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Brown Rice Fasting Plan First is when you need to lose few extra pounds and detox your body quickly. This rice diet is also referred to as rice fasting. A brown rice fast is actually an ancient practice dating back thousands of years. While it is a milder form of fasting it offer its own unique advantages and benefits. Rice fast does not produce extreme symptoms of detoxification as in water fasting, for example. Rice fasting is rather soothing and gently removes toxins from your bloodstream allowing you to avoid a feeling of discomfort that is often present during fasting. The standard rice fasting plan takes 3 days to complete. If you feel like its too much for you, try to go with only one day and repeat the fast after a week gradually increasing the duration of the fast. 3 Day Rice Detox The plan is simple. For three consequent day eat only brown rice. For that you will need 3cups of brown rice, preferably presoaked and thoroughly cooked. Try to split up your rice into 4-5 meals. You may a little bit of sea salt or a dash of cayenne pepper. You may also add a little bit of raw coconut oil or butter. These fats are thought to aid in the elimination of fat-soluble toxins and are used in tissue repair. Just make sure you use fats in moderation and dont overload your rice with them. And as usual: do not forget to drink at least 8 cups of water daily. After 3 day slowly ease back into your regular foods. Introduce new foods gradually, allowing your body to adjust. Normally it would take you 1 to 2 days to completely return to your normal menu. This fast will not only cleanse your body and improve your digestion but also help you lose up to 8 pounds. Laura Administrator ******** Posts: 15,241 http://www.laura-knight-jadczyk.com Brown Rice for better health on: January 02, 2010, 10:22:22 PM Edited 25 October 2010: Note that, since this article was published, and most of this discussion took place, we have discovered that rice not only has its own gluten that can be harmful, it also contains lectins to which many people are sensitive. We no longer recommend eating rice, brown or polished. _________________________________________________ ________________________ From: http://www.allaboutfasting.com/rice-fasting.html A Brown Rice Fast

Yes, you can fast on rice! A brown rice fast is actually an ancient practice dating back thousands of years. While it is a milder form of fasting, it offers the same benefits all fasting methods offer and has its own unique advantages. I first heard of it during a stay at the Kripalu Center for Holistic Health back in 1985. I was taking a month-long course that was offered as an overview to a variety of holistic and spiritual practices. Among those was the practice of fasting as an adjunct to Conscious Eating as a life choice and spiritual discipline. But they didn't just talk about fasting, this was a hands-on course. So, we fasted for three days. We (a class of about 25) were given the choice between a brown rice fast and a fruit fast, specifically, on oranges. We could have 1-2 cups of rice per meal, 3 meals per day. Or we could eat 1-2 fresh oranges per meal, for 3 meals per day. Though in both cases we were admonished to try to only eat the smaller portion if possible. To help us with this decision we were told that if we typically felt very grounded in our lives, more heavy and analytical, found it difficult to dream dreams of fancy, to allow our feet to come up off the ground, we should do the orange fast, as a fruit fast would aid in lightening us emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Alternatively, if we generally felt light and spacey, ungrounded, felt unconnected, lost and confused, that a brown rice fast would be more grounding and warming. Otherwise, we were told, the two fasting styles would deliver the same benefits. The cleansing and detoxing of accumulated wastes stored in our bodies would begin. The clarity in our meditations would improve. Our flexibility in our yoga sessions would improve. All of that proved to be true. While I chose the orange fruit fast that day, many in our class chose the brown rice fast. Their experiences were just as wonderful and expansive as those of us on fruit. Actually, those of us on fruit envied the rice fasters their warm bowls of "solid food" at mealtime, especially on the colder days. A brown rice fast can alleviate many digestive troubles My more recent experience with rice fasting comes from a girlfriend who had a lot of digestive upset. Irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, diverticulitis, and ulcers were all considered possible culprits, but she never allowed the doctor to do all the testing necessary to identify and label, diagnose, the problem. She felt certain that would become a lengthy, expensive process possibly ending with a still unclear prognosis, while she knew too, that whatever it was could likely be managed through diet. What she found helpful instead, was a one-day brown rice fast. When her symptoms were most acting up, she would eat nothing but brown rice all day on a Saturday. Just that little bit of effort, just that much rest for her digestive system, was enough to rebalance her; it was enough to alleviate her most acute symptoms. She always said she felt better and wished she would rice fast more often. A brown rice fast is a gentler method of fasting and can be very soothing A brown rice fast can be more stabilizing than other types of fasts. Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate, metabolizing and delivering energy-giving sugars slowly, over time. Fruit, on the other hand, is comprised of simple sugars, more quickly metabolized, and can lead to highs and lows in some people. But a brown rice fast can feel very calming and soothing. Fasting in cold climates or in the winter can be made easier and more comfortable if done with brown rice, as it is more warming than other types of fasts.

