamarindo (tamarind water), Green Food and Bromide Plus. Those products would provide him with all the nourishment his body needed during the fast.

How does it feel to fast? Whatever type of fast you do, you might experience some symptoms, which are better to know of in advance so you can prepare mentally and physically for them.

How Does It Feel to Fast?

1. Hunger. As you start a fast and skip your first regular "mealtime", it is very likely that you will experience hunger pangs. This might also lead to mood swings, decreased energy levels, and irritability. All of these symptoms are normal, as your body is beginning to experience "gluconeogenesis". During gluconeogenesis, your liver switches from converting sugar to converting non-carbohydrate materials like lactate, amino acids, and fats into glucose for energy purposes. At this stage, you might feel drained as your basal metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure lowers. Stick it out! You'll likely adjust to this stage.
2. Less Hunger And More Energy. This stage comes once your body has adapted to gluconeogenesis and begins "ketosis". Ketosis happens when your body starts to burn stored fat as its primary power source, so your energy levels return! Once the ketosis process begins, a lot of the benefits of fasting start to happen as well: weight loss and detoxification. Fat stores are used to store toxic metals and other toxins, and during ketosis, they are expelled from your body. Keep going!
3. Fatigue, Diarrhea, Congestion, Skin Break-Outs. The detoxification process can be rough on your body. Your body is expelling toxins accumulated in your fat stores, and delivering them into your bloodstream, impacting on your well-being. This triggers the worst symptoms of a fast: fatigue, diarrhea, congestion, skin break-outs, mood swings, nausea, irritability, stuffy nose, etc. This "healing crisis" varies from person to person, depending on different factors like how poor your eating habits were before the fast, but it usually lasts for up to three days. Depending on the type of fast you're doing, key lime juice and herbal teas may help flush out toxins and provide nutrients and antioxidants, relieving the symptoms. This stage is really tough, but hang in there! You'll get through this!
4. Emotional Detox. Repressed emotions can also surface when you're going through a fast. Unpleasant feelings might appear since you're putting your body through a great deal of stress. Do not be surprised if you have certain memories or feelings like anxiety, depression, sadness, frustration, and resentment come up during your fast. You can relieve these symptoms by upping up your self-care routine. Journaling, massages, and meditation might also be helpful. Be extra kind to yourself, and stay strong!
5. Healing. This is the ultimate goal of a fast. Once you've freed all toxins from your body and you've given your digestive system a very much needed rest, your body can begin to heal from the inside out. In the fasting state, the body will scour for dead cells, damaged tissues, fatty deposits, tumors, abscesses, all of which are burned for fuel or expelled as waste. Fasting allows a deep, physiological rest of the digestive organs, and the energy saved goes into self-healing and self-repairing.

Hurray! You've made it! Now, you can begin to discover and enjoy the incredible benefits of fasting!

Benefits of Fasting

• Clarity. When your body is not busy with digestion, it increases the"plasticity" of your brain's synapses, or how fast they respond to new information. This improves your memory, learning ability, and mood.
• Weight Loss. Fasting makes you more efficient in the process of burning fat for energy. It also allows your body to hit the"reset" button on your appetite by regulating the hormones that promote satiety and fullness, so you learn to understand your hunger cues. This makes it easier to stick to an eating plan, and ultimately, helps you lose or maintain a healthy weight.
• More Energy. After your body adjusts to the complicated processes of gluconeogenesis and ketosis, you'll have a ton of sustainable energy from your body's fat stores. You might have felt depleted and fatigued in earlier stages, but once you adjust, you'll be unstoppable!
• Clear Complexion and Brighter Skin. Fasting improves blood circulation and promotes healing, which will result in brighter skin and fewer acne-scars.
• Healing. The most important benefit of all: fasting not only removes toxins and obstructions, it helps the body to heal itself, and it's also rejuvenating and life-extending.

In the next video, you can hear Dr. Sebi himself talk about his experiences and symptoms during a fast:

Remember the importance of pacing yourself and listen to your body. If you decide to begin the process of fasting, as always, our specialized consultants are available for you at info@drsebiscellfood.com, or call 1-310-838-2490 during standard office hours for guidance.