My eyes were recently opened up to the world of fasting. I decided to do an herbal colon cleanse and one of the options for the program was a fast with only vegetable broth and organic apple juice, as needed. I was not planning to do the fast when I originally bought the kit but I felt compelled to do it as the time drew closed to begin the program...and I am truly glad I did.

Fasting gives your body time to rest and repair, and cleanse itself of toxins that have accumulated over time. There are lots of different types of fasts, including water only fasts, juice fasts, and even simply fruit and vegetable fasts. During my fast I had three small servings of vegetable broth and probably downed a little over a quart of apple juice in a 61 hour period. The program I was on instructed me to take the juice or broth if I was feeling a lacking of energy or pretty much just crappy.

So yes, 61 hours, 2.5 days of not eating food basically. I know that for some people this may seem like an impossible feat, and for me, well I once thought the exact same thing. I love food, probably too much and I could never imagine not eating for that long of a period. But it does actually get easier to not eat as you go along and you lose your hunger and desire for food. It also helps to reset and readjust your cravings for food, as I found that while I was fasting I fantasized about how delicious a salad or some grapes would be.

I cut my fast sort at 2.5 days (the program called for 5 days of fasting) because I am an inexperienced faster and felt that I need not push my body and mind too far on my first fast. Fasting can be dangerous and certain individuals (like diabetics perhaps) shouldn't fast unless directed by a physician to do so. It's actually a good idea for all individuals to fast with the help of a qualified individual since fasting and breaking a fast can be dangerous if not executed properly.

I'd like to be able to exactly pinpoint the benefits of my fast but I feel that I can't exactly say what they are since I was doing it in conjunction with a cleansing program. However, after beginning the fast I noticed my skin became much smoother and softer to the touch, even old scars seemed to have become less prominent. Also, a tendon I had injured that had been tight for many weeks suddenly seemed to heal.

So will I fast again? Most definitely! I have a lot more energy now after the fast and along with the help of the colon cleanse my body feels much cleaner. I plan to learn more about fasting and it's benefits and encourage anyone serious about healing their bodies to do the same.