In contrast to a water fast which can cause extreme symptoms of discomfort due to its intense detoxifying, a brown rice fast is milder and much more gentle. While you will detox, it will be much more comfortable. There are some professionals who feel it is better to fast in a way that does not produce extreme symptoms--that the extreme symptoms can indicate a too quick release of toxins into the bloodstream, creating an intense burden on the body. These professionals suggest using mild fasting methods and/or cleansing diets to detox more slowly and gradually. This would most specifically apply to older and more frail individuals. The many proponents of a brown rice fast Annemarie Colbin, in her book Food and Healing, reports good results from a brown rice fast in those coming off of sugar and recreational drugs. She suggests, however, balancing the more acidic rice with alkaline foods, such as seaweed or miso. This may only be an issue on fasts of longer duration--more than 5 days. Also, if one is concerned about acid foods, you can fast on other grains. Quinoa (pronounced keenwa), millet, and buckwheat groats (not a wheat product) are all considered alkaline foods. It is best not to use wheat due to the prevalence of undiagnosed wheat and/or gluten allergies, not to mention, Westerners already consume a disproportionate amount of wheat. The founder of the macrobiotic diet system, George Ohsawa, proposed a strict brown rice diet as a cleansing regimen for the sick. A later proponent of the macrobiotic diet, Michio Kushi, claimed that a strict brown rice diet conferred spiritual enlightenment on the adherent. It is interesting to note that brown rice is considered by many Asians to be the "perfect" food, as they believe it to have a perfect balance of yin and yang energies. Traditional Ayurveda (the 5,000 year-old art of health and healing) is a proponent of the brown rice fast in the form of the dish called Kitchari. This type of fast is sometimes called a "kitchari cleanse", and may also be considered a cleansing diet. It combines mung beans with the most balanced of the rice types: basmati. There are as many recipes for kitchari as there are cooks--think of the number of recipes for "chili" in America--but for fasting, use a basic kitchari recipe (Learn more about kitchari, including some recipes, here). According to Vasant Lad, in The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, you can fast on kitchari for up to 5 days. It is said to be nourishing and balanced, easily digested, and cleansing in nature. Kitchari can also be used in the process of breaking other fasts, like water, juice or fruit fasts, due to its mild nature. Soaking grains for the best nutritional value Our modern methods of cooking grains are insufficient at making the nutrients bioavailable to us. The newest research is showing that most grains really should be soaked or fermented before cooking. This is very similar to the process we use in soaking beans overnight before cooking. In grains, this soak is shown to improve nutritional value and benefits. When you're fasting, and therefore cleansing, on one food, it becomes all the more important to maintain the highest quality possible in that one food. Notes on a brown rice fast: * Plan on 3-6 cups of rice per day, keeping to moderation as much as possible. * Only use a whole grain! Ayurveda recommends brown basmati rice as the most balanced rice, as it is deemed acceptable for all three doshas.

