I started 3-day fasts in college, but years later when I mentioned to one of my best friends that I was starting a 3-day fast, he gave me Arnold Ehret’s book Rational Fasting. I’ve pretty much used that as my fasting bible, except brought more up to date with what we’ve learned since Arnold was around. For example, vitamin C was unknown in his day, and it’s one of the vitamins that I tend to mega-dose on while fasting. Incidentally, the friend I mentioned is also a certified doctor of naturopathy who also practices acupuncture, homeopathy, Chinese herbal medicine and chiropractic medicine. We’ve known each other since high school and have shared such interests. He just chose to pursue them professionally whereas it’s more of a hobby for me.
If you intend to fast, meaning a real fast and not an intermittent one, I suggest reading Rational Fasting and start in with that. Good old Arnold had the right idea as far as I’m concerned, it’s just that, in some respects, he went overboard. For example, he claimed that fasting was a cure for all ills. Me, I’d say it’s more like a cure for 85-90% of all ills. One other thing that Arnold was unaware of… despite how healthful a diet of fruits and starchless vegetables can be for so many, the fact of the matter is that there are just some people whose systems do poorly on such a diet. There’s a fascinating anecdote that highlights this; the article is available here.
As for fasting itself, it’s easier and less risky for a thin person to fast rather than one who is overweight. As you fast, all those little toxic waste sites in your body where toxins have been safely stored for up to decades, they are broken down and one needs to deal with those toxins. Hence the reason why an overweight person has a harder time fasting: they have more toxins that must be eliminated or broken down. This is also why I mega-dose on vitamin C and broad spectrum digestive enzymes.
Above all else, pay attention to your body! Never set a number of days to fast and stick to it no matter what unless you feel up to it as the fast progresses; rather, play things by ear and be prepared to break the fast if your body requires doing so.
Prepare for a fast by eating a high fiber diet and cleaning out the gut as much as possible. Arnold Ehret extolled the use of a product called Homozon which has been around since 1898. It’s nothing but magnesium oxide powder, something you can get in health food stores. Have a half to three quarters of a teaspoon dissolved in water, then chase it with something acidic like lemon juice or ascorbic acid (vit C). The acid reacts with the MgO2 to release oxygen. In turn, the O2 reacts with impacted fecal matter in the gut which breaks down and is eliminated (basically what one does before a colonoscopy to clean out). Diarrhea is to be expected, but that tapers off to nothing with repeated use once there’s nothing left to react with. I should point out that repeated use should be accompanied by a good mineral supplement since the elimination process tends to lower mineral levels, especially potassium.
Speaking of supplements, here’s my pharmacopeia…
My Supplements (and not just while I’m fasting)
A good (not a “pop”) multivitamin/multimineral supplement.
Broad spectrum digestive enzymes to break down fats, carbs and proteins.
6,000 to 8,000mg vitamin C; definitely go for mineral ascorbates such as Ester-C rather than the cheaper form of vitamin C, ascorbic acid.
Liquid lecithin capsules to emulsify fats and to provide brain food (sunflower lecithin is preferred over soy lecithin)
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as a liver protectant as more toxins are metabolized (in my opinion, anyone who takes Tylenol–which is very toxic to the liver–should also take NAC; it’s what they give patients who have OD’d on Tylenol).
“Supplemental” Supplements
AM
DHEA (DeHydroEpiAndrosterone) 25mg; “promotes graceful aging”
DMAE (DiMethyl Amino Ethanol) 125mg; works with lecithin to provide brain food
PM
GABA (Gamma amino butyric acid) 750mg; calming without drowsiness
L-theanine 400mg; calming without drowsiness
Niacin 300mg; give me that tingly, flush feeling! (Note: while fasting, niacin had no flush effect with me; it returned once I broke the fast).
