Benefits of Fasting

Tags

ash Wednesday, benefits of fasting, claras corner, Easter, fasting, lent, naija blog, Nigerian food blog

Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of a 40 day fast that leads up to Easter. Many Christians fast beginning of every year but this period, 46 days before Easter is a time when majority of orthodox christians get sober and reflect on the reason for Christs suffering, death and resurrection which is the salvation of our souls and reconciling us to God.

The next 6 1/2 weeks before easter will be a time for sober reflection for the Orthodox community though the Redeemed Christian Church of God has been fasting for about 60 days now no small feat at all! Neither Catholic nor Anglican anymore,  I used to feel guilty for years when I don’t fast during lent 🙂 old habits I guess. ! So with many of my brothers and sisters fasting everyday except Sundays,  this month and until 20th of April which is Easter Sunday, recipes ideal for fasting will be featured on the blog.

There are different kinds of fasting:

Fruit fast – an all fruit fast when you eat fruits through out the fasting period either when breaking the fast or all day. Can be fruit salads with endless fruit combinations.

Peach and water melon fruit salad

Classic fruit salad

Juice fast – this is similar to the fruit fast where all you drink is juices all through the fast fruit juice inclusive.

Pawpaw and tangerine juice

Strawberry and watermelon juice

Vegetable fast- eating only vegetables,  steamed,  stewed, fresh, as a sauce etc.

Smoked red snapper in green (spinach) sauce

Wet fast– this is when one drinks water all day most times for health reasons then break the fast with a meal.

Dry fast– this is the mother of fasts, most people do this one, you don’t eat anything all day the break with a meal at 6pm each day or even earlier. Some veterans even go for several days without food, takes grace.

The first 3 types of fast are mostly for health reasons.

Not interested in fasting? Apart from its major reason a spiritual exercise which helps keep your spirit light so you are more sensitive to receive from heaven, here are a few more reasons why fasting is good for the human body.

● Fasting reduces blood sugar, if not for any other reason you aren’t eating. When you fast, your body instantly breaks down glucose in order to give you energy.

● Fasting is a good way to detox. Most toxins are stored as fatty tissues in the body and fasting is great way to burn it.

● The bodies first response to fasting is to break down sugar after which it starts breaking down fat. It’s a natural way to loose weight.

● Fasting promotes healthy diets. Most people prefer either one of the first 3 types of fast which is definitely healthy eating.

● Fasting helps break adictions, abstaining from meat, smoking, drinking alchohol and other bad habits is what fasting is to certain people. It’s well known that if you do something repeatedly for 21 days it becomes a habit. So here’s a chance to break strong holds.

Finally convinced, here are a few tips:

Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.

Eat lots of fruits whatever type of fast you choose.

Take yoghurt at least once a day to help soothe the stomach and reduce acidity levels, keep ulcer at bay.

Make fasting fun by snacking, have a smoothie, crackers, nuts or a slice of tea loaf last thing before going to bed.

Don’t forget to pray before you break your fast lest it be hunger strike 😉 .

Join me on Friday for the opening of a new page on the blog called Chef Diaries which will feature a collection of short stories, you’ll love Fridays story 😉 .

Until then…..

Azu 🙂 .