* Be sure it is cooked thoroughly. And for easier digestibility and greater nutrients, soak brown rice for at least 7 hours before cooking. See here for information on soaking rice. * A bit of sea salt on your rice is ok. The higher the quality of your sea salt, the more this is acceptable. At Kripalu we were allowed a bit of gomasio--salted sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are full of calcium, and thus alkalizing. You can also add a strip of sea vegetable to your cooking rice or a small amount of miso to the cooked rice for the same effect. * A bit of cayenne pepper on your rice can be warming. * You can make a big pot of brown rice or other grain in the morning from which to eat all day. Resist the temptation to reheat it in the microwave (see here for why), but instead, steam it with a vegetable steamer on the stovetop, or in a lidded skillet on low with a little added water, or covered, in a toaster oven. * As a special treat, use a piece of your best fine china (the stuff you hardly ever get to enjoy) during your fast. For all fasts: * Prepare for a fast by eating fewer and lighter meals for a couple days prior. The length of preparation is based on the intensity and length of your planned fast. The longer and/or more intense the fast, the more days of preparation you should make. For a one day fast, you can just eat a light dinner the night before. * If you're a coffee drinker, wean yourself off and you'll avoid the withdrawal headache. This goes for other caffeinated beverages, as well. * Drink at least 2 quarts of water. Fresh squeezed lemon may be added to your water, as it not only imparts a bit of flavor, but will contribute living beneficial enzymes. * Plan for a light workload during a fast. Don't overdo. Moderate exercise is ok, even helpful, but save the more strenuous workouts for another time. Walking and yoga are particularly well-suited to fasting. * Get plenty of rest--allow yourself naps during the day whenever you feel the need. * Coming off a fast requires special attention as well. Do so slowly, easing back into regular foods (but making better choices about which foods!). Again, the length and intensity of the fast performed will dictate how many days you take to re-acclimate your body to regular eating. For a 10-day fast, three days of easing back in is often recommended, eating normal foods on the fourth day. Start with juice or vegetable broth, then add raw fruit and vegies, then properly cooked whole grains, etc. * Many recommend enemas during any kind of fast, but it isn't necessary. If the bowels don't move for the duration of your fast, that's ok. The bowels will move when you resume intake of regular foods. You can add the psyllium cleanse to your routine by adding 1-2 tablespoons of psyllium husks (available in most pharmacies, in the laxative section) to a glass of water. Do this one or two times per day. Psyllium is a natural fiber laxative that is excellent for cleansing the intestines. Be sure to drink plenty of water with psyllium as the package will tell you. If you can get organically-grown psyllium from your health food store, that would be best. To prepare basic soaked brown rice:

2 cups rice 4 cups warm water 4 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice Place all in your cooking vessel. Let soak at least 7 hours, and up to 24 hours. Bring to a boil and remove any scum. Add 1 teaspoon sea salt and reduce heat to the lowest setting. Cover tightly and cook for 45 minutes without removing the lid. Fallon's recipe calls for the addition of 2-4 tablespoons of butter at the same time as adding the salt. She says the vitamins A and D in butter help us absorb the vitamins and minerals found in grains. When fasting, it's your choice as to whether you want to use the butter or not, but there are theories that the body needs a fat to get rid of fat-soluble toxins. You might use ghee, aka clarified butter, from which the milk solids have been removed. This will create a slightly softer finished grain, but not mushy. People with sensitive digestive systems will notice the gentler feel of this grain. It is much easier on the system. Last Edit: October 25, 2010, 12:31:51 PM by Laura Offline Ailn Administrator ******** Posts: 2,254 Spelled A-I-L-E-N (read "eye-len"), not "Alien";-) Seales de los Tiempos Re: Brown Rice for better health Reply #5 on: January 03, 2010, 12:19:48 PM I can definitely recommend this diet. I've done it several times throughout the last 7 years. It is easier than any other "mono-diet", because you are hardly even hungry. And now that we know all the properties of brown rice, it seems like the idea food to take for cleansing. I used to do carrots or apples, but when I first did the rice one, I found it much better and easier to do. In any case, eating only one type of food really helps. I would also recommend coffee enemas while doing it. I don't know which supplements are most important, but I would imagine that taking vit C, magnesium and Alpha Lipoic Acid would be the minimum required. That good thing about a diet like this is that you don't have to cut on your supplements, which is not possible when you do a total fast. But I prefer to go easy on them, since you are trying to let your organism rest. Maybe Pysche or Laura have a better guide for this. You do get a bit tired and I often have headaches, specially if you cut off all caffeinated drinks. But not that bad that you can't solve that with our wonderful breathing and meditation program! ;) Coincidentally, I was just thinking about doing this diet again. Yesterday I only had rice for most of the day, and in the evening a normal meal. I prefer to enter it slowly, so that it is not too shocking for the organism. But the most important thing is to break it slowly! Otherwise your body feels attacked and you may lose all the benefits from the diet. Once you've done this, you'll see that at least once a month, you can have a rice-only day and feel better. Or even just half a day helps. I do that quite often when I feel low in energy or if I have any stomach ache after eating something inflammatory. Brown Rice Fast The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the oldest-known book of Chinese medicine and the foundation of the macrobiotic diet (see Macrobiotic page for more details) is

based on the yin-yang principle. It describes a ten-day rice gruel fast as the first remedy for disease. Ronald E. Kotzsch writes in Macrobiotics: Yesterday and Today that The Yellow Emperor's Classic "asserts that food is an important means for treating disease. It says that in `medieval days' the sages treated illness first by diet, usually prescribing a regime of rice gruel (short grain brown rice) for ten days. If this treatment was not successful, then the roots and leaves of medicinal plants were used to harmonize the energies. Acupuncture and moxibustion were employed only as a last resort. If the emotions and the will of the patient are stable, says the Classic, then cereals alone can effect a cure. Grains have a special importance and power as human food. Water and grains are the root of life and 'death comes only when they are exhausted.' In particular, rice is mentioned as a vital and harmonious food." A ten-day brown rice fast may be too severe for those who have not already practiced the macrobiotic diet for some time. Such a fast is not recommended unless you get good macrobiotic counselling, know the body's signs of yin and yang, and know how to break the fast. Instead, you can try a rice fast for one or two days. Eat as much pressure-cooked brown rice as you want. You can follow this with a couple of days of rice and vegetables with a light miso soup as the body gently comes off the rice fast and adapts to a greater variety of vegetarian foods. The longer the rice fast, the easier you should make the transition. It is wise to wait a week or more after the rice fast before eating fish, if this is part of your regular diet. Because of the past diets people have been on, reactions may vary from severe to mild to none at all. Go easy, be well informed, proceed with caution, and know when to stop. Recipe for pressure-cooked brown rice: 1/2 teaspoon good sea salt to 4 cups of short grain brown rice (organic if possible) and 8 cups of pure water. Wash rice and put in pressure cooker. Add water and bring to a boil. Add salt and place cover on pressure cooker. Bring cooker up to pressure then reduce flame to medium-low. Put flame deflector under cooker and cook for 40 min. Remove pressure cooker from flame and let sit for 5 min. without opening, then remove rice from the pot so it doesn't keep cooking. For regular daily use of brown rice when not fasting, use 1-2 teaspoons of salt per pot according to personal taste and need. Bancha twig tea (also called kukicha) can usually be bought in tea bags at a health food store. If you can only get the loose twigs, here is the recipe for it: If the twigs you have are not already roasted, you should roast them in a dry skillet for 3-4 min. Place 1-2 tablespoons bancha twigs in a pot with 4 cups of pure water, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 min., or 10-15 min. for stronger tea. When tea is finished steeping, remove twigs from the tea and let them dry. Twigs can be reused a few times, adding some new twigs each time. For more on Macrobiotics, go to the Macrobiotics page, or back to the Detox and Fasting section of the Wholesome Diet page.