Because the intestinal tract is the most battered and exposed system in the body to microorganisms and toxins, it needs to be addressed appropriately in order to relieve it from the heavy tasks of digestion and cleansing. When it is blocked by toxicity like undigested foods, accumulated mucus, pathogens, yeast infections, dead cells and tissue debris, medical drugs (especially antibiotics), and ingested chemicals and environment pollutants, it fails to do its proper functions, hence disorders start emerging.

The inefficiency of the intestinal work manifests unexpected symptoms like chronic fatigue, muscle pains, headaches, food and seasonal allergies, constipation, gas, bloating, nutrient deficiencies, repeated colds, viral, fungal, and bacterial infections, weight gain and inability to lose it, irritability, depression, loss of intuitiveness and spirituality, and organ failures or incapacitation. Because the intestinal “healthy” bacteria, microflora, gets wiped out by toxicity, the gut becomes a target to chronic diseases and cancer.

Scientists have recently found that intestinal problems and imbalances are at the root of organ dysfunctions, disorders and suffering. That is why cleansing fasts are recommended to reset the systems. The practice gives relief to the gastrointestinal system; rebuilds microflora; reclaims intestinal health; curbs voracious appetites; encourages weight and fat loss; reactivates the cleansing mechanism; and eventually protects other organs. By protecting the microflora from toxins, the colon speeds the transition of digested food and stuck feces; reactivates the assimilation and synthesis of nutrients; and filters and neutralizes toxins, debris, infections, and yeast growths to prevent their reabsorption in the bloodstream, which is disruptive to body and brain functions.

The digestive tract takes most of the body energy and depletes a good part of the immunity by breaking down food, assimilating it, and eliminating it along with waste and toxins. That is why fasting is needed to give it rest. When the digestive system is relieved, the cleansing systems take over in order to break up metabolic leftover. Hence, toxic residue is discarded; fat dissolves; calcium deposit gets flushed out; cholesterol plaque is mobilized; and dead cells and damaged tissue are eliminated. On the other hand when these remain in the body long enough, they cause toxicity and disorder.

Fasting also helps convert insoluble chemicals into simpler substances and excretes them through the different detoxification organs and systems. The cleansing process activated by fasting is called autolysis. During the first couple of days of this process, chemical waste, and poisonous leftovers get dumped in the bloodstream and then pass by many systems for cleansing. The effect provokes headaches, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, and fogged brain. Because people do not realize that their bodies are in an auto-cleansing mode, the surfacing of such discomforting symptoms scare them, making them give up fasting or take medication.

After a few days of fasting, the symptoms disappear and get replaced with new energy, alertness, strength, and wellness. However to increase the effects of fasting, fresh fruits, vegetables and pure water should become the main food during the curative period. Other foods like sugar, refined, processed, and fried fatty foods, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and food additives should be avoided; they compromise the purification process.

While circulating toxins and wastes can choke the systems to dangerous levels and probably to death, fasts increase energy; enhance cognitive performance; improve mood; relieve the sinuses and respiratory problems; reduce allergies; dissolve calcium deposit in soft tissue (joints, muscles, arteries, cells, glands); release cholesterol build up in the vascular system; and cure chronic digestive, metabolic, cardiovascular, and circulatory disorders as well as cancer. Moreover with fasting excess fat, chemicals, heavy metal (mercury, lead, cadmium), salt, weight, and water get eliminated and voracious appetites are curbed. The hormone system also regains balance.

Fasting improves and reactivates a dormant metabolism. By awakening it, many functions are stimulated like the uptake of protein, fat, starch, carbohydrates, sugars, minerals, and vitamins and the synthesis of enzymes, nutrients, and healthy bacteria. With a revived metabolism, the body starts shedding fat, eliminating food residue from the colon, damaged tissue, dead and abnormal cells, metabolic waste, and fat-concealed toxins. Moreover, water-insoluble chemicals get converted into simpler forms and get excreted by the different cleansing systems.

Because heavily medicated individuals can be poisoned by the flooding of circulating toxins in their bloodstream, they should be cautious with prolonged long harsh fasts and crash diets. These processes can also be very dangerous for the obese as their systems get flooded by the large quantities of circulating toxic waste, chemicals and drugs stored in their bodies. With such conditions, fasting should be practiced with extensive supervised medical care.

Fasting in an appropriate manner can become a cure to many disorders that usually require medication or conventional medicine is incapable of treating. Such illnesses range from heart, vascular, digestive, respiratory (sinuses, colds, asthma, mucus), and autoimmune diseases and allergies to obesity, metabolic syndromes (diabetes, hypertension), tumors, joint pains, depression and many types of cancer.

Weight reduction is one of the most important outcomes of fasting, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels and appetite, breaking fat, and reactivating the cleansing process. An improved condition can lead to more efficiency in assimilating nutrients and stimulating the metabolism. When the body is detoxified, skin problems like pimples, acne, and others disappear. Addictions to caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, medical and recreational drugs, sugar, fat and overindulgence can also be overcome.

Certain scientists believe that thorough detoxification through fasts can prevent baldness or even treat it. That is probably due to the improvement of blood flow that allows for the nourishment the hair follicles and scalp.

A scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered a longevity gene that lies dormant in humans. By practicing fasting, it can get aroused.

Today we explored the importance of relieving the digestive tract through fasting in order to revive our auto-detoxification system; revitalize the body; repair and cleanse cells and tissue; cure disease; and enhance cognitive abilities and mood. Next week inshallah, I intend to discuss how fasting improves negative mental states and depression; intensifies mental clarity; teaches sustenance, patience, and contentment; and enhances behavioral skills; heightens intuition and paves the way to spirituality and inner peace.