Through my eyes

Flip time fliesMarch is here, oh my hat, it's that time of the year when some of us here start our annual Lent. This year it starts on 1 March and ends on April 13. Even though Lent is so far removed from my present spiritual journey, I still believe it is good for the soul.

Lent for most Catholics means 40 days of mindfulness and also 40 days before Easter- starting from Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday - and traditionally Lent has become a time when people give something up.

People give up different things for Lent including alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and favourite foods. Some give up TV while others give up chocolate.

Each year I try to follow the tradition. Not because I believe it will get me into heaven but because giving something up for 40 days is good for us and we should all do it.

You know the whole theory about how getting out of our comfort zone being good for us

So for the next 40 days I am eating clean and cutting my portions is half. No junk food for me, thank you very much. I will try to stick to this as much as possible and because it's Lent I will try not to cheat.

So do you want to know why Lent lasts 40 days Well it is because 40 is a significant number in Christian scriptures, but the most notable is perhaps that Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert in preparation for his ministry.

So like Jesus I will spend the next 40 days fasting because not only is it a huge challenge but its also really really good for you.

Believe it or not, the less you eat the longer you will live. Studies have shown how thelifespan of people in certain culturesincreased due to their diets. However, we don't need to live amongst a foreign community to reap the benefits of fasting.One of the primary effects of ageing is a slower metabolism, the younger your body is, the faster and more efficient your metabolism. The less you eat, the less toll it takes on your digestive system.

Fasting helps to regulate the hormones in your body so that you experience what true hunger is. We know thatobese individuals do not receive the correct signalsto let them know they are full due excessive eating patterns.

In nature, when animals get sick they stop eating and instead focus on resting. This is a primal instinct to reduce stress on their internal system so their body can fight off infection. We humans are the only species who look for food when we are ill, even when we do not need it.

Fasting has helped many people feel more connected to life during the practices reading, meditation, yoga and martial arts etc. With no food in the digestive system, this makes room for more energy in the body - the digestion is one of the most energy absorbing systems in the body.

Fasting for self-enlightenment, allows us to feel better both consciously and physically. With alighter body and a clearer mind we become more aware and grateful for the things around us.

So come on join in, its only 40 days, its not like anyone will be watching! Its just 40 days of skimping out of 365 days of abundance!