Fasting is traditionally a time for contemplation and therefore much more than just a trend. For many, fasting is becoming more and more part of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle that is becoming more and more important in our society. Those who consciously deal with their body and health today can benefit in the long term.
It is February and, like every year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – and with it the time refrain from practicing. The classic time of pause and conscious renunciation lasts until Easter. But fasting is now much more than just not eating within a certain period of time. The 40 days of fasting come from a religion and for many people it is still a ritual with healing effects for body, mind and soul. And then as now, it’s about similar ones Values and goals.
“Fasting as a religion and trend”
Fasting already existed in ancient Egypt and it is actively celebrated in many religions today. In Christianity, Lent between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. It used to be used to mellow the sky. Regular asceticism served to please God. Fasting determined everyday life and dictated when something was allowed and when not. There were certain foods that should be avoided during this time. People did not fast for themselves, in the here and now, but rather for a higher purpose, for the time after earthly life. That changed with the arrival of the Reformation. Martin Luther believed more in the “fine external discipline” of fasting than in the fulfillment of salvation.
Today we fast individually
In modern times, most people fast voluntary. Fasting is religion, tradition and trend at the same time. But above all, fasting today is a very individual matter. Compared to the past, fasting no longer stands for suffering. But on the contrary: Those who fast do it for themselves and do something particularly good for themselves. In addition, one associates with “renunciation” today positive value system and one sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Today, fasting is no longer exclusively associated with giving up food or beverages. We can actually do without anything for a while. We give ourselves a break. This also leads to the fact that we value the things we do without again afterwards. These types of fasting include media fasting, digital detox or plastic fasting and much more. We have compiled a list of all fasting trends in 2021 here.
Fasting strengthens health
All in all, fasting is becoming more and more popular in Germany. In a current survey Of the DAK, 65 percent of those surveyed said they would find it sensible from a health point of view to dispense with a certain stimulant or consumer good for several weeks. Compared to the survey in 2012, that is almost doubling in just eight years.
In first place of the “waiver goods” are Sweets, immediately followed by alcohol. The vegetarians among us will be pleased: the renunciation of flesh already ranks third. Another interesting aspect of the study is that more and more men are fasting fans.
All types of fasts have one thing in common: Fasting is healthy. Studies prove the positive effects on health, physically, mentally and emotionally. Above all, the antihypertensive properties have been proven several times. Self-experiments and smaller studies prove time and again the anti-inflammatory effect, the reduction of stress, as well as the weight reduction.
The largest study carried out worldwide about the effects of the famous therapeutic fasting according to Buchinger proves this on the basis of 1,422 people fasting. So the results show that fasting:
- mobilizes the fatty tissue
- Cholesterol and blood lipid levels improved
- Strengthens factors that ensure a healthy cardiovascular rhythm
- serious health problems such as arthritis, type 2 diabetes as well as fatty liver and hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure and fatigue are improved
- contributes to emotional and physical well-being
- hardly leads to significant side effects under medical supervision
Fasting is the same as exercising and eating: It depends on the regularity. The more regular and natural fasting is integrated into life, the more positive and longer term is also the effect on health. Fasting should always be carried out under medical supervision or at least a tried and tested fasting plan. Only those who fast properly fasts healthily.
Think about tomorrow today
Most may not think about the long-term effects of fasting in the here and now. However, they automatically contribute to better health in old age. Even though the basic research and long-term studies are still in their infancy, there is one thing that cannot be denied: Anyone who is already seriously thinking about their health, eating healthy, observing a good work-life balance, regularly exercising and living more sustainably is practicing, so to speak his own retirement provision.
Discover ethically sustainable old-age provision now
We no longer like to think of the afterlife as we did before. But we think of our future – of a good and healthy life even in old age. And that is right and important, because the “new” senior citizens have completely different demands than before. A development that is not only taking place in Germany and many other industrial nations: The so-called best agers, silver surfers, woopies or the “generation 50 plus” are getting older, but they are there more active and much healthier than before – and they feel according to the INSA study also significantly younger.
Securing sustainable and long-term
In order not to have to completely rely on oneself or one’s former (and perhaps not always so forward-looking) self in old age, there is Insurancewho can help with retirement provision. An insurer that is ideally compatible with a sustainable, healthy and value-oriented lifestyle is that VRK: The insurer in the area of the churches.
Here, sustainable investments are offered with ethically sustainable insurance protection, such as the Premium pension with VRK ethics fund as an offer for old-age provision. Sustainable offers for better care in the here and now are also provided by numerous Health and supplementary insurance covered.
If a sustainable and forward-looking lifestyle is important to you, the VRK has the right offer, because the VRK is the only insurance company that invests 100% of its funds in accordance with the strictest ethical and sustainability criteria.
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