Where does fasting come from and how healthy is it?

Conscious fasting for the senses

Fasting means abstinence. If this is done voluntarily and consciously, incredible mechanisms are set into motion in the body. In this article, we reveal what these are, how they impact the body, mind and soul and what else – apart from food – it is also worth abstaining from.

Fasting has a long tradition, and enjoys great importance in the context of religion in particular. Just think of the 40-day fasting period in Christianity or the Muslim fasting time of Ramadan, which lasts a month. Judaism features multiple holidays on which fasting is practiced for a brief period. Why is this the case? And why is such high priority given to fasting in this day and age especially?

Fasting is more than just abstinence

It is no coincidence that fasting is so closely linked to the religions of the world. Although fasting is first and foremost reflected in abstinence from food, inwardly it also always implies a time for peace, self-communion, contemplation and reflection. Fasting brings calm to the spirit and the person fasting is able to restore emotional equilibrium. According to religious understanding, this communion with the self promotes our connection to the divine and strengthens our sense of basic trust. The fact that these effects can indeed be supported by fasting becomes clearer when we take a closer look at the processes that occur during fasting. Because fasting has so much more to offer.

In general, the term fasting is understood to mean abstaining from food. In today’s world, in which food is available any time and anywhere, this is a good thing. After all, the mode of fasting is instilled within us as a result of evolution and requires regular maintenance. In the initial phases of the development of human beings, long periods of hunger were a regular part of daily life. Humans had to search for food on a daily basis. This frequently entailed periods during which they were unsuccessful and had to go hungry. Then an animal was killed and suddenly an excess of food was available once more. Our genome has been shaped accordingly, and the human organism is very adept at dealing with these ups and downs – otherwise we would not have survived until this day. Our body, therefore, is certainly not programmed to be eating constantly – and to be constantly eating too much. Instead, the order of the day involved repeated periods of fasting, which had to be endured in order to survive. No generation before us has ever been quite so oversupplied with calories.

Fasting gives you energy – how is this possible?

Under medical supervision, American physician Henry Tanner underwent a 40-day fasting period for the first time in 1880 in New York, which at the time attracted a great deal of attention. The New York Times kept up with the undertaking with regular reporting, and even feared that Tanner could lose his life in the process. But far from it: After 20 days, the physician felt better than ever, not worse. What had happened? By now we know: The mechanism of autophagy (loosely translated as “self-devouring”) was able to develop in an ideal way during the fasting period. Here, comprehensive repair mechanisms get underway after around twelve hours. Damaged cells are either repaired or broken down into their individual components. In this way, fat cells (ketones) that are released once more can be used for the supply of energy. This is the reason why those undertaking a fast often report suddenly having more energy. Not just physically, but also mentally. “In the context of a fasting program, it’s not unusual for new ideas or solutions to everyday challenges to suddenly come to you. Or it may also be the case that you are better equipped to handle interpersonal conflicts, since you can literally see more clearly and your mind is open to receiving new perspectives and thoughts,” Dr. Werner Zancolo, Head of Medical Department at VIVAMAYR, describes the effect on the mind.

What’s more, the intestinal mucosa also has a chance to recover, and with it our digestion. The production of hormones in the gut is harmonized. As a result, the “feel-good hormone” serotonin can be produced without restriction once more, which also contributes to a healthy sleep-wake rhythm, since melatonin production is also balanced out. Melatonin is considered the sleep hormone and ensures that we feel sleepy in the evening.

Fasting: a new twist on abstinence

While classic fasting with a focus on abstaining from food has experienced a renaissance over the last few years, fasting does not always have to mean a restricted consumption of calories. Nowadays, there are plenty of things we can forego that don’t really do us much good: negative attitudes, the assignment of blame, superfluous information and negative news, even the simple act of smoking or social media consumption (digital detox). It seems to be a natural side effect of our digital age that no matter where we go, we are overwhelmed with information. And instead of making the most of the moment while we wait at the subway station to allow our thoughts to flow freely, we get new input from our smartphones, scroll through social media feeds or watch irrelevant stories. All of this is information that we have to process – and that sooner or later simply becomes too much for many people. Sound familiar? Where could you cut back a little?

We here at VIVAMAYR know what we’re talking about, since upon arrival, our guests always provide us with a reliable impression of present-day society. It’s no secret that conscious, targeted abstinence is one of VIVAMAYR’s recipes for success. “We serve the right food at the right time. Beyond this, we also teach our guests about the important things during the act of eating itself, such as proper chewing or a relaxed mental attitude,” explains Serhan Güven, director of the VIVAMAYR Health Resort Maria Wörth in a podcast episode of the VIVAMAYR Health Cast.

Fasting at all levels – how to get it right!

Of course we are always pleased when you decide to come and stay with us at our VIVAMAYR locations, but it doesn’t always have to be multiple days at a time in order to benefit from the positive effects of abstaining from food. Even small steps to give up little everyday indulgences help us gain renewed energy and lightness. For inspiration, we’ve gathered a few ideas for some things you could renounce from time to time – thus very easily establishing new, health-promoting habits by doing so. What do you want to get started with today?

A new twist on fasting: creative ideas for conscious abstinence

Give up sweet things – or those who find this particularly challenging can deliberately select one sweet treat: chocolate, cake, salty snacks, gummy bears etc.
Give up coffee
Give up alcohol
Consciously avoid packaging waste
Give up synthetic cosmetics – prioritize natural makeup
One day without social media each week
Or: don’t spend more than 15 minutes per day on social media
One day without your phone each week
No more complaining
Add an extra ten-minute buffer to all of your plans
Incorporate a brief walk before you watch TV in the evening

No more overtime
Reduce your meat consumption to once per week
Drink a glass of tap water right after getting up
Instead of juices, soft drinks and alcohol: drink only water!
Meditate for five minutes each day
Practice gratitude: At the end of every day, think about the things you are grateful for today
A daily good deed: Make someone’s day a little more pleasant every day (for example, let someone in front of you in line, hold the door open, help someone put on their coat, complete household tasks, bring someone a glass of water or make them a coffee, etc.)
Reduce your consumption of the news: only watch the news on TV every other day, for example