Fasting is a voluntary practice of abstaining from food or certain types of food for a specified period of time. It has been observed for various reasons throughout history, including religious, spiritual, and health purposes. During fasting, the body relies on stored energy reserves, primarily glycogen and later fat, to meet its energy needs. Fasting can range from intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods on a daily or weekly basis, to extended fasts lasting several days or even weeks. Fasting is often associated with several potential benefits, including weight loss, improved metabolic health, reduced inflammation, and enhanced mental clarity. It can also hold cultural and spiritual significance in many traditions, such as Ramadan in Islam, Lent in Christianity, and Yom Kippur in Judaism. However, fasting may not be suitable for everyone, and its safety and effectiveness depend on an individual's health status and goals. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on any fasting regimen, especially for those with underlying medical conditions or specific dietary needs. Proper hydration and nutrition are essential during fasting periods to ensure overall well-being.

1. FASTING
Dr. Shreya

3. Definition
 It is a total abstinence from all kinds of abstinence from food & drinking for a certain
period of time.
 Fasting abstinence from certain kinds of food & drink for a particular period of time.

4. IMPORTANCE
• AKASHA MAHABHUT
 (Ether element)
 Nature’s oldest, most effective and yet least expensive method of treating disease.
 Important treatment modality for health preservation.
 It is followed in almost every religion.

5. TYPES
Purpose of fasting
Method of fasting
Duration of fasting

6. Purpose of fasting
 Political Fasting
 Religions Fasting
 Therapeutic Fasting

7. Method of fasting
 Dry Fasting
 Juice Fasting
 Water Fasting
 Monodiet Fasting

8. Duration of fasting
 Short Fasting
 Long Fasting
 Intermediate Fasting

9. Purpose of fasting
Religious fasting
 Muslims follow fasting in the month of Ramzan
 Chirstians - undergo fasting on good friday.
 Hindu undergo fasting particular star day on like Sankranthi,
ekadhasi shivaratri

10. Political fasting –
 Gandhi, followed political fasting British to get freedom to India
 Nowadays people undergo political Fasting or hunger Strike to fulfil
their needs from the government.

11. Therapeutic Fasting
 This is done on the therapeutic basis.
 For eg: weight reduction, Arthritis, Skin diseases.

12. Method of fasting
 Dry Fasting-
 Juice Fasting
 Water Fasting
 Monodiet Fasting

13. SHORT FASTING
 This type of fasting is done for 2- 3 days.
 First day advise the person to take lemon juice with honey at a interval of 2 hours.
With this advice him or her to the take plenty of fresh fruits, water and rest.
 The second day also follow fasting same juice with plenty of water.
 Repeat on the 3rd day.
 Sometimes may get acute diseases like fever, diarrhoea, Vomiting, giddiness & skin
rashes.
 These symptoms are managed with simple natural measures but do not break the
fast.
 Once the fasting is completed break the fast with concentrated juices like apples,
chickoo and lemon.

14. Long fasting
 In this type of fasting client is more Here with lemon honey juice is advised plenty of
water it depends upon the condition of person who followed the fasting.
 If he / she is confindent, Energertic and Vitals are normal then the person can more than
10 days of fasting.
 Along with the fasting enema, massage, cold immersion bath is also advised especially in
case of obesity.

15. Intermediate fasting
 The patient should follow fasting for 2-3 days
 Later break the fast with Concentrated juices for 3 days
 then again continue with short fasting

16. ONSET OF DISEASE
The common cause of all diseases is accumulation of waste matter in body due to overeating.
 Eat too much and sedentary life
 No utilisation.
 overburdens the digestive system with impurities or poisons
 Digestion and elimination become slow and activity of the whole system gets deranged.

17. FASTING AS A REMEDY
 Every disease can be healed by one remedy – doing the opposite of causes
 that is by reducing the food intake or fasting.
 By depriving the body of food for a time
 Fasting given an opportunity to expel the accumulated waste from the system.

