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Q: Is Fasting Right for You?
I started fasting once a week, but I had to give it up because I was getting severe headaches. Could you suggest anything I can do to prevent the headaches and continue fasting?

A: You don't say why you want to fast once a week. I have experimented with fasting one day a week as a useful physical and psychological discipline. Many people experience a clearer mental state and increased energy after a short-term fast. When I did my weekly one-day fasts, I consumed nothing but water or herb tea. The first thing I would ask is how much water you were drinking during your fast. You should be drinking at least eight 8- to 12-ounce glasses of water or unsweetened herbal tea. Drinking less than that might explain your headaches.

I hope you were not fasting in an effort to lose weight. Fasting isn't an effective diet tool - it alters your metabolism in a way that actually may make it harder for you to lose weight. Most people compensate for the deprivation of the fast by increasing their caloric consumption afterward.



If you're a coffee drinker or normally consume beverages that contain caffeine, your fasting headaches could be the result of caffeine withdrawal. If that's the case, I would suggest weaning yourself off caffeine before trying to fast again.

Not everyone does well with fasting - thin people and those who are particularly sensitive to cold have a more difficult time. If that's the case, you probably should reconsider fasting. I would also caution about being overly active during a fast. Not only should you rest your digestive system, but you should also take time to rest your entire body. Too much physical activity during this time may also be a cause of headache.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Ayurveda is "The mother of all healing arts" on our planet, because it predates all healing systems and all forms of natural medicine. It was developed in India some 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. Knowledge of Ayurveda has been recorded in two of the vedic texts: the Atharva veda, and the Rig veda, which are more than 5,000 years old. It was many years later that other cultures studied Ayurveda and created their own healing systems, i.e. China, Tibet, Egypt, Africa, and other regions.

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