Escape with fasting old habits

Fasting with health benefits but also risks

02/16/2012

Fasting can have many beneficial effects on health, but the physical exercise limits should not be exceeded. So some basic rules for fasting are urgently to consider.

Lenten times are firmly established in the various religions and also for purely health reasons, many people occasionally break their eating habits and resort to a fasting cure. On Ash Wednesday, the 40-day Lent of Christians begins. For many a good reason to think about their personal diet and to give their body a break. But in fasting fasting, some basic rules have to be followed, so that fasting can develop its health-promoting effect.

Fasting as a renunciation of solid food and stimulants
While the traditional Lent of various faiths in recent years in this country tend to have lost importance, the so-called fasting fasting enjoys a growing popularity. The fasting people hope for a positive effect on the health and an increase of the general well-being. Therapeutic fasting is attributed, among other things, to purifying, detoxifying and detoxifying effects. A fasting usually provides a temporary waiver of solid food and stimulants with exclusive consumption of mineral water, tea, juices and vegetable broth, explained the doctor-certified fasting leader of the German fasting academy from Darmstadt, Christa Kling, to the news agency „dpa“. This form of fasting is „among others in the fasting after Otto Buchinger“ intended. „The physician developed it 80 years ago and was one of the great pioneers of fasting in Germany“, explained Christa Kling. For example, the expert described the fasting model of the whey cure according to Dr. Dr. med. Anemueller and the Markert diet, which combines vegetable soup with a protein supplement.

Supportive measures during fasting
In addition to refraining from solid foods, fasting is also about forgoing all kinds of luxury goods such as alcohol, coffee or cigarettes. The descendant of Otto Buchinger, dr. Andreas Buchinger, member of the medical association fasting and nutrition as well as chief physician of the (private) clinic Dr. med. Otto Buchinger in Bad Pyrmont explained that „in this way the body a kind of temporary break“ given. The body can regenerate itself and get rid of its legacies. In order to promote the positive health effects of fasting and the detoxifying effect, a number of supportive measures such as oiling to stimulate excretion via the skin or liver wrap are used.

Intestinal irrigation as part of the fasting
The expert of the German fasting academy from Darmstadt, Christa Kling, explains that in the supporting measures the intestine cleaning surely „most important is“. Thus, according to Kling, Glauber salts should be used as a laxative at the beginning of fasting, followed by intestinal rinsing at least every two days. „In this way, harmful deposits are released“, stressed the fasting leader. Like the news agency „dpa“ reported, however, the professional association of German internists had only recently based on a recent study from the US before intestinal flushes „detoxification“ warned. Thus, neither the effect nor the compatibility of the available bowel cleansing systems for wellness application has been scientifically proven. There is a risk that such intestinal flushing lead to significant adverse effects when used incorrectly, with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are still among the harmless threatening impairments.

Therapeutic fasting with numerous health benefits
The health benefits provided by the advocates of the fasting cure are so far-reaching that the occasional relinquishment of food and beverages enjoys a growing popularity. Therapeutic fasting should strengthen the immune system, activate the self-healing powers and even contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The expert of the German fasting academy added that fasting in general could also help with weight loss. Because during Lent fasting lose about half a kilogram daily (one of the reasons why fasting must always be limited in time) and the fasting is often a catalyst for more, explained Christa Kling. However, according to Silke Restemeyer from the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) in Bonn, the prerequisite for this is Bonn, „that I do not immediately fall back into old habits afterwards.“ Because „If you want to lose weight permanently, you have to change your diet over the long term and can not avoid a comprehensive exercise program“, stressed the DGE expert to the „dpa“. Restemeyer added that a fasting cure is only useful if the fasting also learns something about health-conscious diet and lifestyle.

Intensive fasting also carries risks
From too intensive fasting, the nutrition expert advises urgently anyway. Because „Drinking for days only water, it comes to significant losses of body protein - the uric acid level in the blood increases“, explained Restemeyer. This could be particularly critical for people with high levels of purine because of the risk of an acute attack of gout. Other undesirable side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., heart stuttering or palpitations) are also threatened by the lack of energy or renal colic due to the massive loss of electrolyte. According to the nutritionist should therefore also at „best health of the fasting period should not be longer than five days.“ In particular, fast-beginners urgently recommended professional supervision. With broken health or even chronic illnesses is to renounce according to statement of Silke Restemeyer completely on the fasting.

Fasting also suitable for curing diseases
This assessment can Dr.. Andreas Buchinger follow only limited. „The fact is that one can relieve or even cure a whole range of illnesses and complaints with fasting remedies“, stressed the doctor. For example, therapeutic fasting has a sustained antihypertensive effect and can reduce insulin resistance, ie help to relieve diabetes. However, fasting is in fact only recommended under chronic medical supervision to chronically ill patients since the risk of complications is much higher for them. Depending on the condition, special measures such as the administration of vitamins and minerals may be required during fasting. According to Buchinger, an in-depth physical examination should therefore be carried out before the beginning of fasting and regular health checks should be made in the course of fasting to ensure the well-being of fasting. For fasting people, it is particularly important from a medical point of view to ensure adequate fluid intake during Lent. In addition, they should keep their own physical well-being always in mind and in case of doubt break the fasting. (Fp)

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Image: Lizzy Tewordt