Great Lent in the folk and church tradition was a period of physical and spiritual rest. Various forms of fasting can be used both for the treatment and prevention of diseases, says Dr. Natalia Trofimova.
“From the point of view of maintaining health, detox treatment courses are just as important as proper nutrition. They give the body the opportunity to gather strength and restore functions that strengthen the immune and nervous systems,” explains the chief physician of Loodus Biospa, Dr. Trofimova the need for regular fasting.
Great Lent appeared in the church calendar not by chance. The winter period before lent can cause vitamin deficiency, overwork and a general decrease in the body’s immunity. People fasted before the modern religions and did so for the same reason – to clear the body and mind and strengthen the immune system.
According to Dr. Trofimova, religious fasting and therapeutic fasting are essentially completely different things. If today people fast less and less within the framework of church customs, then there is a growing trend of various health-improving programs of medical fasting, the duration of which is shorter, but the intensity is much higher – it is advisable to conduct such fasting courses only under the supervision of experienced professionals and in a suitable environment. However, there are certain similarities between them.
“Fasting or therapeutic fasting is a voluntary decision. It is not enough that a person refuses to eat. This is a decision that is born in the mind of a person. Psychological readiness for the natural detoxication of the body is the basis of everything,” says the doctor Natalia Trofimova. Thus, in the old days, the fasting period also meant the restriction of all kinds of entertainment activities.
Today, the world lives in a constant rhythm throughout the year, and if people need to fast in order to restore health and performance, they can choose a more suitable environment. There are several reasons why self-healing fasting at home often does not work. Dr. Trofimova has five recommendations for short-term health fasting. During this period, a fasting person must give up everything that is not vital, for example, nicotine, alcohol, coffee, sweets. Second, you must separate yourself from the worries of everyday life—relax, seek peace and security, and free yourself from responsibilities and the daily pressures that come with them. Thirdly, it is important to consume a large amount of suitable liquid. Fourth, move with moderate exertion as much as possible in the fresh air. Finally, do detoxifying treatments such as massages, baths, and activities that release waste products. It is difficult to provide all this on your own at home.
“A healthy person has many desires, but a sick person has only one. Regular fasting helps prevent many of the so-called diseases of civilization associated with malnutrition and lack of exercise. At the same time, it is important to remember that fasting creates only a prerequisite for good health – even after a course of fasting, you must continue to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat mindfully and move a lot,” says Dr. Trofimova, head physician of Loodus Biospa.