By Alice
As lent season proceeds for Christians, Dr. Charles Basigara from MK International hospital Fort Portal has guided Christians on who is eligible to fast and who is not supposed to, as far as health is concerned.
While speaking to our reporter, Dr. Basigara said that there are categories of people who should for different reasons not be involved in fasting. He thus outlines diabetic persons and those on pressure medication among others.
He advises those with complications associated with diabetes such as poor vision, heart or kidney disease, that the the risk of aggravating these is very high and they should seriously consider not fasting. For people with diabetes taking certain tablets and/or insulin, fasting carries the risk of hypoglycemia.
Dr Basigara, adds that pregnant mothers, breast feeding mothers, children, people suffering from ulcers, the sick who are on oxygen and the bed ridden also should not involve in fasting.
In an exclusive interview with our reporter, He explains why the above categorized people should be exempted from fasting such as :
- Pre-pubescent children do not have to fast, however some do choose to while others fast for half a day
- pregnant women are not expected to fast because the fasting may cause harm to the unborn baby
- Women who are on their period are also excused from fasting since thy lose a lot of blood and need more energy in the body.
- people travelling long distances are as well excluded from fasting
Dr Basigara, adds that sleeping on the floor as one way of fasting may result into one getting different diseases. sleeping on the floor he says, makes it difficult for one’s spine to maintain its natural curve which brings about severe back pain.
Alternative ways of fasting
For Christians however, fasting from food is not recommended on a daily basis. The sort of fast Pope Francis advocates is different and it could be practiced every day of the year. Even children (who are not officially required to participate in the usual Lenten abstinences and fasts) could get into the Holy Father’s list of fasting ideas:
- Fast from hurtful words and say kind words
- Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude
- Fast from anger and be filled with patience
- Fast from worries and have trust in God
- Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy
- Fast from pressures and be prayerful
- Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope
- Fast from grudges and be reconciled
- Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
- Fast from words and be silent so you can listen
The holy Father also in a tweet shows the effectiveness of fasting
Those who fast make themselves poor with the poor and “accumulate” the treasure of a love received and shared. Understood and practiced thus, fasting helps us love God and our neighbour, because love focuses our attention on others and considers them as one with ourselves. #Lent
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 26, 2021
