Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with my girlfriend, Amy.

We were discussing the health benefits of fasting. She should know firsthand since she completed a 30-day water fast in Panama 2 years ago.

When most people hear this they think, “Oh my god, you shouldn’t do that. It’s not good for your health, etc…”

But the reality is that fasting is one of the greatest gifts you can give your body. Maybe doing a 30-day water is extreme for most people but even a 1-day fast can have marked benefits to your health and ability to lose weight.

Amy’s had some pretty bad eczema on her hands for the last few years – eventhough she eats as clean a diet as you can get.

She mentioned that during her water fast her hands had cleared up and become softer than ever after just 4 or 5 days!

For most people, fasting goes against the paradigm that says that nutrients from food provides what you need to grow and thrive.

Yet, why is it that so many people benefit from fasting?

Even Hippocrates, the great grandfather of modern medicine, refused to work with any of his proteges until they had completed a 60-day water fast!

His reasoning…

When you fast, you clear your body and your mind. As a result, you are more focused, can think more clearly, and act accordingly.

The reality is that if you’ve never fasted, you really have no idea about what it’s all about. Sharing your point of view is really a waste of time because you haven’t experienced it firsthand and have not experienced the incredible body and mind transformations that can occur when your body doesn’t have to worry about digesting food.

Fasting (for any length of time) is healthful because it allows your body to focus its energy on breaking down “problems” within it and regenerating what needs to be repaired.

Usually, when we stuff our body with food throughout the day, most of our body’s vital energy is spent on digestion. In most cases, up to 80% of our energy is spent on this laborious process.

That doesn’t leave much time or energy for the body to go through its much needed maintenance and repair.

So I know it sounds counter-intuitive but the reality is that fasting has been around since the beginning of time and is even practiced by every single religion in the world.

If you’re new to fasting, you’ll obviously want to double check with your physician (knowing that they’ll most likely tell you that you’re crazy) before starting.

I would recommend beginning with a simple 1-day water fast. Eat and drink nothing but water for just one day.

If you feel better throughout the day or even the next day, that’s a good sign.

If you feel crappy, it could be related to blood sugar problems or caffeine withdrawal.

Remember, fasting is not easy. It requires commitment and determination. But if you are up for a challenge that can dramatically better your health then give it a shot.

A good place to start is with a great book called Eat Stop Eat. The author Brad Pilon does a good job at showing you the benefits of intermittent fasting and makes it very easy to apply. Check it out here.