The redcurrant or red currant is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family. It is native to parts of western Europe. The species is widely cultivated and has escaped into the wild in many regions. These shiny little berries grow low on bushes, hanging from the branches like rows of miniature gems. […]
Spiritual Preparation Before Fasting
Whether or not a person has religious briefs, it may be useful to consider the spiritual ramifications of fasting prior to beginning a fast. Wherever the fast occurs—at home, in the wilderness, or at a facility—fasting can provide extraordinary life-changing experiences. Even people who fast in a clinic setting often have breakthrough moments. For some […]
Fasting: The Ultimate Diet
Allan Cott was quite the character when it came to voicing his opinion on fasting. This may not be the best book on fasting, but it has some humorous aspects. In a 1976 Cosmopolitan article entitled Fasting: The Ultimate Diet, physician Alan Cott told readers—a predominantly female audience—how to lose weight using water-only fasting. Cott […]
The Fasting Cure
Journalist Upton Sinclair wrote on article on fasting for Cosmopolitan in 1910 and discussed his experiences with fasting, including his three fasts that totaled thirty days (Sinclair, 1911). In 1911, Sinclair published The Fasting Cure in which he recommended nothing stronger than light reading during a fast. This is book that contains several articles about […]