Body & healthFasting on the 11th lunar day
Ekadashi and upavasa
A light, grain-free fast, twice a lunar month.
Try it at home
Anyone with diabetes, pregnancy, low blood sugar or a medical condition should ask a doctor before fasting.
Optional, as always. Adapt it to your family, region and health.
The wisdom
Fasting or eating only light, grain-free food on Ekadashi, twice each lunar month.
Regular, planned restraint trains self-control and gives the body a rest from constant digestion. It also brings attention to hunger, gratitude and those who go without.
What the evidence says
Evidence: LimitedSmall or preliminary studies.Studies of intermittent fasting show effects on weight and insulin sensitivity, but there are few trials on Ekadashi fasting itself.
How we rate evidenceSignificance
What it means to the people who keep it. Faith-based meaning is described as belief, not as proven fact.
A discipline of devotion to Vishnu and an act of purification. Practices vary by family and region.