In addition to traditional methods of treating various diseases, alternative methods are becoming increasingly popular. Many people have already heard about the benefits of curative fasting. But there are also more radical methods. Among them, dry fasting is becoming more common.
The appearance of the method
One of the first famous people who experienced and began to talk about the benefits of fasting is Paul Bragg. He promoted a he althy lifestyle and complete abstinence from food - fasting. But he did not talk about the need to refuse water, rather, on the contrary, he argued that it was needed. With a simple refusal to eat, in his opinion, you can get rid of many diseases.
Of course, his theories did not find support among doctors. Also disagree with him and many supporters of other alternative methods of treatment. But despite this, he has a lot of followers. Some ofThey, like Paul Bragg, published books on he althy lifestyles and promoted hunger.
Among them, for example, doctor Filonov S. I., professors Nikolaev Yu. S., Kokosov A. N. All of them practiced fasting and disseminated information about this method. But Filonov began to promote not only fasting, but also a complete rejection of water.
Operation principle
The method of dry fasting is based on the fact that any inflammatory process in the body requires water for its development. The problem area swells. A humid environment only contributes to the fact that various types of bacteria, worms or viruses begin to actively multiply in it. Water deficiency, on the contrary, leads to their death. This is the main principle on which this method of healing is based.
The founder of this method is S. I. Filonov. Dry fasting, in his opinion, contributes to the fact that fat is broken down more rapidly than with the usual abstinence from eating only while maintaining the drinking regimen. At the same time, all diseases are eliminated faster, because microorganisms cannot exist without water.
Types of fasting
Therapy, based on the complete rejection of water, is divided into two subspecies. The first of these is the hard (total) dry fasting method. In addition to the complete rejection of water, it is required to refrain from any water procedures. Bathing, brushing teeth, washing hands and other processes related to human contact with water are banned.
When soft fasting is not allowed only to eat anddrink water. At the same time, hygiene procedures are not prohibited. You can swim, brush your teeth (you can’t swallow water at the same time, you just need to rinse your mouth), get caught in the rain. It is said that during wet fasting, toxins come out of the skin faster. But at the same time, with both types of dry abstinence, any enemas are prohibited.
Potential danger
Speaking about the dangers of starvation without water, many doctors argue that a fatal outcome cannot be ruled out. It can occur when a person has lost up to 25% of body weight. They also argue that it is difficult enough to save a person who adhered to the principles of dry fasting for 7 days in a row. Irreversible consequences for the body occur after 3 days.
There is a pattern according to which, with the loss of fluid in an amount of 1 to 5% of the total mass of a person, strong bouts of thirst are pursued, the temperature may rise, and a feeling of nausea may appear. Dehydration by 6-10% entails shortness of breath, speech disorders, muscle weakness. If the body loses from 11 to 20% of water, then the body begins to cool, the tongue swells, hallucinations appear, hearing and vision are impaired.
Alternative look
But the founder of the method and his followers, who practice dry fasting, do not agree with the opinion of official medicine. They say that without water a person can endure 12-16 days, the recorded record of such abstinence is 18 days. This opinion of theirs is based on the fact that the body is switching to endogenousnutrition. At the same time, proteins begin to “eat up”. The body takes them from those organs that it considers less important. First of all, altered painful tissues, edema, adhesions, tumors, atherosclerotic plaques are destroyed. In medicine, this process is called autolysis. In this case, the body, as it were, operates on itself, it independently gets rid of harmful tissues. You can start this process only when you abstain from food. In classical fasting, in which it is allowed to drink water, autolysis is also present. But if not only food, but also any liquid ceases to enter the body, it flows much faster.
The regenerating effect of dry fasting, according to the proponents of this method, occurs 3-4 times faster than with classical abstinence from food.
Therapeutic effect
Adherents of the dry fasting method do not get tired of talking about its healing properties. So, they argue that this method of therapy is mandatory to use in the following cases:
- concussion: all problems are due to swelling of the brain tissue, so it is important to minimize it as soon as possible;
- colds;
- problems with internal organs;
- deforming arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew's disease and other similar diseases;
- non-resolving ovarian cysts.
With no moisture, all problems are minimized. Such fasting for more than 11 days in a row leads to the fact that the mode of passage of physiological processes changes, tissue regeneration is activated, the pineal gland begins to work actively (socalled the mysterious pineal gland). But many appreciate the very different results of dry fasting. As a result of abstinence, consciousness falls into a hitherto unknown state. This is a good way of self-knowledge, an opportunity to test your body and learn about its hidden reserves.
