You’ve heard of vegetarianism and you’ve heard of veganism, but get ready for one “ism” you probably never thought you’d ever encounter in your life: breatharianism. And yes, it’s just as ridiculous as it sounds.
However, according to Daily Mail , one woman, who is a self-described “breatharian”, claims that she’s ditched solid foods for good and is surviving purely on pureed fruits and vegetables, teas, and air. And in fact, she’s never felt better.
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Audra Bear, 25, said she first adopted a raw vegan lifestyle prior to going full breatharian.
In fact, this pretty huge lifestyle change only happened about eight months ago.
But in that time, she claims she’s seen huge improvements in her health, and she no longer even has any desire to eat solid food, since she’s happy getting her energy from “nature and breathing.”
So before we go any further, what exactly is this breatharian lifestyle Bear has adopted and adores so much?
According to her, it all has to do with living a “pranic” lifestyle.
“Prana is another word for energy, also known as Qi or Chi,” she explained. “It is a life-giving force that flows in, though and around all things, it’s in the air we breathe, the sunshine, nature, connections with people and all living things.”
As Bear explained, living “pranic” basically means ditching “dense nourishment sources”, like food, for other lighter sources, like energy.
Part of breatharianism is fasting, and Bear said she was once able to go without solid food for 97 days, consuming only puréed fruit and vegetables.
In addition to her purées, she also spends much of her day practicing her breathing to gain nutrients this way. She says she spends between 40 minutes and 3 hours each day strictly doing breathing rituals, leaving her feeling “more satisfied” than if she’d eaten a meal.
Although she does still ingest fruits and veggies, and sometimes tea, she says it’s the breathing and fasting that give her all her nourishment and energy.
If you’re like me and wondering what kind of a social life a “breatharian” like Bear could possibly have, she admitted that food isn’t exactly banned entirely.
“You can eat if you choose to, for entertainment or social settings, know your energy is sourced from the life-force all around you,” she said. “Most days I just drink teas, fruit juices, green juices and fresh coconut waters.”
However, she admitted she does “eat occasionally now, but more for celebratory reasons.”
Bear said she didn’t intend to quit eating solid foods when she began her new lifestyle.
“I just started practicing [‘breathwork’] for 40 minutes a day and after about five days, I no longer had such a hunger for dense foods,” she said, adding that she’d heard of people living this way before but “never thought that would be me.”
Unsurprisingly, while Bear claims her diet of air and purées keep her full, they’ve also caused her to lose some weight.
In fact, since starting her new lifestyle eight months ago, she’s lost 14 pounds. Also unsurprisingly, nutritionists have warned against “breatharianism” because of its significant lack of nutrients.
Nutrition scientist Helena Gibson-Moore has warned others against following Bear’s incredibly restrictive lifestyle.
“A diet that only includes fruit juices and teas is likely to be low in energy,” she explained. “So although initial weight loss my occur, in the long term you will be missing out on important nutrients for good health.”
In fact, despite Bear’s claims, Gibson-Moore said there’s “no scientific evidence breathing offers essential nutrients.”
However, Bear has no desire to quit her new lifestyle, though she admitted she knows it’s not for everyone.
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone to fast, cleanse, or restrict without first learning about the breath,” she said. “You can also experience prana through time in nature, sunbathing, earthing, creating, and playing.”
Speaking to her own experience, she said, “My energy is heightened, my senses are stronger, and I’m feeling the healthiest I’ve ever been. I feel relaxed about life and a deeper connection to myself.”
h/t: Daily Mail
