Fasting and Rejuvenation

????? ???? ???? – “Langhanam Param Aushadham”?

means “Fasting is the best and supreme medicine” – a statement from Ayurveda, which comprises the ancient and traditional healing arts and medical sciences from India, and it was this sentence which prompted me to try fasting myself.

Today I’m on the last day of my annual 7 day water based fast which I typically do the first week of the year. I started this practice 5 years ago and have never looked back. If you’re new to the idea of fasting, the following documentary is well worth buying and covers a lot of ground:

There are many different types of fasting, for a variety of purposes. My personal objectives are for health and mental well-being, specifically for the rejuvenation of the body by activating one’s own stem cells after autophagy occurs, a process in which old parts of your cells are broken down and recycled.

I have chosen a one week water only fast which I find one of the simplest, clearest and most effective forms of fasting to follow. This type of fast can have especially powerful effects on the body, as it allows the digestive system to rest for a prolonged period and the body to focus on other processes, such as detoxification and repair. Not only Ayurveda recommends that fasting helps regenerate stem cells and helps in immunity building. Fasting properly also generates the correct and balanced desire to eat afterwards.

During a water-only fast, the body's stored glycogen is depleted, and the body begins to use fat stores for energy. This process, known as ketosis, can lead to weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity. One of the mechanisms through which fasting exerts these effects is through the activation of stem cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into a variety of cell types, and they play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration.?

In my own journey I observed that certain body parts which during the year had shown signs of aging or a general form of weakness, seemed to be addressed first. During the fast therefore these areas typically have more likelihood towards pains and a higher priority to be repaired. I also noticed that whilst I may fall asleep with certain pains as part of the repairing process, the time between 3 am and 9 am is particularly well suited to let the rejuvenation happen by giving the body enough rest and I generally wake up without any pains after that.

In the earlier versions of my fasts I usually had at least one major headache on day one or two and became quite weak towards the end of the fast. Over the years however, I learnt some simple tricks which now allow me to write this article with a clear head and no feelings of weakness or pains whatsoever:

1. Two days before I start fasting, I strictly don’t take any caffeine (whether in tea or coffee or otherwise). I have found that this helps a lot to avoid the headache on day one or two. The same probably holds true for alcohol or other habits, but as I don’t drink, I cannot comment on that.
2. It’s critical to do some light exercise every day during the fast. For me it’s not about fully working out, but even 20 minutes of Yoga and a 30 minute walk outside will do real wonders in terms of blood circulation, possible body pains, general activity levels and mindset. Everything else I do is as usual (i.e. showering, brushing teeth, a little bit of working etc.).?
3. I also spend 1-2 hours in meditation (or a meditative state) every day during the week. It is not to be underestimated what you can achieve during this week in terms of meditating which under normal circumstances in a busy life may be hard to come by. When your “body is empty”, your “mind is calm”, your “spirit easily connects” to yourself and (for a change) surprisingly follows its orders. It’s one of the best opportunities to discover your real “self”. If you don’t like meditation or find it hard to do, this is the perfect time to try it out, or, as an alternative, read some books which can help elevate your thoughts and open your mind further.
4. As I take water only, the senses (especially taste and smell) become very sensitive. Taking just water can be quite boring, so I prepare it with a twist. I use electrolysis to divide the water into an H2 rich alkaline version and a more acidic and oxygen rich version. In the morning I take the alkaline one and whenever I need a boost of energy in the afternoon, I take the lemon tasting acidic version. I also add a little bit of himalayan rock salt before separating the water as it helps with the electrolysis and to avoid “water poisoning ” effects. It’s important to take absolutely pure water and if possible have it energized as well. I also use specially prepared water which helps to detoxify the pineal gland. I’ll cover the entire point 4 here in greater depth and with detailed instructions under the Premium section in the coming weeks.
5. Before ending the fast, it’s critical to realize that the first thing you take in, goes very deep inside. My personal choice is to take a little bit of honey in warm water on the evening of the 7th day, followed by some lemon water a few hours later or the next morning. After that I simply start to slowly eat normally.

Interestingly it’s really this simple, but many people still asked me “how do I start” and “what do I have to do” and “what’s the process”. Well, it’s actually quite simple: stop eating, start drinking a bit more (and only) water for 7 days. That’s it. There is no secret to the process as such.

Sometimes it’s nice to have others join you in the fast. I find it more fun to do the fast by myself as the alone time is part of the journey, but being in contact with other fasters virtually is a beautiful and quite bonding experience. And exchanging experiences (like some of the ones I shared above) can also help improve one’s own fasting routine.?

A few final notes from my journey this week compared to last year:

Our state of mind matters a lot during fasting. It’s not only what we take into our bodies through food, liquids, etc. – it’s also the things we consume with our mind. Last year, I watched some movies which had a detrimental effect on my overall fasting experience. This year I was more careful and simply surrounded myself with a more positive vibe. This also includes cell phone frequencies. I used my phone (and laptop) only at a minimum, as studies indicate how certain frequencies are directly (and negatively) impacting our cells. Not something you would want during your rejuvenation week. And finally, I never set an alarm during this week as it would be counter-productive to the rest & repair phase I’ve described earlier. I wake up when I wake up and when my body tells me to.

There are other types of fasting which work incredible well, too:

Intermittent fasting is a very popular form of fasting that involves restricting food intake for set periods of time, such as 16 hours of the day followed by 8 hours of eating. This type of fasting has been shown to have similar benefits to continuous fasting, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased stem cell production.

Dry fasting is a more extreme version of a water only fast, but is said to have even more incredible results especially for very long term ailments. The body maintains hydration by consuming its fat cells which are converted to energy & water. Many environmental toxins are stored in our fat cells for decades, so the dry fast enables the elimination of the fat cells and these long-held toxins. Taking showers and cold water baths enable the body to absorb the water through the skin and amazingly one urinates every day of the Dry Fast.

In the Premium section I will soon cover how you can massively increase your stem cell activation for rejuvenation during fasting, and how you can activate autophagy without fasting at all.?

I would love to read your best experiences with fasting in the comments and learn from you any best practices, or if you have any suggestions that may help others to discover the incredible treasure fasting is in terms of health, rejuvenation and general wellbeing.