This study might confirm my suspicion that fasting has similar effects to taking a RIMA (reversible MAOI) like Syrian Rue or Ayahuasca vine.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Another related study:

"Intense fasting inhibited [Siddhartha] Gautama's MAO activity; eating rice pudding constituted an intake of dietary tryptophan with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates trigger insulin release, which increases unbound tryptophan while reducing levels of competing amino acids at the blood-brain barrier. These effects allow significant amounts of tryptophan into the brain, where it converts into serotonin. Without MAO, serotonin does not degrade, and methyl-transferases convert excess tryptophan and serotonin into endogenous psychoactive tryptamines."

My hat is off to those who are able. Every time I try to skip food for a day, say in order to take cactus or pharma, I become so hungry that I eat the entire contents of my fridge before I am finished tripping. I have crazy fast metabolism and seems like I loose ten pounds if I skip a meal or catch a cold. I don't think fasting is the way for me.

I am the definition of hangry. I’m not a nice person when I’m past a certain point. I would have a hard time making it past lunch.

This goes a long way towards explaining some of the effects I've experienced from simple foodstuffs.

While not specifically related to fasting, lately I've also been thinking about FAAH/MAGL inhibition with respect to endocannabinoids and how foodstuffs might present significant experiential differences when certain enzymatic pathways are 'primed' prior to their intake. This can turn something as apparently mundane as a fried egg on toast with tomato ketchup into a surprisingly potent psychoactive experience.

Empathising with you both, T6S & Metta-Morpheus, while some days turn out to be spontaneous fast days quite smoothly, at those times where fasting has been my conscious decision more often than not the hangriness comes to the fore. It would seem prudent to ensure a safe space is available when setting the intention for fasting in that way.

Thats cool. I fast regularly and drink Aya regularly, and I think I see this a bit. Generaly I drink Aya/mugwort/lemonbalm/catnip/chamolile, or any tea really, while fasting and its great to be there in silence and feel the plant's specific effect. The times I fast and dont drink Aya and have nothing in my system, not even tea, and I am totally pure in that sense, I can feel the effects of the fasting; by its very nature fasting is a beautiful thing, totally uniting one's soul with that beauty that is existence. It puts things in perspective. Its cleansing mentally and physically. I always say the same thing into a 12hr fast "I should do this always! Holy cow this is fantastic." And Aya is very similar. Five or eight hours, or even 24hs, after having had a cup of Aya (generally while fasting) I grow. I learn things. Its very obvious, you say "wow, aya does magic. I dont know what it is, but its pure. It cleans the mind, develops it. Its like a doctor." Its a very special thing

Careful - breaking your fast in the wrong way after an extended fast (I'm talking about more than a couple of days here) can be extremely dangerous if not fatal. I would not recommend chomping on a rice pudding as a way to break an extended fast.

True. After a summer of raw food a portion British fish and chips nearly killed me.

Fish and chips drowned in lemon and vinegar sounds really good right now. This thread is making me hungry.

This is not a study - The Medical Hypotheses journal publishes non-peer-reviewed articles such as the like, often wild speculations. I mean, yeah, nice story but to be taken with a grain of dmt salt.

Thanks for the clarification.