The Fast: Only if You Must 155reactions. This high dosage should be curtailed as soon as symptoms begin
to diminish. Don’t wait for a complete recovery, as the vitamin C might
itself cause a reaction. This is rare, but if I tell you that most vitamin C is
manufactured synthetically from corn derivatives you will see at once why
that could apply: Corn is one of the commonest allergens of all.
Avoid chemical exposures during a fast
In my experience, people who are intolerant of foods also have a lot of
trouble with chemicals. I have even observed that a chemical exposure can
trigger a strong food craving (probably caused by hypoglycemia).
This may not apply to you, but why give yourself an unnecessarily
hard time? Don’t take risks. It is much more sensible when planning the fast
to arrange that you will have as little exposure as possible to any noxious
substance. For example, try to avoid urban traffic with its exhaust fumes
even if it means staying at home. See to it that no aerosol spray of any
kind is used in your presence. Remove perfumes and cosmetics from the
bedroom. Do not use powerful detergents, solvents, cleaners or bleach
during this period.
Needless to say, you should not smoke during a fast. I repeat again:
tobacco is a toxic substance and is almost universally a masked allergy
among smokers. Also avoid smoky environments. I have seen smoking a
cigarette, or even inhaling second-hand smoke, trigger severe food cravings
in sensitive individuals.
Keep away from cats, dogs, dust, pollen and moldy environments
if at all possible. If you can’t avoid them completely, keep exposure to a
minimum.
Paint, especially the gloss type, can be very offensive: make sure
you have no contact with freshly decorated rooms. The consequences can
take several days to clear up.
Finally, avoid anything you have found by experience to be inimical to you.
‘Don’t court symptoms’ is the summary of this section!