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Recipes for When You’re Fasting

During your off-days when fasting, do you find yourself not knowing what to snack on? The following recipes are ideal for eating when you’re in the midst of a fast.

 

Yummy Stuffed Bananas

6 ripe and peeled bananas

½ cup fresh coconut

½ cup sugar

Green cardamom

Ghee for frying

 

Cut your bananas into 2-3 inch pieces. Cook the coconut and super with the cardamom seeds on low heat until the mixture thickens and the sugar melts. Cut a slit into each banana piece and fill with the coconut mixture. Hold the banana piece together with a toothpick. Finish it off by frying in ghee over medium heat until golden brown.

 

Delicious Sweet Potatoes

2 lb. sweet potatoes

½ lb. sugar

Cardamom powder

Ghee for frying

 

Wash the sweet potatoes and remove the skin. Cut into thin slices and fry in the ghee. Use the sugar to make sugar syrup, and then add cardamom to it. Place the sweet potato slices into the syrup and coat. Fry until crisp.

 

Which one do you want to try out?

 

Los Angeles Times’ Take on Fasting

During my regular article search today, I focused on fasting. With the holidays happening all around us, I wondered if there would be more information about fasting out there for those more health-conscious people out there.

Instead, I came across a fascinating article called “Running on Empty: the Pros and Cons of Fasting.” It kept me glued to my computer screen, so I assumed that I should share it with all of you.

What do you think? Does the reporter have any idea of what she’s talking about?

Fasting and Weight Loss

The majority of people try fasting because of its ability to help them quickly lose weight. But exactly how much weight can you expect to lose?

When you engage in a dry fast (no liquids), the weight loss rates are the highest. If you first use an enema and then dry fast for two full days, you can drop about 10-15 pounds. Keep in mind that this weight includes matter from your colon, water, and body fat.

However, the amount of weight that you lose is largely related to your metabolism. The slower it is, the slower your weight loss. Also, the rate at which you lose weight will slow down as the fast goes on.

What are your experiences with fasting and weight loss?

Water Fasting: The Pros and Cons

Water fasting sure is controversial. Some people swear by it, while others say how hellish it can be. So what’s the deal?

The benefits that you can get from water fasting are incredible. The weight loss is one thing. Another is the way you feel after a water fast—refreshed, cleaned out, pure.

The disadvantages? Well, they have everything to do with actually fasting. Fatigue, hunger, and a gurgling stomach are three things that you’ll continuously deal with during your fast. Each movement takes energy you don’t have, and you spend hours in self-reflection…but that could be a good thing.

What do you think about water fasting? Do the pros outweigh the cons, or is it all just a bunch of baloney?

“Fasting May Improve Cancer Chemotherapy,” Says WebMD

As I was flipping through articles about fasting, I came across this gem from WebMD: “Fasting May Improve Cancer Chemotherapy.”

According to the article, if a cancer patient fasts prior to beginning chemotherapy treatment, there may be a significant improvement regarding the cancer-killing effects of the drug. “A new study suggests starvation induces a protective shield around healthy cells, allowing them to tolerate a much higher dose of chemotherapy,” the article writer explains.

Pretty cool, huh?

Fasting During Pancha Karma

We’ve already talked about preparing for Pancha Karma; now it’s time to think about fasting.  A cleansing fast is traditionally used during the cleansing phase of Pancha Karma.

Following is a fasting herbal drink recipe that can be taken throughout the day to ensure that your cleansing fast is going as well as possible.

8 cups of water

8 cardamom pods

4 tsp cumin

4 tsp coriander powder

2 pinches black pepper

3 slices fresh ginger

Combine all of the ingredients in a pan and bring it to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.  Remove from heat and keep the mixture covered for 20 minutes, then strain through a sieve.

Drink this cleansing drink warm throughout the day.

So, what do you think?  Would you be willing to try out this cleansing fast drink, or does the thought of it make you want to gag?