Upavasa (Fasting) – Overview, Type, Diet, Benefits & Side Effects

ABSTRACT

As we know that ayurveda is a science of life and it mainly guides us about the protection of our health. Today we are discussing the topic of fasting. As we know that it is a very common thing which can be seen more commonly due to the new trend. Fasting means not eating food for a particular period. It is known as Upavasa in Ayurveda. On religious belief, it is the way to get closer to god. It is seen very commonly that people fast for many reasons. Excess fasting can result in weakness also. Appetite varies from person to person. A good appetite is essential for overall health. Excess fasting can directly affect the appetite.

INTRODUCTION

Fasting is known as Upavasa. Upa means near and vasa means to stay. It means to sit or stay near the lord to keep the lord close to your mind and heart. Fasting is among the daivavyapashraya (spiritual) therapies and 10 langhana (that produces lightness of the body) therapies. Upavasa helps to remove toxins from the body and the channels are cleared which are blocked due to any reason. Obesity is not only an issue of overeating. It can be due to any systemic issue with digestion. Fasting is thought of as not from the last dinner, but rather after the feast has been processed. One ought to hydrate at whatever point feels hungry. Day to day from dawn the quicker you ought to be without food for 6 hours or more until normal craving is capable, then take a quick bite with positive food.

SPIRITUAL BELIEFS

1. Hinduism practices fasting as a means of cleansing the body and purifying themselves to acquire acceptance from the god.
2. In Islam, Muslims mainly fast on the time of Ramadan they avoid eating food and partaking in sexual acts.

TYPES

Upavasa is of four types

1. Nirahara (without taking food).
2. Phalahara (with fruits).
3. Sajala (with drinking water).
4. Nirjala (without drinking water).

BENEFITS OF UPAVASA/FASTING

1. It helps to improve willpower and mind power.
2. Cell recycling also improves
3. Regular fasting helps in intoxication
4. Brain health is improved and protected
5. Growth regulation increases
6. Helps in weight loss
7. Increase in secretion of growth hormone
8. It is beneficial for athletes
9. It helps in normalizing insulin sensitivity
10. It helps in slowing down the aging process

SIDE EFFECTS OF FASTING

The quickest organ impacted is the pancreas. During seasons of low plasma glucose, the pancreas will let more glucagon out of the alpha cells tracked down in the islets of Langerhans. Glucagon will essentially influence the liver as it stores the majority of the glycogen in the body. Skeletal muscle is likewise impacted by glucagon, yet less significantly since skeletal muscle contains a low glycogen focus. After hepatic glycogen stores are exhausted, the body involves fat tissue and protein for energy. The liver plays a functioning part in the digestion of fats as it is the principal oxidizer of fatty oils. In additional outrageous renditions of fasting, where fat sources have been consumed, the body separates skeletal muscle for energy. Catabolism of skeletal muscle gives the body amino acids that can be Utilized. In any case, this cycle likewise prompts a decrease in bulk.

DOING EXCESS FASTING CAN BE HARMFUL. IT CAN SHOW THESE TYPES OF SYMPTOMS.

1. Nausea
2. Dizziness
3. Insomnia
4. Headache
5. Weakness
6. Dehydration
7. Hyponatremia

PERSON WHO CAN PERFORM FASTING

AS WE KNOW LANGHANA THERAPY IS IN SHISHIRA RITU TO PATIENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM

1. Skin diseases
2. Urinary disorders
3. Obesity
4. Patient with vata dosha related disorder

PERSON WHO CAN NOT PERFORM

1.  The person who is living in a hot climatic area.
2.  Who does a lot of physical work.
3. People who utilize a lot of their brains.

As per Acharya Charak Our Body and Brain have three constituents, specifically sattva, rajas, and tamas called "GUNA". All matter and observational peculiarities, including the brain, are matter-manifest in vast mixes of these three gunas. So coherently on the off chance that we are eating Rajasik or Tamasik food, we will have a reasoning of a similar kind.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SATTVA ARE

1. Love of fame
2. Passion
3. Lust
4. Strife

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RAJAS ARE

1. Impatience
2. Jealousy
3. Pride
4. Display of power

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TAMAS ARE

1. Anger                 
2. Greed
3. Ignorance
4. Solidity
5. Resistance
6. Inertia
7. Forgetfulness
8. Confusion
9. Darkness
10. Brutality

OVERVIEW

Any food material that we eat comprises each of the three Gunas Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. The vast majority of the food materials that we devour have high amounts of Tamasik and Rajasik gunas. In ordinary circumstances, an individual might continue to eat similar food with no apparent sick impacts as his body and brain can adapt to the great and terrible impacts of that. However, if there should be an occurrence of some disease, it is legitimate that equivalent food might become hazardous. For understanding the advantages of fasting we can perceive how fasting is made sense of in the Ayurveda restorative framework. The fasting (for a little term) balances the three doshas in the human body i.e., Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in the human body. Ayurveda considers Upavasa additionally as "aho ratri bhojana abhavaha", i.e., the condition of for the time being hardship of food and there is likewise referencing of Upavasa as "sarva bhoga vivarjitaha", i.e., withdrawal from every common joy. The human body only sometimes scrubs and revives itself by finishing a showing consistently and killing the metabolic squanders the following day. These allude to the physical and mental parts of fasting, individually.

Nowadays fasting is seen commonly in youngsters because of having excess fat they avoid food due to society teasing them for their obesity.in older times fasting was mainly done by married ladies. Due to their spiritual beliefs. In every religion beliefs are different.

BEST DIET AFTER FASTING

1. Lentils
2. Tofu
3. Potatoes
4. Pasta
5. Protein rich soup

BEST DIET BEFORE FASTING

1. Brown rice
2. Baked chicken
3. Cooked veggies(carrot/broccoli)
4. Salads
5. Fruits

CONCLUSION

Many societies accept that forbearance works with profound cleansing prompting a more grounded self Discipline. In the present situation, people are persistently introduced to different harmful substances through water, air, unfortunate food, and stationary way of life, which prompts a higher assortment of various poisons in the body. Because of this, the normal methodology of the body to eliminate unfortunate things and purging the body to hold individual sounds are not adequate. Through the topic of  Upavasa we can spread ayurveda to the whole world. Fasting purifies the mind and body. It strengthens one’s conviction and teaches one to have self-control. The basic principle of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of a healthy individual and to cure the disease of the patients.