Followers of the theory claim that Jesus also had to endure dry fasting while wandering in the wilderness for 40 days. According to them, this is what contributed to his resurrection. As a result of abstinence, his body was rebuilt and went into a photon state.
Acidotic crisis
But don't think that sticking to the basic principles of fasting and abstaining from food and water for several days is easy. It's not just about the need to endure the feeling of hunger, thirst, or the psychological aspects of giving up everything.
Before you start practicing dry fasting, you need to understand that a ketoacidotic crisis is inevitable with it. This is due to the fact that neither food nor water enters the body from the outside, it is forced to extract resources for life within itself. At the same time, completely different chemical reactions begin to take place in it, metabolism changes.
This process is accompanied by an increase in the level of ketone bodies. These are products formed as a result of the incomplete breakdown of fats or triglycerides. Feeling unwell appears for 2-5 days. In the first times of fasting, the crisis is expressed especially clearly. It is accompanied by weakness, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath - all the symptomsthat are present during intoxication. The number of ketone bodies grows until the body finds a way to utilize them. Also in the process there may be severe pain. You need to be prepared for them in advance.
But those who practice intermittent fasting say that each time the crises are less pronounced. With subsequent abstinences, they come faster, pass more easily and last noticeably less.
Followers of the theory say that each acidotic crisis is replaced by an improvement in well-being. This happens when the ketone bodies begin to be utilized. Their number is gradually decreasing. Ketone bodies are high-energy components, they are the fuel for the synthesis of new amino acids, and thanks to this process tissue regeneration begins.
Best effect
In the process of starvation, all weak links inevitably die, giving way to strong ones. In the absence of moisture, degenerated, weak, damaged, diseased cells are the first to suffer. All non-viable components perish. This means that only the strongest remain in the body - he althy cells that can withstand any conditions and give worthy offspring. Thus, a natural culling is carried out.
The rejuvenating and healing effect of abstinence is based on this. The benefits of dry fasting for people who were able to withstand all the restrictions are obvious. They talk not only about improving well-being, increasing the body's resistance, endurance, but also about the emergence of new forces. Some talk about improving physical performance, others note increased efficiency, unprecedented clarity of mind and consciousness.
Possible variations
One-day dry fasts are considered one of the most common. They are often used for colds. At the same time, the body warms up, and diseases are burned away, as it were. It should last 36 hours. That is, the last meal occurs in the evening, and the next - in the morning every other day.
At the first attempts, it is advised to hold out for at least 24 hours - until the evening of the next day. Dine preferably with raw or boiled vegetables. If this does not work, then in order to make a start, you need to try to hold out at least until the afternoon snack.
Experienced people practice longer abstinences. For some, 3 days is enough, and for some, dry fasting lasts 5 days or more. Their duration depends on the goals, preliminary preparation and capabilities of each person.
Important aspects
If you decide on such a radical method of therapy and restoration of the body as dry fasting, then it is advisable to do this under the supervision of a doctor. But unfortunately, not everyone has such an opportunity.
It is important to understand not only how fasting works, but also how to prepare for it. To do this, it is advisable to start with a few training days on vegetables. Cabbage, carrots, beets, watermelons, plums, grapes, apples are suitable for these purposes. A fruit or vegetable diet helps cleanse the body,shakes it, turns on the defenses. But kefir, cottage cheese or meat are not suitable. Moreover, it is advisable to refuse dairy and meat products at least a day before entering the fast, but it is better to do this 3-4 days in advance.
But it is necessary to find out not only how to prepare for abstinence. It is important to figure out how to get out of it correctly. Before completing, it is important to drink some kind of intestinal preparation, for example, 3 capsules of Linex. It is better to have breakfast with ½ glass of juice, you can also drink it every hour before lunch. For the second meal, vegetable stew, salad, a few bananas, oatmeal porridge (without adding oil, s alt or sugar) are suitable. You can also cook buckwheat or rice (from unpeeled varieties) porridge. For an afternoon snack, juice or fruit is ideal. For dinner, you can cook a vegetable salad, boiled potatoes, any porridge.
If you are intolerant to juices, you can replace them with oatmeal. This scheme is ideal for patients with ulcers, colitis, gastritis. It should also be followed by beginners and overweight people.
Short abstinences
Intermittent fasting for 1-3 days is called cosmetic. During this time, the major restructuring of the body does not have time to begin. It's undergoing a minor cosmetic overhaul. Immunity is restored, part of the toxins are removed, the digestive organs rest from the load, the nervous system comes into tone, all energy channels are cleared.
