Fasting, originating from the Latin word ieiunium, is the act and consequence of fasting. This verb (to fast), for its part, refers to renouncing, either partially or totally, to ingest drinks and / or food for a certain period of time.
Fasts can be carried out for different reasons. In some cases, fasting is a medical indication for a certain analysis or study. If a person decides to undergo blood and urine tests to find out various indicators of their body that could relieve possible diseases, they will have to fast for approximately twelve hours. Doctors suggest this fast to avoid distortion of test values by drinks or food eaten.
It is also possible that a person decides to fast as a social or political protest. An activist who is imprisoned can fast until the authorities release him, as he considers his detention to be unjust. Thus fasting serves to exert pressure: if the person does not eat or drink, his health will deteriorate. For the political power, the death of a detainee can be a serious problem because the State has the obligation to protect his life.
In the field of religion, fasting is a sacrifice assumed by the faithful for a certain purpose. In the Yom Kippur commemoration, for example, Jews perform a fast that begins at dusk and ends at dusk the following day.
Muslims, during all the days of Ramadan (a month of their calendar), fast from sunrise to sunset. The elderly and those who suffer from certain diseases are exempt from this fast.
Nor should we forget that there are trends in terms of mind and body and even at the nutritional level that recommend fasting. Specifically, they consider that it is useful not only for the body to eliminate toxins but also for the body to “catch up” in its operation. That is, they establish that it is a way to get the body in general to rebalance itself.
Precisely for this reason there are many celebrities who, regularly or at specific moments in their lives, have recognized that they have practiced fasting. This would be the case, for example, of the actor Sean Connery, the singer Beyoncé or the film director and actor Clint Eastwood.
However, these diets or trends also recognize that not everyone can practice fasting. Specifically, it is determined that it is not recommended for those who are ill or for those who suffer from diabetes, for women who are expecting a baby or who suffer from bulimia or anorexia.
In the same way, it is not recommended for those who suffer from anemia, people who are taking very strong medication or those who have serious pathologies such as cancer. In addition, it is established that they will have to consult with their doctor if they can fasting or not those with high blood pressure, people who suffer from depression, those who suffer from kidney failure or those who are below their healthy weight. And it is that they are in danger when undertaking the fast.
