Many cultures believe that fasting can help you cleanse your body of a variety of toxins that result in daily health issues. In fact, fasting is not just a religious observation, but is commonly used to deal with everything from arthritis to infertility. If you decide to fast, you should always consult a physician first. Should you receive approval for your plan of action, you will need to be ready for some serious stomach pain in the first three to four days as your stomach acid will likely make your stomach and throat burn, since it is not digesting anything.
Tip 1:
Drink warm water. Warm, and even hot water, seems to help settle the stomach more than cold water, which can irritate it. Heat your water either in a kettle or in the microwave.
Tip 2:
Drink water in small quantities. Drinking large quantities of water can fool your stomach into thinking you are full, but it also can fool it into producing extra acid to start digesting the food it is expecting. Sip small amounts of water throughout the day rather than chugging large amounts.
Tip 3:
Sleep propped up on pillows. When you sleep, your stomach may send acid up into your throat if you are lying flat. Sleeping propped up on pillows lessens the likelihood of this and will help prevent a sore throat in the morning.
Tip 4:
Avoid adding anything to your water. Many people actually drink only distilled water during a fast to make sure it is totally pure from additives. Even simple additives like lemon juice can cause your stomach acid to "fire up" as your body hopes for food.
Tips
- Generally, your body will become accustomed to fasting after a few days and the acid in your stomach will become weaker as harmful bacteria and other toxins are eliminated from your body.