Fasting is as Old as Man

The instinct that leads us to fast when the body is
sick or wounded resides in the cells of every living being.
The reason sick or wounded animals refuse to eat is that
the instinct of self-preservation takes away their hunger
so they will not eat. In this way, the Vital Force (which
would otherwise have to be used in the digestion of food)
is concentrated at the site of the injury to remove waste
products, thus purifying and healing the body. The
fasting instinct is so powerful and of such vital
importance that, even though semi-civilized man has
strayed from the natural path, he is still greatly
influenced by this wonderful saving scheme of Mother
Nature! If he would obey the silent voice of this infallible,
natural instinct and stop eating when hunger has been
withdrawn, he would soon get well. Better still, he would
never get sick again, provided he ate natural food, lived
in a natural environment and lived a sane, sensible,
healthy, peaceful and natural lifestyle.
Since the infallible intelligence of the living organism
withdraws the sensation of hunger when there is an
excess of food or when the body has been wounded,
the desire to fast begins when either of these happen.
We read in ancient history that fasting has been
practiced since time immemorial by the religious people
of the East and by most ancient civilizations. They practiced
fasting not only for the recovery of health and preservation
of youth, but for spiritual illumination as well. Accordingly,
we see the great philosopher, Pythagoras c.560-c.480 BC,
requiring his disciples to undertake a fast of 40 days before
they could be initiated into the mysteries of the spiritual
teachings. He claimed that only through a 40 day fast could
the minds of the disciples be sufficiently purified and
clarified to understand the profound teachings of the
beautiful mysteries of life.
As it was in the old days, fasting will not only purify
the body and help restore it to well-being, but has a
great effect on the mental and spiritual parts of man.