Fast Question for Health Gurus

[onomotopeia]

All this talk of fasting is motivating me to get to work on my own fast. Problem is I fear that my body's pretty sensitive after years of younger year misuse and I am wondering if I could tolerate a 3 day water fast. The weightloss was mysterious and severe enough to land me in the hospital with several systems not working. I've also had both periods of rapid weight loss and poor eating habits including carb binges, caffeine and sugar binges (I'd have sometimes 1000 caloric intake in sugar). So, I don't know what damage I've reaped, other than the fact that I have an ADD that no medicine can treat and symptoms undoubtedly related to my foods.

Thoughts on the safety of a water fast in light of this history? Any links that might help me explore this issue for myself or put to rest that I haven't damaged my body, or that I might be able to find some way to lift more of my attention symptoms?

[DQueens]

Though I have no read much into the "benefits" of fasting diets, I must point out, that judging by your history with food, you are ill-suited for this type of diet.

I don't know you, and cannot make many assumptions from your life or relationship with food based on that post alone, however it seems to me that you need to work on eating properly and for the purpose of nuturing your body, rather than depriving it.

Therefore, instead of a water fast, if you are looking for a detox and healthful eating plan, consider the raw food diet. A water fast, judging by your restriction-binge history, may only target another cycle of weightloss and binging on sugar, which I think is obvious, is not a healthful program to embark on.

I have had issues with food in my past, and it has always been frusterating to me when I have been referred to a psychologist or a nutritionist. So in that, I can sympathize, but to reiterate some of the good advice that was given to me, I want to put the suggestion out there for you to seek some assistance. It is not easy, in our society, to regard food as it should be regarded, a means of sustainence. Some tips I can give you, that will make you feel more healthful and happy when it comes to eating:

-sit down to eat
-eat whole foods (ie: unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, whole grains) more often
-eat slowly and enjoy eat bite. While chewing and swallowing food, visualize your body utilizing all the nutrients (fats, carbs, proteins, vitamins and minerals) and becoming healthful and strong in the process.
-eat sugar, but try to eat it in forms of fruits more often.
-when you experience hunger, try to wait ten minutes before running to the fridge, by actually EXPERIENCING the sensations of your hunger, the mouth sensations, the growling of your stomach, and appreciate this bodily function and it's significance to you that your body needs food and nutrients. I know that this process seems "willy-nilly" and flowery, perhaps some kind of hippie, tree-hugger sentiment, but if you put in the effort to fully listen to your body, then it becomes easier to understand exactly WHAT your body is interested in, in the form of a snack or meal. For example: are you craving glucose (fruit) or protein or fat? Are you really thirsty? When was the last time you had water today? These seem simple, or perhaps impossible, but from consuming processed foods, eating on the run, or standing up, we 've lost the ability to properly nourish and satisfy the needs of our bodies.

Please remember that there are not many health benefits that come from denying your body what it needs. Would you expect to see any health benefits from denying your body with air or water? Of course not. While you don't need food as often as these other important nutrients, the fact is that enough time without food results in death and, therefore, refusing to eat for any amount of time can reasonably not have as many healthy benefits as people claim it does.