Fasting, may not be your cup of tea! In India, observance of fast /Fasting in earlier times was prevalent as it is said to elevate person spiritually aiding in attainment of proximity of the paramatman. This practise saw its low with the advent of modern system of education into the Indian society. Fasting, just like every other traditional practise started gaining grounds in India after it got corroborated by series of researches.

NOW!! It is no longer “unscientific” !!!!

“Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2016 for his research on how cells recycle and renew their content, a process called autophagy. Fasting activates autophagy, which helps slow down the aging process and has a positive impact on cell renewal”(reference).

“It is a crucial process. During starvation, cells break down proteins and nonessential components and reuse them for energy. Cells also use autophagy to destroy invading viruses and bacteria, sending them off for recycling. And cells use autophagy to get rid of damaged structures. The process is thought to go awry in cancer, infectious diseases, immunological diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Disruptions in autophagy are also thought to play a role in aging.”

The moment we read such articles, we are in all praises for traditional practices and we think of bringing them back into our lives. Ayurveda, the mainstream medicine from past, recommends the use fasting(upavasa) as a treatment modality in various ailments. At the same time, has cautioned of the consequences when practised/done wrongly. Just like every other practise in ayurveda fasting too cannot be generically good at all times to everyone.

Today, you may find numerous ways of fasting like water fasting, juice fasting etc. The problem is, when they tag such practices as being ayurvedic, where as in reality, they are not. These days we get to hear a lot of people syaing “I keep fast for one day in a week, you know it is good for health, as per ayurveda”. But with this half baked knowledge, is one doing good for oneself ? And also can every one benefit by fasting ? are the moot questions.

Fasting(Upavasa) & Ayurveda

Fasting(upavasa) has been enlisted among the ten modes of langhana therapy (The procedures which make you lighter). This in no way means that, you just start fasting just because you feel heavy and lousy all day and want relief. You cannot decide on your own to go on a fast/fasting therapy, as heaviness – lousiness be due to health issues that need a much deeper intervention. Fasting in such conditions is only going to go tangentially, not addressing the core issue/problem. Sometime, fasting in conditions unsuited could lead to various health issues when practiced for a longer time.

But, can fasting be that harmful?

YES, it could be harmful. Keeping a fast, in conditions which form the contraindications for fasting , by a person not fit for fasting etc., if undertakes one, will surely prove harmful.

Fasting /Upavasa is recommended in conditions which principally involve deranged kapha and ama. Upavasa is indicated in initial phase of fevers of certain types and is contraindicated in fevers caused by emotional disturbances- exertion and so on. Upavasa also is the principle modality in disease like Chardi (vomiting), conditions of impaired biological fire( Agni) etc.

Now, the problem is, how do YOU identify this? Commonly, people think that kapha is nothing but the phlegm that one expectorates. But, It is much more than just that. Hence, only an authentic ayurvedic physician can help you with this.

Fasting as a routine?? Is it right??

Generally the body-type (prakruthi) is taken into consideration before one is advised the upavasa/fasting . Prakruthi can mainly determine a person’s innate capacity and need for fasting. Person of predominant kapha prakruthi will have a better tolerance & need for fasting compared to the ones with pitta or vata prakruti. But, this does not mean that, upavasa can be practised as a routine,as this could actually be a causative factor for various ailments “if the body state is not conducive for fasting” /“when the body does not need one at that point in time”.

It is not entirely wrong to observe a fast as a routine. But, what needs to be understood is 1. Does your body need one? 2. Can it stand one? 3.How often can you afford to fast (interval) 4. Duration of fast( forhow long can you fast) 5. Nature of food that is to be used to break the fast.

As all these seemingly minor things in the long run are the ones that shape your health.

“Not fasting when your body needs it badly” & on the contrary “Fasting when your body does not need /stand it“ are both WRONG.

How long can I fast?

This depends on the 1. Nature of the illness. 2. Extent or magnitude of the doshic aggravation 3. Location of the aggravated doshas 4. Strength of the patient and so on.

Fasting for a lesser period of time than what is required, will be less useful, on the contrary, fasting for a period longer than what is required, can be harmful for health. So, “ Striking a balance is absolutely necessary” .

What happens to your body when you fast?

When a person is on fast, the doshas(in this context- the toxins) like the kapha and ama , start getting metabolised, say they are “used up” or “burnt”, kindling the digestive fire in you and there is a physiological spike in vata. If the fast is continued even after the stipulated period or beyond the body’s tolerance limits the vata gets aggravated further and this is not desirable .The next thing to happen, is that the kindled fire in tthe absence of food starts eating up the dhatu (the tissues) or the essential which is not desirable.

This deprivation of food/nourishment to the tissues, can result in a number of ailments. If this happens once or twice it may not affect you in a big way, but surely would have caused some damage. As ayurveda believes , “every cause has an effect”. Innate strength of that individual ,body type, the state of agni ( digestive fire) are few things which decide the kind & severity of impact of these wrongful practices on your body.

Fasting & Obesity !

These days obese people, are into skipping meals, trying fruit/juice or water fasting and what not , to reduce their weight and feel that, it is helping them. Is it helping? As per ayurveda.

Treatment plan in Ayurveda for obesity does not include fasting. Fasting, as told earlier, has a some what superficial reach and in conditions like obesity the pathology is deep and needs to be addressed with a deeper intervention.

Lack of appetite! Is fasting the way out? Always?

Most of the times lack of appetite is seen to be taken as a criteria for fasting. But, this is not always true. Where, lack of appetite is due to kapha and ama and where there are issues with your rasa dhatu, fasting is surely going to help. But, the lack of appetite may also be due to several other reasons like, 1. Increased vata, 2. Seen in cases of emaciation. 3. Excess fasting (interestingly) 4. Irregular and untimely eating habits. 5. Skipping of proper meals.

Fasting in such conditions only will make the conditions worse.

Hence, the intricacy lies in identifying and deciding the 1. State of the disease 2. The site of the dosha. 3. Is the person eligible /suited to keep a fast.4. Most importantly “for how long”.

Fasting-When wrongly practised !!

Wrongful practise of fasting can lead to diseases of the nervous system, depletion, digestive ailments (as serious as IBS), respiratory problems and so on. It is wrong to fast 1. For a person who is not suited for one 2. For longer durations than stipulated. 3. During a wrong season of the year. 4. Fasting frequently.

Every activity of ours is sure to leave its imprint on dosha-dhatu-agni present in the body same is true with fasting. Fasting too needs to be addressed on the lines of customisation. Each individual is unique so are the needs and so is the internal environment of the body. No doubt upavasa on its own can cure many illnesses, provided it is practised correctly as stipulated in Ayurveda. And like other advices in ayurveda, this too cannot be generically advised.