Fasting

An ancient therapy

Over centuries, mankind had to deal with a steadily changing food supply. Depending on seasonal fluctuations or greater natural disasters, either plenty or little food was available. As a consequence, people in different areas of the world developed sophisticated strategies, e.g., seasonal fasting, to handle and overcome these problems. Possibly, in these early days, people discovered also the healing power of fasting periods. Interestingly, in all religions worldwide we find instructions for and reports on fasting strategies in order to cure body and soul. 

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Fasting is defined as the ability to meet the body's requirements for macro- and micronutrients during a limited period of either shortage or absence of food, by using almost exclusively the body's energy reserves without endangering health.

The term ‘fasting' is often misused. It has to be clearly differentiated between zero calorie diet and starvation. During fasting, intake of food in forms of vegetable broth and vegetable or fruit juice should not exceed 500 kcal per day.

Importantly, fasting is the voluntary abstinence from solid food and stimulants (like caffeine or nicotine) for a limited period of time. When fasting is done properly, one should experience a good level of vitality and absence of hunger.

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Boschmann M.a  · Michalsen A.b. 

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