How to fast: the basic rules of Lent

Lent, one of the longest posts of the Orthodox Church, comes right after the Carnival and lasts seven weeks, during which believers refuse any animal food. It is very difficult to abstain from fasting dishes for so long, therefore it is necessary for those who fast for the first time to learn how to keep a fast.

First of all, let's talk about the meaning of fasting. Do not confuse it with diet. While fasting, believers follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who spent forty days in the desert, eating only plant food. Observing fasting, a person repents of his sins and learns to resist the temptation. However, fasting clears not only the soul, but also the human body. During the long cold winter we get used to fatty and high-calorie food, so by spring the body "overloads" with excess fats and carbohydrates. Here the Great Lent comes to the rescue, helping our body get rid of everything superfluous. However, before you start a fast, you need to learn its basic rules of how to fast properly so as not to harm your body.

Without eating animal food, we deprive ourselves of many necessary substances and vitamins, 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. Deficiency of iron can be compensated with nuts, pumpkin, hips, celery, bell pepper and herbs such as parsley, cilantro and dill. There is iron in cranberries raspberries and cranberries. The rest of the microelements will be received by the body together with barley or amaranth porridge, as well as with products from soy milk.

Fish and other "marine inhabitants" during Lent are allowed to eat only twice, and in fact seafood is the main source of iodine for our body. Lack of iodine and other elements will help to fill the sea kale. There is no laminaria only polyunsaturated fats, which we also need. To make up for their lack, it is recommended to fill vegetable salads with unrefined rapeseed or linseed oil. Knowing how to fast correctly, you will bring not harm, but the benefit to your body.

Now turn directly to the Great Post. In addition to the general laws of observance of posts, there are rules specific only for him. So, let's take a closer look at how to fast in Lent. During the first and last - the Passionate - the week of the Great Lent the strictest abstinence is practiced. Products must be eaten raw, bread - only lean, and no tea or compote. No product appearing on the table these days should be heat treated. On other days of fasting, one can eat exclusively vegetarian food. Vegetarian dishes can only be cooked with sunflower oil on weekends. Mussels, squid, shrimp and other seafood are not considered fish, so some believers eat them on Sunday and Saturday. For the fishing days only Palm Sunday and Annunciation.

Of course, during the entire post should refrain from alcohol, smoking and sexual life. Abstinence will purify the body, daily prayers, confession and communion will purify the soul and strengthen the will of man.

On how to fast properly, future health depends, therefore, fasting is not recommended for chronic patients who are breastfeeding and pregnant, for children, and for those who are going on a long voyage. But sick angina or ARVI, people with joint diseases, high cholesterol and a penchant for completeness, the post will help to eliminate health problems.