Posts are characteristic of many religions. While fasting is necessary to focus on spiritual development, abandoning many of bodily pleasures and temptations. To pass this test, you need to prepare for it. In particular, on the eve of abstinence it becomes relevant the question of what can be eaten in the post, and which products should be excluded from your diet.

Post a religious point of view

Priests bitterly say that for many religious rites replaced the true faith. Drinking post from deeply religious people and those who just chasing fashion, varies dramatically. The first post in order to grow spiritually, while the latter simply follow the tradition of not giving much thought to its development. Some refer to a post as a kind of diet - hoping thus to lose weight or improve your body.

In terms of the attitude of the Church to the post is not acceptable as the main must be spiritual growth and preparation for the great religious holidays, not a slim figure, gaining as a result of abstinence. During the period of fasting to behave humbly and lovingly relate to neighbors, refrain from any entertainment and bodily pleasures (which include not only certain foods, but also, for example, sex). Not only must eliminate from the diet certain foods, but do not chase for pleasures like delicious food.

There are six degrees of restrictions during Lent:

• Complete denial of food. This post lasts very long (up to several days), usually meant for the monks;
• Xerophagy. Cold plant foods without oil;
• Hot plant foods without oil;
• The food of plant origin with the same vegetable oil;
• This is followed by a softer kind of fasting. Allowed fish, seafood and food of plant origin, including fats;
• You can eat any food except meat. This is the soft kind of fasting.

Opinion of doctors

Fasting - this is just one of the rituals. All restrictions on the period of fasting is not valuable in itself, but as a way to strengthen your spirit, to get closer to a higher power. If such a result is not interested in fasting, that post becomes nothing more than a diet, which, however, can go only to the health benefits.

From the viewpoint of physicians periodic posts useful. Modern man eats too much animal food, which adversely affects the health of both adults and children. Therefore, periodic health posts will benefit. As a rule, lean food is less fat and less calories than meat in Lent. Man involuntarily begins to eat more useful vegetables, fruits, cereals. This helps to establish digestion, lower cholesterol levels Cholesterin   in the blood (especially if fasting regularly), cleanse the liver, improve the kidney, improve the general condition.

Of course, the benefits of fasting can speak only if a person eats rationally. The diet of lean pastry with vegetable honey cakes are unlikely to have a beneficial effect on health. It is important that the diet was varied - it is quite possible during Lent.

It is important to do without fanaticism: if there is an overwhelming desire to eat this or that "prohibited" product, it is better to listen to your body. Not by chance have the religion allow certain categories of meat in Lent: pregnant, breastfeeding, young children, convalescents and those who are fighting or traveling (ie, is in a stressful situation).

How to eat

During Lent it is necessary to abandon the products of animal origin. It is not only meat and poultry, but any products from them, as well as eggs in any form, milk and dairy products. Fish ban applies not always, but in many cases it is also necessary to exclude from the diet. In addition, alcohol is prohibited. Sugar in the old days was considered too Skoromniy, as used in its manufacture products of animal origin. Today, sugar is purified by chemical means, so you can eat it. However, they do not need to abuse, since sugar - is food for pleasure and enjoyment during fasting should be limited.

Limitations in the period of fasting and manifested in the fact that food should observe moderation. Many people tend to "jam" the longing for loved Skoromniy products by absorbing huge amounts of food allowed. This not only deprives post any sense, but also leads to a set of extra kilos and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, you should eat less, to watch portion sizes, do not overeat.

During Lent you can eat any food of plant origin (only some days to be limited to vegetable oils). It is not only fruits and vegetables, and a variety of cereals and flour products, nuts and legumes. The list includes meatless foods and a variety of soy products, including soy meat Soy meat: benefit or harm , Soybean milk and cheese. Furthermore, the market can find a variety of imitation products of animal origin for fasting - for example, sausage bean, vegetable oil margarine, mayonnaise lean or almond milk.

During the period of fasting is necessary to carefully examine the labels on the finished product, as part of salads, pastries, sweets often includes eggs, milk, sour cream Smetana: untold riches of Russian cuisine   Skoromniy or other products. Although it is considered that the unintentional use of the post is not from the point of view of religion such a big sin, it is better to avoid such accidents.

If you want to lose weight during the fast, then you should avoid foods with a high content of "fast" carbohydrates (flour products, potatoes, some cereals) and fat (vegetable oils), leaning on fruits and vegetables. If the purpose of the post - recovery, it is necessary to refuse from the various simulations fasting foods: these dishes usually contain too many artificial additives are not going to benefit health.

Maria Bykov

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