18. THUS, FASTING HELPS IN
 Fasting helps in the process of purification
 An effective and quick method of cure.
 It assists nature in its effort to expel waste from the body
 It corrects the faults of improper diet and wrong living.
 It also leads to the regeneration of the blood as well as the repair and regeneration
of the various tissues of the body.

19. FASTING IN ACUTE DISEASES
 When the condition is acute and vital power is high enough
 Fast till the disease/ symptoms subside
 Until feeling of lightness
 Break the fast in the proper way (eliminative, soothing, constructive diet)

20. FASTING IN CHRONIC DISEASES
 Long fasting contra-indicated due to lower vital energy
 Short fasts with proper interval
 Positive diet in between fastings.

21. ADVISE FOR FASTING
 Fasting to be undertaken through a series of short fasts of 2 to 3 days and
gradually increase the duration.
 A correct mode of living and a balanced diet after the fast will restore vigour and
vitality to the individual.

22.  Complete emptying of the bowels at the beginning of the fast by enema or
decomposing matter formed.
 Enemas at least every alternate day during the fasting period.
 lot of energy is spent during the fast in the process of eliminating accumulated
toxic waste materials.
 So get enough physical rest and mental relaxation as possible during the fast.

23.  The craving for food will gradually decrease as the fast progresses.
 Simple exercises like short walks may be undertaken during the fast.
 A warm water or neutral bath may be taken during the period.
 Cold baths are not advisable.
 Sun and air baths should be taken daily.

24. Breaking of Fast
 Right food after fast is as important and decisive as the fast itself for proper
results .
 The main rules for breaking the fast are :
 Do not overeat, eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly
 Take several days for the gradual change to the normal diet.
 If carefully planned, there will be no discomfort or damage.
 Take rest during the transition period.

25. Indications
 Indigestion, Constipation, Gas, Digestive disorders, all kinds of stomach and
intestinal disorders
 Bronchial Asthma,
 Obesity
 Gout
 High BP(Hypertension) etc.
 Highly beneficial in serious conditions of the kidneys and liver.
 Eczema and other skin diseases.
 Fever, constipation, stress, headache, common cold, sinusitis, arthritis,
anaemia, menstrual disorders .

26. Contra-indications
 Fasting should not be used in every illness.
 In cases of diabetes
 Advanced stages of TB
 Extreme cases of neurasthenia, long fasts will be harmful. (where depletion of
nutrients is seen)
 In most cases, however, no harm will be done if they take rest, and are under
proper professional care.

27. Benefits
 Eliminates toxins accumulated in the body
 Cleanses the systems
 Purifies channels and cells
 Relieves pressure and irritation in nerves and vassels
 Builds healthy lymph and blood
 Regeneration of body
 Longevity

28. Physiology of fasting
 In fasting there will be radical change in physiology and metabolism.
 Normally blood glucose provides adequate energy through glycolysis.
 In fasting the blood glucose levels will be maintained by the glycogen which will
be stored in the liver and skeletal muscles.
 The glycogen stored in the liver maintain the blood glucose in the first 24 hours of
fasting.
 After 24 hours the body uses glycogen stores from adipose tissues and then
protein stores .
 This changes in metabolism leads to glycogen depletion and it is dependent on the
metabolism of triglycerides stored in the adipose tissues.

29.  Triglycerides usually separated in to free fatty acids and glycerol from which the
liver converts in to ketone bodies and glucose.
 Ketone bodies made through the process of ketogenesis travel through the body
and are reconverted back in to acetyl-CoA at the tissues requiring energy
 Gluconeogenesis generates glucose from amino acids which are broken down
from various tissues along with muscle.
 This is another metabolism of proteins which take place in the fasting in addition
to adipose tissue metabolism.
 Once the glycogen stores are depleted, the body tissues dependence for glucose
reduces as ketone bodies are more readily accessible to metabolize

30.  This key mechanism is known as ―metabolic Switch in which body shift from the usage
of glucose from glycogenolysis, to fatty acids and fatty acid –derived ketones.
 Studies have shown that ketone bodies are preferred fuel for the body as well as brain
during the interval of fasting.

31. THANKYOU