Could Long-Term Fasting Be A Real Thing?

Same as with many dubious lifestyles, breatharians claim that the technique requires years to fully master — one of the usual excuses they have prepared when someone tries it and offers proof that it's not working. If it works, why don't they teach everyone how it's done and thus solve world's hunger problems? Oh, it takes years to master, right.

Proponents of Breatharianism often cite Nicola Tesla who, according to them, believed this lifestyle was attainable — but the citation is pulled out of context. Tesla was talking about how other planets could be inhabited because some other species could exist without nourishment like food or oxygen. It looks like he rather wanted to believe, like many of us do.

So many times things have been proven to be true, even though at first it sounded impossible, even stupid. The 87 years old Prahlad Jani sounds like an interesting man. His ability to stay okay without any food while being monitored for two weeks is truly amazing and weird. But don't forget people have different abilities, someone learns how to walk through the fire without harming the feet. Or at least learns how to deceive us in believing so. Everything has a logical explanation, and even though we may never hear it, this has too. The Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences said in their statement for ABC News that if this phenomenon exists “it would have immense application in unraveling secrets of medical science...”

One of the possible reasons why monitoring often remains unpublished is because nobody wants to spoil their good name in science circles with something this unlikely and uncommon. Something like this can't be reported fully from a neutral point of view, and people probably fear for their name, and being mocked by the entire scientific community.

Is Any Kind Of Fasting Healthy?

People choose to fast for many reasons, some of them are related to health, some of them with physical appearance, and often religion. While complete and long abstinence from food could be dangerous, science has confirmed some benefits of intermittent fasting:

1. it can improve digestion

2. it cleans and detoxifies the body

3. it teaches us to appreciate the food more

4. improves mental clarity

5. helps in losing excess weight

6. better sleep

7. better attitude

8. resistance to disease

9. helps in learning about modesty and moderation

10. reduces the allergies, and much more.

Besides the benefits, fasting also has its bad sides. People who fast can feel lightheaded, dizzy, fatigued and have a low blood pressure. It can be risky for them to drive or operate heavy machinery. Also, weight lost by fasting often backfires and person gains even more, just because our bodies tend to go to overeating mode after they've been deprived of nutrients for a long time. Long periods of fasting can damage the kidneys and liver.

READ Fasting: Pros and Cons

Trying to fast for long periods of time, or even worse — trying to live the Breatharian lifestyle without medical supervision could be dangerous. Many breatharians' deaths have been reported throughout the world. Also, don't look directly into the Sun, it's dangerous for the eyes. It's very important to take everything you hear and read with a grain of salt.