Fasting

I have fasted for 24 once a month since my childhood, except when I was pregnant or nursing as a religious practice.  I believe it increases sensitivity to spiritual matters.  I also believe it improved my physical help by giving my body a rest from digestion for 24 hours.  I have never really practiced water fasting ; abstaining from food but drinking water, except when I was in labor in the hospital because of the rules of keeping a woman from ingesting solids while she was in labor.  However nearly 5 years ago I was in the hospital for surgery on colon cancer.  I was  given 4 gallons of medical enema and put on a clear diet, meaning I could eat or drink nothing but liquids provided by the hospital.  These included tea, coffee, Jell-O, and chicken broth.  I have never ingested coffee or tea and for several years I had avoided foods like Jell-O because of their sugar. When I tried to drink some of the chicken broth I found that it was really nasty.  As a result for six days I took little more than salted water.  I really didn't like this.  Lately I have joined a Facebook group that features periodic water fast lasting as long as a week.  One of the purposes is to promote autophagy in which the body is forced to use tissues that are ordinarily left alone because of the lack of exterior sources of nourishment.  This is my first voluntary 72 hour fast although I fasted for 40 hours earlier in the week.  I expect I will be able to meet the goal.