Article - Ayurveda and Healthy Eating
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Fasting is a very effective way to help the body rest and to detoxify any accumulated matter. Fasting clears toxic ‘ama’. It also helps the mind to be at ease and become peaceful. It helps the digestive system to rest and to let go of attachments to food. A successful fast leaves you feeling lighter, refreshed, energised, with clear skin, fresh taste and sparkling eyes.
There are all types of fasts; water fasts, fruit juice fasts, rice fasts, soup fasts, kicharee fasts. What is important is choosing a fast that suits you individually.
Important things to remember during a fast:
- Drink lots of warm water
- Take spicy teas to help ‘burn’ toxins
- Rest
- Sleep
- Avoid all over stimulation; news, radio, newspapers.
- Break your fast slowly; one day in fast requires one day of re-introduction.
- Take a laxative, such as Triphala Plus or castor oil, during the fast, to help clear toxins from the system.
Vata types have difficulty holding onto energy, have too little body weight and have a tendency to be ungrounded. Hence fasting must be undertaken with caution. They should only fast for a short time of between one to three days. Their fast should always contain some nourishment and could be a mono fast of rice, mung soup or kicharee.
Pitta types are good at managing energy, have balanced weight but build up inflammatory heat toxins. They benefit from a fast from one to three days and can manage on appropriate fruit or vegetable juices.
Kapha types store energy, tend to overweight and have a tendency to be too static. They can tolerate longer fasts and benefit the most from them. Their fasts can be more light soup based or just hot water and spicy teas.
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