Q&A:
Fasting For Athletes
by
Phil Kaplan
Q: I'm an
avid racquetball player and bicycle rider. I also lift weights
and follow much of your recommendation for a healthy lifestyle.
I'm intrigued by what I read about fasting. I don't want to
lose weight, but I want to try it for an energy boost. I'm
concerned I may actually reduce energy and wondered what your
opinion is.
A: Personally,
I don't see much value in athletes fasting. When you eat supportively,
getting vegetables in each meal, staying away from excesses
of alcohol, drugs, hydrogenated fats, and refined products,
drinking a significant amount of water and exercising seems
to do a very nice job of detoxifying. If you have specific
issues that you want to resolve, and a healthy lifestyle hasn't
done it, I'd encourage you to enter fasting gradually. Start
with a 2-day juice fast (perhaps supplemented with amino acids
and/or a liquid protein supplement) and see how you feel.
Consider that a practice to determine if you want to do something
more restrictive. I understand the supposed virtues of fasting,
as well as the spiritual cleansing beliefs associated with
some religious doctrines, but in my experience I find it leaves
athletes depleted. I look forward to hearing of your experience
if you opt to pursue fasting.
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