Page 18 - BTC Debunking the diet

The pros

Mahatma Gandhi, who began his policy of passive resistance or Satyagraha
right here in Johannesburg, and then went on to lead India to independence
in 1947, swore by fasting. He did it regularly, and for prolonged periods of
time. It was a lifestyle choice that helped him with his mission. If you look at
any of the pictures of him, you will see he was always thin, almost to the
point of being emaciated.

Many people believe not only in its health benefits but also as a form of
spiritual cleansing and purification.

Research has shown that fasting can be effective for lowering blood pressure,
and as part of a detox regimen. We would not advise you to go off your blood
pressure meds or do anything foolhardy until you’ve had a chat with your
physician. We recently learnt that Tina Turner suffered a stroke and had
irreversible kidney failure because she tried to control her blood pressure
with homeopathic medicines – and the lovely Tina was not even fat!

Again, we caution you to listen to your body, pay close attention, and
respond and react when it communicates with you.

The cons

The jury is still very much out on fasting, and has been for many moons.

Some doctors abhor the idea, and some people with stomach issues or those
with glycaemic problems preach that it is evil incarnate. Rob’s famed Dr Van
is vehemently opposed to it. Others believe it messes up the body’s
metabolism and leads to long-term weight gain as we age. It’s also not
recommended for people who suffer from diseases like anorexia and bulimia,
while there is huge controversy around use in pregnancy.

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This booklet © 2019, Rob Rodell, all rights reserved.