by Natalie Sampson (Wellness Consultant)
1. Check with your healthcare practitioner
If you have any underlying health conditions or if you are taking any prescription medications check with your healthcare practitioner first before incorporating fasting into your health journey. Many prescriptions medications require that you eat in order for the drug to be properly metabolized. Damage may be done to your digestive tract with certain meds if taken on an empty stomach. Some drugs may even require a particular timeline in order to be effective.
Also, please keep in mind that fasting is meant to improve your eating habits and your general health so if you have an eating disorder it is best to choose another path.
2. Avoid Fad Fasting
Choose a style of fasting based on your health goals. There are loads of fad diets floating around on social media. Not every fasting technique will suite your particular health needs. Spend some time setting some health goals and use those as a guideline when choosing which particular fast will aid you in reaching those goals. Keep in mind that is always a good idea to consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner when you are making those plans.
3. Stick to a timeline (give yourself boundaries)
Fasting should be a means to an end not necessarily a lifestyle. Understand that you will be using the fasting technique you choose as a tool to reach your health goals. There are very few instances where fasting should be undertaken over the long term. Fasting can be used to reset an imbalanced metabolism. Consider revisiting fasting periodically as part of your healthcare maintenance practice.
4. Keep your diet properly balanced
Eating a well-balanced diet while incorporating fasting into your health journey is a very important consideration. Understand that in order to remain healthy and strong you need sufficient protein to maintain muscle mass as well as phytonutrients and antioxidants to protect you from ill health and premature aging. Food is not the enemy and fasting is to be done periodically while engaging in a healthier and more balanced approach to eating.
5. Hydrate
Remember that about 60% of your body is water. Hydrating yourself while fasting will ensure greater success and prevent adverse reactions. Water is important for proper detoxification, cellular function, the maintenance of healthy organ function and the list goes on. When you fast you may have herbal teas as well as water (just no juices or too much caffeine). Our bodies can only survive without water for approximately 3 days or less so hydrate well! You will be much happier with the results when you do.