Fasting is hot these days. Everyone’s doing it either to lose weight, get healthier or more connected with their spiritual side. Even the most popular post on this blog is a safe, enlightening 3 day fast! And since so many people are fasting, wouldn’t it be nice to know when fasting is dangerous?
Individuals and health professionals who believe in the benefits of fasting will agree that it’s generally a safe practice for the average, healthy person.
Even then, some doctors warn that for the unprepared or ill-informed, fasting can lead to dehydration, faintness or over-eating on non-fasting days. To be uber prepared on your fast and reduce the severity of your detox symptoms, check out a safe, enlightening 3 day fast and adjust it to suit your sensibilities.
Note: Naturopathic doctors suggest that fasting for more than 3 days should be done under the supervision of a qualified health care professional.
If you’re not too sure whether or not you should fast, check this list of people and circumstances that make fasting more harmful than helpful:
From The New Detox Diet, by Elson Haas, M.D.
- being underweight
- fatigue
- low immunity
- weak heart
- low blood pressure
- cardiac arrhythmias
- cold weather
- pregnancy
- nursing
- pre- and post-surgery
- cancer
- peptic ulcers
- nutritional deficiencies
- children
From The Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th ed.:
- diabetes
- hypoglycemia
- any chronic health problem
- people over age 65, continue taking their usual daily supplements during fast
Can you think of any other conditions that may make fasting dangerous? Please share them in the comments below!
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