Hamburg (dpa) - What a good spring cleaning is to a home, a period
of fasting is for the body.
Losing weight is just a bonus, says nutritionist Ute Hantelmann of
Hamburg's Consumer Central. The real point is to take a break from
solid food, think about one's diet and reorient oneself.
Staying hydrated is the alpha and omega of a successful fast.
Juices and vegetable broths supply the 500 allowed daily calories,
along with vitamins and minerals. Three litres of water and herbal
tea provide calorie-free hydration. Depending on the fasting
programme, some solid food is allowed.
There are all kinds of programmes out there. The most famous were
originated by Otto Buchinger and Franz Xaver Mayr, 100 and 80 years,
respectively.
A first-time faster should always consult with his physician or
traditional healer, says Hantelmann. After all, fasting cures aren't
for everyone. Some people even suffer harmful consequences. Pregnant
women, the underweight and people with diseases are not ideal
candidates.
Fasting is a stressful experience for any body. First, a person's
metabolism will quickly turn to carbohydrate reserves, then to stores
of fat and protein. Anyone who doesn't watch out can quickly lose
muscle mass. Circulatory problems, exhaustion and difficulty
concentrating are just some of the more common side effects.
Before a fast can begin, a person's intestinal tract needs a
break. That means two days of light meals before fasting. Fasters
also need to skip stimulants like coffee and alcohol to better
prepare the digestive system, says Matthias Menschel, who offers
Buchinger treatments in Germany.
On the third day, things get serious, usually with the ingestion
of Glauber salt, or sodium sulphate. "Eighty to 90 per cent of the
intestine's contents are usually cleared out."
Then it's time to start drinking, drinking, drinking. Instead of
regular mealtimes, fasters get a glass of juice in the morning for
their vitamin needs, a quarter litre of broth for the salt needs at
midday and more juice in the evening. People with circulatory
problems can get some green tea in the morning or, in special
circumstances, black tea.
If you don't want to skip solid food entirely, check out the Mayr
programme.
"It's not the old standard milk toast programme," says Franz Milz
of the German Society for Holistic Mayr Medicine. Today's version of
the programme relies on hypoallergenic foodstuffs, like rice waffles,
corn tortillas, yoghurt and soya products and vegetable soups.
Anyone with a large appetite or starting off exceptionally thin
gets additional protein-rich food. If chewed intensely, the light
fare can satisfy quickly and take some pressure off the
gastrointestinal tract. Additional daily anti-acid supplements are
required to make sure urine acid content don't rise too
precipitously.
Stomach manipulation exercises play a central role. Milz says they
are similar to lymph drainage techniques. They often carry a
psychological effect with them: if the body and spirit relax, then
repressed feelings can come forward. Colonic cleansings aren't
mandatory, but anyone who wants them can receive them once to three
times a week.
Exercise is forbidden during the Mayr programme, although taking
walks is permitted. "It's a programme focused on peace and the inner
and outer person," says Milz.
Buchinger expert Menschel recommends getting at least an hour of
activity a day, so that muscle tone isn't lost. After all, once the
fasting is over, it will be time to build the body back up, meaning a
return to solid fare.
Copyright 2010 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH