Great Lent, one of the longest fasts of the Orthodox Church, comes immediately after Shrovetide and lasts seven weeks, during which time believers refuse any animal food. It’s very difficult to refrain from fasting meals for so long, so those who are fasting for the first time need to learn how to properly fast.
First of all, let's talk about the meaning of the post. Do not confuse it with a diet. By fasting, believers follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who spent forty days in the wilderness, eating only plant foods. By fasting, a person repents of his sins and learns to resist temptation. However, fasting cleanses not only the soul, but also the human body. During a long cold winter, we get used to fatty and high-calorie foods, so by spring the body is "overloaded" with excess fats and carbohydrates. This is where Great Lent comes to the rescue, helping our body get rid of everything superfluous. However, before starting a post, you need to find out its basic rules on how to fast properly so as not to harm your body.
Without eating animal food, we deprive ourselves of many substances and vitamins necessary for the body, the main of which is protein. Fortunately, meat is not the only source of protein, it is abundant in soy, mushrooms, beans and peas. Dishes from these products successfully replace meat. Talking about how to fast properly, it is worth mentioning that, refusing meat, milk and fish, we lose not only protein, but also calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Lack of iron can be compensated for with nuts, pumpkins, rose hips, celery, bell pepper and herbs such as parsley, cilantro and dill. There is iron in cranberries raspberries and cranberries. The body will receive other trace elements along with barley or amaranth porridge, as well as with products from soy milk.
Fish and other “marine inhabitants” are only allowed to eat twice during Lent, and seafood is the main source of iodine for our body. Lack of iodine and other elements will help make up for kale. Laminaria does not contain only polyunsaturated fats, which we also need. To make up for their deficiency, it is recommended to season vegetable salads with crude rapeseed or linseed oil. Knowing how to fast fast, you will bring no harm, but benefit your body.
Now we turn directly to Lent. In addition to the general laws of compliance with posts, there are rules specific to him. So, let’s take a closer look at how to fast in Lent. During the first and last - Holy - week of Lent, the most strict abstinence is practiced. Foods should be consumed raw, bread - only lean, and no tea or stewed fruit. None of the products appearing on the table these days should undergo heat treatment. On other days of fasting, you can only eat vegetarian food. Vegetarian dishes can be flavored with sunflower oil only on weekends. Mussels, squid, shrimp and other seafood are not considered fish, so some believers eat them on Sunday and Saturday. Fish days include Palm Sunday and the Annunciation.
Of course, throughout the fast you should refrain from alcohol, smoking and sexuality. Abstinence will cleanse the body, daily prayers, confession and communion will cleanse the soul and strengthen the will of man.
The future health depends on how to fast, so chronic patients, nursing and pregnant women, children, as well as those who are going on a long journey, are not recommended to observe fasting. But for patients with angina or SARS, people with joint diseases, high cholesterol and a tendency to be overweight, fasting will help eliminate health problems.