Overview
People fast for religious and health reasons. The time for fasting can range from part of the day to several days or longer. Some fasts involve no eating food or drinking liquid. Other fasts involve drinking juices. Fasting can be difficult, but breaking a fast can be even harder, according to Health Recipes. Detoxification diets often include a fasting period followed by a strict diet of raw vegetables, fruits, fruit juices and water, according to the Nemour's Foundation.
Raw Fruits
During a fast, your body does not take in sufficient energy and must break down skeletal muscle and convert it into energy. The first foods that you consume upon breaking a fast are critical to nourish the body, and should not expend much energy to digest and assimilate in the body. Raw fruit juices and fruits contain much water content and are easily digested and assimilated. Watermelon, grapes and apples are fruits that you can easily digest and assimilate, and they also provide nutrients and energy. Break your fast by drinking a cup of freshly squeezed fruit juice, followed by 2 cups of mixed fruit that consists of melon, grapes, apples and pears. Minimize citrus fruits at first since they may feel too acidic in your stomach. Drink a glass of purified or filtered water to rehydrate your body
Raw Vegetables
Raw vegetables are sources of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and other substances. Organic vegetable juices and vegetables are ideal after a fast. Organic vegetables are free of pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics and other harmful chemicals, according to Better Nutrition. Furthermore, organic vegetables are naturally higher in antioxidants. Drinking a glass of freshly squeezed carrot juice is a good way to break your fast. Add a little celery or beet juice to make a nutritious vegetable cocktail. A small salad of fresh green leaf vegetables such as romaine lettuce, kale or Swiss chard, tomatoes and cucumbers are easy on the stomach and packed with nutrients.
Sprouts
Break your fast with a bowl of mixed sprouts, organically grown from your home. Sprouts are germinating seeds that contain simple sugars, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are easily digested and assimilated, according to Living Food For Africa. As sprouts grow, they increase the concentration of nutrients. Sprouts also are a source of chlorophyll, a substance touted for its cleansing properties. Examples of sprouts include sunflower, buckwheat, alfalfa, broccoli, lentil, cabbage, chickpeas, adzuki beans and mung bean. Sprouts can be grown indoors with indirect sunlight and water in just a few days.
www.livestrong.com
No comments:
Post a Comment