Christmas fasting has officially begun and many people will be restricting their diet. According to some nutritionists, the imposition of certain restrictions is a useful measure, but according to others, sudden and prolonged deprivation of certain products can have a serious effect on the body
“Christian fasts have existed since the time of the prophet Moses, who fasted for 40 days in the desert. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ did the same. That is why today righteous Christians observe fasts - to show their readiness to resist all temptations. Fasting purifies the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Of course, they are not just an act of abstaining from certain food items. Fasting gives spiritual strength by controlling the tongue by abstaining from backbiting, lies, swearing. Through fasting, our souls are cleansed of vain and impure thoughts, anger and lust, but they are adorned with humility, forgiveness and mercy towards people", explained Father Dimitar from the temple "St. Tsar Boris I the Baptist" in the district "Ovcha Kupel".
People's personal reasons for fasting are different. Some want to observe the Christian meaning of fasting, while for others they are a convenient reason to cleanse themselves of accumulated toxins.
“Fasting in no way reduces immunity, on the contrary - it makes a person he althier because his body is cleansed. Fasting helps to cleanse the body of slag and toxins, and all systems rest from heavy digestion. Therefore, during the first days, the feeling of exhaustion, nausea and even dizziness may occur. To help the body remove slag faster, it's good to take a hot shower every day, take a steam bath once a week and drink more fruit and vegetable juices," explains the dietologist d Dr. Ognyan Simeonov
Dr. Simeonov, can fasting "hit" us in the heart?
- According to many nutritionists, fasting is outdated and does not correspond to the notions of a complete diet, as it does not provide the body with the necessary substances. A person risks getting metabolic disorders, protein dystrophy, dysbacteriosis, sexual weakness, deepening atherosclerosis, and therefore harming his heart, they warn. Others, however, believe that limiting meat and fat - the main sources of cholesterol, the main culprit of atherosclerosis - contributes to the he alth of the body.
However, if cholesterol is limited too much, the body begins to synthesize it on its own, in an aggressive form. That is why fasting is suitable only for completely he althy people and is contraindicated for the elderly, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.
Most specialists believe that the so-called can be useful. incomplete posts, i.e.f. those who exclude meat, but allow the use of dairy products and eggs, from which the body obtains the necessary amino acids and thus avoids negative he alth consequences.
Personally, I think that as a result of cleansing, the general state of he alth of a person improves. After fasting, a person can more easily get rid of harmful habits - smoking, alcohol.
Are fasting harmful or beneficial?
- Some believe that fasting is good for the body because it is a kind of diet that has beneficial effects, while others are of the opinion that it is harmful to he alth because the body is deprived of the various nutrients it needs. It is very important not to confuse fasting with dieting. Believers fast to purify their souls, not their bodies. Fasting can be said to be psychological rather than physiological in nature.
In many religions there are fasts. Fasting often becomes the first step to religion. If a person endures, then he can be considered a believer. There are people who start fasting because they think
it is good for he alth and others just want to check if they will succeed, if they have enough willpower.
From a medical point of view, fasting is a perfectly balanced system for he althy eating. Many people eat incorrectly, overloading their bodies with proteins, which are usually obtained from meat and meat products.
Temporary restriction of food makes the body work at slower speeds and thus the body is cleansed, readjusting more easily to the change of seasons and the transition to another type of nutrition. Fasting is not harmful to the body, it even cleanses it of toxins and thus a person becomes more resistant to diseases and infections. - What shall we eat? Which foods will be most useful for us?- Our body needs proteins, so excluding meat and dairy products, we need to replace them with those of other origin. These are dishes with beans, lentils, rice - especially brown, bulgur, wheat, chickpeas, quinoa, mushrooms, avocados, any kind of sprouts, soy products - tofu, milk, soy mince and schnitzels, vegetable cheese and cheese, dried fruits, sprouts and whole grains. Also add nuts and seeds to your menu - peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, etc.
During fasting, we need to eat more fruits and vegetables, which will provide the body with valuable vitamins and minerals - don't forget to include apples, oranges, kiwis in the menu.
During Lent it's the season for potatoes, cabbage, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach, leeks, squash, there are still eggplants. You can also eat peas, okra, Brussels sprouts, corn, beans, which can be found frozen in most stores.
Almost all types of pasta are suitable for fasting. However, pay attention to the label for the presence of eggs or other animal products.
Olive oil, as you know, has the properties to cleanse the body of accumulated fat, so its use will help even more to cleanse the body of toxins.
Is it possible to deprive our body of important vitamins and minerals by fasting?
- During fasting, the most dangerous is the lack of vitamin B1, which weakens the nervous system. This vitamin is found in cereals and legumes. Vitamins are found in radishes, citrus fruits, potatoes, salads, cabbage and green onions.
It is recommended to s alt the food a little more than usual, because the lack of s alt leads to a disorder of the heart muscle, dizziness and weakness.
Iron is also necessary for the proper functioning of the body. During fasting, we can get it together with proteins through mushrooms, especially porcini mushrooms.
Honey contains a wide range of necessary substances - copper, calcium, iron, aluminum, sodium, chlorine, phosphorus, etc. Two glasses of fresh a day will fill us with a sufficient amount of vitamins and will have a beneficial effect on peristalsis.
