The laws of our physical life would not be complete without considering the importance of temperance; health is impossible without it. Health can be maintained only when we choose not to allow poisonous things to enter our bodies. But temperance includes much more than that which enters or does not enter our mouth. Temperance is having a totally healthy and balanced lifestyle in every way. It includes a proper balance between work and play, personal time for ourselves versus time with family and friends; scheduling our time so we can be physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually healthy.
Most people, if they are honest with themselves, know what kinds of things are unhealthy. Let this be your motto:
Fasting means a reduction or elimination of food for a prescribed period. Water should be drunk freely during a fast, possibly herb teas and fruit or vegetable juices.
Fasting for short periods of time, one to several days depending on the body's need is beneficial. It will allow the organs to rest and the body to repair and restore itself.
An easy way to determine the condition of your system is to abstain from food for 24 to 36 hours. If your tongue becomes white coated, and you have a bad taste in your mouth, and bad breath, it means that you have a build up of toxins which can be eliminated by fasting.
After two or three days on a fast, most people lose all desire for food. The fast should be maintained until the coating on the tongue disappears, and a fresh, sweet breath is evident. This process can take from a few days to several weeks depending upon the condition of the individual. A fast can be broken with fruit juices, and then, little by little heavier food can be taken into the stomach.
Experts tell us that there is no nutritional deficiency during a fast, and much less sleep is required, 3-5 hours.
During the fasting process whatever is least essential to the body will be eliminated first. Mucus, fat, diseased cells, cholesterol, impurities, even tumors and abscesses. There are documented cases where cancer and other serious diseases have been cured by fasting and diet change. When food is taken away from the sick person, the person is not starved; the disease is.
This business of fasting is new or unknown to many people, and this short article is meant only to stimulate your thinking about the subject. Fasting is not recognized as a legitimate form of therapy in America, but has been used in Europe for many years with great success, and is one of the safest methods of healing there is.
If you think you can be benefited by fasting, and almost everyone can, then look more deeply into the subject; there is much material available.
If we gain temperance at the table, we will most surely have an easier time gaining self-control in every other area of our lives.