Fasting/Cleansing

I have done numerous cleanses and fasts over the years, all for health reasons.  This week our church is fasting for spiritual reasons, so I have promised to post tips on fasting and cleansing, so here they are...

The first step is to decide the length of your fast.  Biblically, you will find examples of 1,3, 7, 10, 14 & 40 day fasts.  I recommend a 7-10 day fast as it takes the body at least that long to adjust to abrupt diet changes so that you can then truly focus on the prayer and clarity that comes with being free from, and yes, a bit deprived of what we are used to in terms of food.  Purpose, preparation and commitment are essential to any cleanse or fast.

All effective cleanses and some fasts eliminate any "foods" that are not immediately derived from God's provisions. This means, that if foods are consumed, they are to be plant based and if meats are allowed, they should be the leanest, most pure meat/animal products available.  No processed or artificial ingredients.

I am partial to the Daniel Fast, vegetables, fruits, whole grains & water only, basically a vegan diet.  There is no limit to the amount of plant based foods you can eat on the Daniel Fast, so this is a great one if you lead an active lifestyle or just have trouble skipping meals.  I also like a juice fast... Only juiced fruits and vegetables and water.  This one is more restrictive as it also eliminates grains and carbs like potatoes and bananas.  Following are tips on how to make a fast/cleanse "doable" in today's busy world.

Juicing/Blending- Juicing allows the body to immediately absorb nutrients through the blood stream
giving amazing health benefits, the downfall is that you loose a lot of the natural fiber of plant skins and pulps and some essential nutrients are not easily juiced, not to mention, juicers are often a pain to clean.  However, if you choose a juice fast/cleanse, you can freeze the fresh juice, allowing you to juice numerous "meals" at once.  Store them in freezer safe containers & freeze for later use.  Allow juices to totally defrost before drinking as the water tends to separate and needs to be remixed.
Blending allows for a wider variety of nutrients and still allows for easy absorption of nutrients, but most mixtures will need to be made and consumed fresh, requiring a bit more daily preparation.  If you've ever made a smoothie, you have made a blended drink, but don't get stuck in a strawberry/banana rut.  Smoothies can be made of lots of fruits, vegetables, and proteins and still be delicious, cleansing and satisfying.  Below are a few recipes that may be odd or new at first, but trust that they will nourish the body while eliminating the spiritual and physical toxins and taste good.

Sweet Potato Smoothie
1/2 cup or 1 cooked Sweet Potatoe
1 banana2
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. pure vanilla extract
1 cup spinach
8 oz. Almond Milk

Orange & Ginger Smoothie
2 peeled oranges/satsumas/blood oranges
2 carrots
1 inch fresh Ginger root, peeled
3 ice cubes

Pumpkin & Carrot Smoothie
1 cup Pure Canned or fresh cooked pumpkin
1 Pear or apple (cored)
1 Carrot
2 cups Spinach

Berry & Avocado Smoothie
1 cup Raspberries/Black Berries/Blue Berries or combination
1 Banana
1/2 Avocado
2 cups spinach
1/2 cup water
3 ice cubes

Berry & Oatmeal Smoothie
1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup rolled or steel cut oats
1 banana
1 cup fresh frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, etc.)
1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
1 T. honey

***Add spinach, fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley, flax seed, unsalted sunflower seeds or almonds to any smoothie recipe for added health benefits.

It's best to eat/drink small meals 4-5 a day.  If you choose a fast or cleanse that allows for a non-juiced/blended meal, it's best to consume that meal early to mid-day when you are at your most active.  If you choose a fast that involves eliminates meals, omit dinner and/or lunch.  The meals that you do eat, should be moderate.  See earlier posts for light/vegetarian meals.  Or choose a variation of the following...

1/2 cup brown rice
1 cup steamed veggies (your choice)
1/2 cup lean protein (eggs, lean meats such as venison, chicken, turkey or fish)
1-2 T olive oil or other good fat i.e. grape seed oil, walnut oil, etc. (use for cooking or as a salad dressing)
*Vinegar can be used to add flavor to salads & grilled veggies or as a substitute for salt in cooked dishes.