Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Wednesday 21 February 2018

Fasting, Religious Wisdom

they call the Lenten season. Pope John Paul II several days before all solid food is eliminated.
stated that Penitential fasting is therapy for the While fasting, be sure to drink enough water to
soul. In fact, for Catholics all days of Lent are internally wash the system. Enough is: 1 qt/ 90
supposed to be fasting days. Muslims through- lbs of body weight (1 lt./each 30kg). Colonic
out the world will be fasting during the sacred irrigation not only augments the cleansing pro-
month of Ramadan. The Jewish fast of the first- cess, it also helps to hydrate the body.
born takes place in the spring, during Passover. At Viana Healing Center we routinely supervise
As a natural physician I am aware that beyond patients through a fast where, besides water,
religious faith, fasting is an ancient healing strat- only brown rice is eaten for two weeks. Eat-
egy. Many traditional cultures, including Ori- ing no proteins or fats, your body will begin to
ental, East Indian, and Native American, have quickly break down its own excess deposits.
long regarded short periods of abstaining from This not only helps with weight loss, but we’ve
food as curative and revitalizing. Hippocrates seen it drastically improve skin, allergies, co-
prescribed fasting. Fasting was practiced by lon and other problems. The duration of a fast
Plato, Socrates and Mahatma Gandhi. In mod- depends on one’s medical condition, body
ern Europe, clinics that support therapeutic weight, lifestyle and other individual factors. In
fasting are quite common. In Sweden it’s prac- many of our supervised patients, we combine
By: Dr. Carlos Viana tically a national sport. the brown rice fast with periods of taking light,
Proponents of fasting offer thousands of testi-
natural foods, almost exclusively vegetables.
Based on a chapter in Prescriptions from Para- monials from recovered asthmatics, arthritics, If you are one of the people on the list above,
dise, Introduction to Biocompatible Medicine, insomniacs, ex-sufferers of migraines, skin, diges- not healthy enough to completely fast, but
By Carlos M. Viana tive disorders, and other ailments. They maintain would like to eliminate or reduce certain food
Religious dietary recommendations, sometimes that with the exception of serious conditions like for religious or health reasons, be sure to be
prohibitions, like folk sayings and remedies have tuberculosis, ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, checked by a professional. Consult with a clini-
an uncanny insight into the human condition. blood, liver, kidney and heart diseases- system- cal nutritionist to help you make the right food
As a clinical nutritionist, I enjoy trying to unravel atic voluntary abstention from eating is almost choices in the safest way. Sometimes, eliminat-
the basis for these laws. Likewise, I am interested always a healthy first response to illness. One of ing red meat, dairy and/or gluten containing
in traditional methods of cooking foods. Why my medical heroes whose influence prompted products like wheat, can drastically improve
do spinach and potatoes or cloves and ham me to become a colon hydrotherapist, Dr. Ber- your health. Adding dietary supplements might
seem to go so naturally together? Spinach, nard Jensen, has supervised over 50,000 fasts at be recommended. Always read labels to make
a great natural source of iron, contains oxalic his center in Escondido, CA. sure your vitamins are free from artificial or un-
acid which can raise uric acid and aggravate There are two kinds of fasting. The “water fast” wanted ingredients like sugar and starch fillers.
a gout attack. However, cooked and eaten induces rapid internal purification, but shocks Get the Point! As a student of ecclesiastical
with potatoes, the alkalizing quality of potatoes the system. Dr. Rudolph Ballentine, MD., author discipline I see that the religious obligation of
reduces inflammation and prevents a uric acid of “Diet & Nutrition - A Holistic Approach,” says fasting is rarely observed in its integrity nowa-
reaction. Meanwhile, everyone knows that pork that the average American lacks the proper re- days. What a pity, fasting brings into harmony
has to be cooked well because these animals serve nutrients necessary for healthy water fast. our mind, soul and body. Fasting and abstain-
may more easily become infected with bacte- Dr. Ballentine recommends a supervised, grad- ing from excessive food results in the lightening
ria and parasites. Cloves, used traditional pork ual “juice fast” using natural vegetable and fruit of the capabilities of the mind and the soul.
recipes, have natural oils that kill bacteria and juices to provide essential vitamins to sustain Come in so we can help you plan and safely
parasites. Interestingly, reflecting the dietary metabolism, and minerals which neutralize and supervise your spring (cleaning) fast.
prohibitions of the Old Testament, medically, removed toxins that are released. CARLOS VIANA, Ph. D. is an Oriental Medical
we have found pork to be detrimental to all Although abstaining from food is often not as Doctor (O.M.D.) having studied in China; a US
metabolic blood types. difficult as you may imagine, it is useful to plan Board Cert. Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N.), an Ad-
Spring reminds me that every major world re- ahead. Having medical supervision is the saf- diction Professional (C.Ad.), Chairperson of the
ligion and many indigenous belief systems in- est way to start your fast. Fasting is not recom- Latin American Committee of the International
corporate fasting at this time. “Fasting” means mended at times of high stress. During the first Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
abstaining from food or some types of food. two days, when you may feel weak and out (IAOMT), a Rejuvenating Cell Therapist special-
The idea of the fasting in spring has been fixed of sorts, it’s nice to be able to be with support- izing in Age Management, has a weekly radio
firmly in all religious disciplines as a mechanism ive loved ones, and to rest when you feel like program, writes and lectures extensively. For
to purify oneself and become more receptive it. Acupuncture works very well to support you information: VIANA HEALING CENTER, Kibaima
to their deity’s message. The Christian Bible has through this “rough’ period. One should begin 7, St Cruz TEL: 585-1270 Web Site: www.viana-
thirty three passages about fasting during what to reduce portion amounts and eat lighter foods heal.com q