Tao of the Four Empties – the Empty Stomach.

Tao of the Four Empties – the Empty Stomach.

The principle of the “empty stomach” has to do with the frequency, volume and timing of our food consumption.

If we take a closer look at Nature, just like the ancient practitioners of Tao did, we will notice that it is quite common that animals will go through periods of hunger. It can be caused by the seasonality of certain foods, animal migratory patterns or simply the natural cycles of day and night, times of rest and gathering or hunting.

In our “civilized” world, humans, if they can, try to practically eliminate these periods. What’s more important, we increase the frequency of our meals, sometimes up to 6-8 times a day! This is not a very natural pattern for Homo Sapiens. We evolved to rest from digestion on a regular basis.

 

“This makes sense from a survival standpoint. If we do not eat, our bodies use our stored energy as fuel so that we can find more food. Humans have not evolved to require three meals a day, every day.”

Excerpt From: Fung, Jason. “Complete Guide to Fasting.”

 

Occasional fasting turns on a very important mechanism of autophagy – the regeneration and recycling of the cells that improves the efficiency and working of the entire system. It is a very “handy” tool for the body’s natural processes of detox and renewal.

 

“fasting is the most time-honored and widespread healing tradition in the world. It has been practiced by virtually every culture and every religion on earth. Fasting is an ancient, time-tested tradition.”

Excerpt From: Fung, Jason. “Complete Guide to Fasting.”

 

Fasting is and has always been a part of natural cycles. There are many approaches to fasting but one of the simplest and at the same time the most efficient ways is what is known as intermittent fasting. It is done by simply limiting your “eating window” during the day to anywhere from two to ten hours of time when we consume food and leaving the rest of the day and night to fasting.

For example, you eat between10 am and 6 pm and you fast between 6 pm and 10 am the following day. This gives your body 16 hours of rest and regeneration. Once our body and mind adapt, this rhythm is very easy to maintain indefinitely.

Other forms of periodic fasting can include but are not limited to water or dry fasting once a week for 24-36 hours, longer 2-3 day fasts every few months, etc. 

Fasting can be utilized on a daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly basis depending on the individual needs and goals.

The amount of food is another aspect of the “empty stomach” principle.

There is an old Taoist and Yogic saying:

“Eat only when you are hungry but stop before you’re full.”

Overrating is often a result of food addiction, inappropriate food choice, boredom or habit. 

Once we start consuming natural, species-appropriate foods (check the “empty kitchen” article) our unnatural food cravings largely diminish and we start eating according to our body’s true needs.

We cultivate an “empty stomach” to support recovery, healing, and overall vitality.

 

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