What is Daniel fast, and how is it good for you?

Are you stressed, want peace, and want to become spiritually strong? Well, in that case, the Daniel fast is the appropriate way for you! Daniel fast is a healing therapy that will not only make you physically healthy but also make you emotionally strong. In recent years, it became the most popular fast as it is one of the prophet’s Daniel actions to get closer to God.

So, if you want to heal your body, mind, and spirit, keep reading this article and find out how to keep the Daniel Fast and achieve its potential benefits.

What is Daniel fast?

Daniel’s fast is one of the spiritual fasts that some of you may know as a biblical-based partial fast. It corresponds to the prophet Daniel’s diet and spirituality mentioned in the Bible. As it’s a partial fast so, eating isn’t entirely restricted, and you are allowed to eat certain foods in any quantity and have to avoid other foods.

The Daniel fast is mostly the one in which you must follow the diet for three weeks or 21 days. However, some different variations of Daniel’s diet can be limited to 10 days. This fast mainly focuses on vegetables and healthy foods but doesn’t include food from any animal sources.

What’s the history behind Daniel fast?

This spiritual fast is based on the healthy eating habits of the prophet Daniel, a biblical description written in the book of Daniel. Daniel was an old prophet placed under the rule of king Nebuchadnezzar at a very early age. So sculptures from that time showed that the prophet Daniel rejected the rich food and wine offered. Instead, he preferred plant-based meals rich in vegetables, fruits, and water to depict his faith in God. Based on the book, Daniel grew physically, emotionally, and intellectually from this decision after just ten days. According to scripture, he appeared stronger and healthier than others who consumed royal food. So, this shows the potential benefits of this Daniel diet.

What foods can you add to Daniel Fast menu?

Some of the foods that you can add to your Daniel fast menu are as follows:

Foods like bean lentils are allowed to eat. All nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are also allowed, but you should avoid added salt. In small amounts, you can use vegetable oil like olive, avocado, peanut, coconut, grapeseed, canola, walnut, and sesame.

Whole grains like brown rice, wild rice, barley, millet, oats, whole grain pasta, whole wheat, and wild rice are also approved. In addition, whole-grain bread that doesn’t have yeast, sugars, or added preservatives is allowed.

Besides, all dried herbs and spices are allowed to add flavors with a very minute amount of salt. You should use water as a primary beverage. Still, pure fruit juice can sometimes be your second go-to beverage during Daniel Fast. You can also include vitamins and other supplements in this diet as required.

What foods can you not eat?

Some of the foods that you should have to avoid from your Daniel fast menu are as follows:

All animal products like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs

All dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream

Sweetened products such as brown sugar, corn syrup, honey, cane juice, artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, malt syrup, and raw sugar.

Yeast, white flour, and white rice are prohibited and leavened bread products.

Processed foods like corn chips, potato chips, chocolate, and granola bars

In Daniel’s diet, you should develop eating habits that make you feel satisfied, complete, and nourished.

Can you eat vegan products on Daniel Fast?

Having vegan products in your daniel’s fast depends on how strictly you plan to follow your Daniel Fast. Some vegan products are of outstanding quality and have more nutritional value than others, so in that case, you can add them to your diet. But, it is best to choose those with the least amount of ingredients. While buying vegan products, you should remember that all of the components of that vegan product are daniel fast friendly, and you must check the label of the vegan product to be sure. Secondly, you should avoid processed foods.

Conclusively, you can have vegan products on Daniel’s diet as they are primarily plant-based and don’t include food from animal sources. Still, before choosing, you must look for their components.

Can you take supplements and medications while fasting?

Yes, you can take any medications while doing Daniel fasting. Vitamins, minerals, and other supplements are also safe with this diet. However, it would be best to consult your doctor or nutritionist about the number of supplements you should take with this Daniel diet.

Why is yeast not allowed in Daniel fast?

