Fasting and metabolism
Question
what is the difference between ekadashi vrat (11 th day) and shiv pradosh vrat (13th day). I read somewhere that fasting occasionally increases metabolism and fasting over a period of time (like ramzan fast for a month) reduces metabolism. which is recommended.
Answer
1. The body of the common man is high on toxins and therefore vulnerable to frequent illness. Occasional fasting rests the digestive system along with the other systems and cleanses these to some extent. All religious practices advocating an occasional fast are hence devised as a flushing and cleansing operation. This in turn harmonizes metabolism and produces equilibrium.
2. Fasting also helps the common man set aside some time from the mundane things of life and focus on God during those special days. This in turn helps him gradually develop 'Indriya Nigraha' (control of the senses (taste) and thereby other senses).
3. In case of the Yogi who practices unbroken Brahmacharya with 'Mitahara' (moderation in diet & all other things), the body gets completely purified in a couple of years. Such a Yogi who constantly meditates in the thought of the self does not need to fast as he is already in equilibrium.
Fasting when taken recourse to should be short, occasional and never long. Long fasts eat into 'Ojas' and destroy the body.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)