The benefits of fasting for the psyche are already obvious. Strengthens the will, increases self-confidence,stress tolerance appears.
You can practice short-term abstinence with any regularity. Some people prefer to do one dry fast every week. It is not difficult for them to survive 1 day without water and food. But, it is true, some say that the body gets used to such abstinences. Those who practice more infrequent but longer fasts do not need one-day weekly fasts.
Many daily fasting days are perceived as a holiday, as an opportunity to cleanse, improve well-being and give the body a day of rest. Of course, for people suffering from chronic diseases or colds, fasting is a real test.
Possible loads
If you could get used to one-day abstinences and realized that the pangs of hunger are too exaggerated, then you can try moving on to longer fasts. For starters, you can try two- and three-day options. They need to be prepared. On the eve, it is better to do a cleansing enema, give up animal food for a few days.
With short fasts, you can do any work, except for hard work. True, on the third day you need to spare your body. You should try to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air in motion. Ordinary walks are considered ideal.
Prepared people can try and longer dry fasting. 7 days, for example, not everyone can withstand. But practitioners say that after 4 days, the feeling of hunger becomes dull. Truth,it is important not to artificially support it, for example, not to think about food that you can enjoy after the end of abstinence.
The maximum period for which adherents of the theory of dry fasting decide is in most cases 11 days. Only a few are able to withstand a longer period.
Cascade fasting
One of the options for abstinence was developed by Lavrova. The scheme involves 5 periods, each of them can be repeated without special restrictions. This is the so-called dry cascade fasting. It lies in the fact that it is necessary to alternate days of hunger and food, starting from 1 day and ending with 5. That is, a day of hunger is a day of food, two days of hunger are two days of food, this continues up to 5 days. After the last 5 days, the output begins.
But this is not the only cascade option. There is also a gentle method. It consists of alternating successively 1, 2, 3 and 4 days of fasting with 1-3 weeks of food after each period of abstinence. This cascade ends with 5 days of fasting and a gradual exit. For sick people, it can be replaced by the so-called cautious regimen. With him, the day of fasting is replaced by 12 hours.
Reduced fasting cascade can only be used by experienced followers after a long break from the previous post. With him, 3 days of abstinence is replaced by 5-10 days of food, after which a person proceeds to a 5-day fast.
Reviews and potential benefits
Beginners are advised to practice first one-day (if possible 36-hour) abstinence. Once you get used to them, you can gradually increase the periodhunger for a start can be for several hours, gradually moving to 2-3-day fasts without food and water.
Many people decide to experiment after reading reviews about dry fasting. The results are visible fairly quickly. So, someone needs to improve their he alth and cleanse the body a little, others want to get rid of chronic diseases. Of course, achieving the last task is a little more difficult. For these purposes, a one-two-day abstinence is not suitable. You need to prepare to limit yourself for a longer period. To do this, you need to start practicing short hunger strikes, and after the body gets used to them, move on to longer ones.
This is the only way to endure a certain time relatively painlessly without food and water entering the body. It is impossible to start long dry fasts without preparation. Before you decide and mentally tune in to such a post, you need to “rehearse”. If you want to try long-term fasting as early as possible, but have never been so hard on yourself, then it's best to choose cascading gentle fasting.
People who practice such abstinence note that their willpower increases, they become more determined, which contributes to success in many endeavors. This is due to the fact that for the majority it is quite difficult to voluntarily refuse to eat, and even more so water throughout the day. Making a decision even about short-term fasting and fulfilling the plans made makes a person more determined, he becomes stronger in spirit.
ExceptIn addition, it is dry fasting that allows a person to understand how much food and water he needs to maintain life. This contributes to the normalization of nutrition, the revision of its foundations.
Most adherents of the principles of starvation without water say that during normal periods they eat everything in a row, do not refuse even obviously harmful foods and drinks. But unloading allows them to cleanse the body, the digestive organs get the rest they need so much. The results of dry fasting cannot be overestimated.
But it is important to understand that immediately after it, the load on the body should be moderate. It is not in vain that the proponents of the method argue that special attention should be paid not so much to preparing for fasting as to getting out of it. With one-day abstinence, it is not necessary to strictly adhere to all established rules. It is important to remember only that the first meal should be light so as not to put a serious burden on the digestive system. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of the products: a cleansed intestine is extremely sensitive to various pathogenic microorganisms.
