Fasting Overview for Healthcare Providers
We find ourselves at the brink of another fasting period, as is often the case in the Orthodox Church.
One of the most common questions I receive, as a registered dietitian practicing at the intersection of faith and health, is variations on how to observe the fast in the setting of a particular health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, IBS, or heart disease, to name a few.
While the rules of fasting are clear, how they are applied to each individual varies. That’s why it is so important to work with your parish priest or spiritual father when determining your approach to the fast. Sometimes, if you are dealing with a health condition (or multiple), involving your doctor, dietitian, or other healthcare provider, is advisable.
Now, if your healthcare provider is unfamiliar with the fasting practices of the Orthodox church, you could tell them you are hoping to fast for Lent, and his or her interpretation of this statement could be anything from intermittent fasting to fish fry Fridays to total abstinence of food and drink. To come up with a proper plan, it’s important to be on the same page.
That’s why I created this quick reference guide of Orthodox fasting for healthcare professionals. I keep it brief (as they often do not have much time), and visual (to aid in quick comprehension). Head to my store to download it for FREE.
Metropolitan Philaret of New York writes:
We hear people claiming that fasting is harmful to the health. But strict fasting is not required of people who are ill, and they fast only according to their strength. Most important, one should remember that it is only those people who do not fast who speak about the 'harm to health' of fasting. But those who do observe fasting will never say this, for they know from personal experience that not only is fasting not harmful, but it is positively beneficial to bodily health.
In the same sermon, he also reminds us that:
Fasting is not merely a restraining from food. During the days of the fasts, the Church sings, 'While fasting bodily, let us also fast spiritually...' True fasting includes deeds of Christian mercy. It is an alienation of the evil-one, a restraint of the tongue, a laying aside of anger, a cutting off of vices and an exposure of falsehood... Thus, for a Christian, fasting is a time of restraint and self-education in all respects, and a real Christian fast gives believers a great moral satisfaction.
Source: http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/prayer_feasts_fasts.aspx
As we seek to navigate the fast amidst our health concerns, let us remember that fasting is not an end, but a means. God is not concerned with how closely we follow the letter the law, but that we fast with the spirit of the law in our hearts. Fasting is not meant to be a distraction, but to help us limit distractions, clearing the debris from the path that leads us from our mind to our heart, and from our heart to our God.
If you are interested in further guidance from a dietitian in how to implement the rules of the fast in a way that is physically nourishing and healing, follow this link to book an appointment with me. If I have no slots available, or am unable to work with you due to your location or insurance, you can use this same link to find a different dietitian within the Nourish platform.
Wishing you a blessed fast,
Pres Krista