Yeast has many nutritional benefits, but in the Bible, yeast is considered a symbol of sin. Leavened bread containing yeast was given then to keep the neighboring people away. So, avoiding yeast symbolizes that we are against sins.

Also, Jewish people refuse to eat yeast-containing leavened bread to get closer to God. However, nutritional yeast is an inactivated form of yeast, and whether to use it depends on your personal choice. Some people have it, while others avoid it.

How many meals can you eat per day?

As it’s a partial fast, it doesn’t limit the person about how many meals they have to eat daily and how frequently they have to eat throughout the day. The main thing is to stick to healthy ingredients. Also, there is no specific length of this diet, and there are no strict guidelines. People mostly follow this diet for 21 days, and some people follow it just for ten days, as both ten days and 21 days of fasting by prophet Daniel is mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

Are there any specifics about the portion sizes of meals?

Sometimes people think that on a Daniel diet, they can have as much as they like or when they feel full just because they consume all healthy things, but that’s not true. Although it is a partial fast, still it’s fast. So, it would be best to eat all the healthy things but take them in specific amounts. You have to eat enough food to get energy and strength, but you don’t have to overeat.

Is Daniel fast safe for diabetic patients?

The Daniel Fast is a healthy way of eating and has benefited many people with diabetes. However, you can make changes in the fast if you want according to your body’s needs. Moreover, it is recommended to choose those foods that keep you healthy and avoid those that are problematic and can enhance your blood sugar levels.

Before starting Daniel’s fasting, you can consult your doctor or nutritionist if you have any queries about specific foods. You don’t have to strictly follow the food guidelines to get the benefits of the fast, but the important thing is that you remain committed to the cause throughout the process.

What are the potential benefits of Daniel fast?

The Daniel fast is a plant-based diet, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, and lentils, so it has many health benefits. It can help reduce heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, neurologic disorders, and premature aging. It can also promote the feeling of fullness and weight loss. Most foods in the Daniel diet are fiber-rich, so they take a long time to get digested and encourage fullness. Furthermore, this diet is relatively inexpensive as mostly it’s based on plant-based food, which is cheap and convenient, so it is not that expensive.

How much weight can you lose by Daniel Fast?

Daniel’s fast is not a weight loss diet, but you can lose some weight by following this diet. So, if anyone wants to lose weight, they should follow some other diet in which they must incorporate fiber-rich foods and limit their sugar intake.

However, some people claim to lose around 1-2 kg of body weight after having home-cooked, plant-based foods, which is considered Daniel’s diet.

Are there any side effects of Daniel fast?

There are no such severe side effects of Daniel’s diet. Still, some people experience side effects, like bloating, headaches, fatigue, and muscle soreness due to changes in their eating habits. However, these symptoms mostly go away within a few days, and people feel lots of energy when they get used to it.

What if you experience stomach discomfort on Daniel’s fast?

Yes, in Daniel’s diet, you can experience stomach discomfort as you consume a fiber-rich diet. So, if you are experiencing any stomach discomfort, then digestive enzymes can help. It can break down food and help your body to absorb them more conveniently. However, this stomach discomfort soon disappears within a few days of fasting.

Can you do Daniel’s fast during pregnancy?

Yes, you can do Daniel’s fasting during your pregnancy, but it’s up to you how strictly you follow this diet. So, if you want to do Daniel fasting first, you should consult your doctor or gynecologist, and then you can do it.

The Bottom Line

Daniel fasting is a spiritual fasting considered a plant-based diet that doesn’t include animal-based products, processed foods, coffee, and alcohol for 10 to 21 days. This diet is to make you physically strong and improve your emotional and spiritual strength and also help you to get closer to God. This diet is not intended for weight loss, yet people lose some weight due to following a healthy diet. It can also be beneficial in reducing blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol.

So, if you’re interested in following this Daniel’s diet, talk to your doctor or nutritionist before starting it to ensure it’s right for you!