People are constantly monitoring what they put in their bodies. Some people choose to cut sugar, some remove carbs, and others might even limit what kind of food they eat for a variety of reasons. Most are familiar with the common diets: vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and even know about ovotarians; but most have never heard of one group of dieters, the breatharians. What are Breatharians? Breatharians are people that restrict their diet by removing food, and in some cases water, from their day to day menus. People who follow this diet claim that the human body can survive without physical food and explain how food is only one source of energy that can sustain someone. It's common knowledge that energy is found all around us. That energy can be molded and shaped to nurture our spiritual and emotional bodies. While most humans require energy, or Prana, from food to survive, breatharians are able to absorb about 30% of their energy from the sun, and the other 70% from the air they breathe, hence the name: Breath-arian. The name breatharian is relatively new, but the concept has been around for ages. In Latin, Inedia is used to describe any diet that requires fasting. Fasting has been used to help individuals reach deeper insight, cleanse toxins from their bodies, and recenter their own energy for generations. Many breatharians claim that abstaining from physical food, or source feeding, is the purest existence one can have. History of Practice Many ancient religions use fasting as a tool to build faith and raise your own intuitive gifts, Lent, Yom Kippur, Fast of Esther, Tenth of Tevet, and Ramadan just to name a few. While most of these religious fast involving removal of some items from your diet, there are records that show many religious masters and gurus have been breatharians. Hinduism Hindus are taught to fast out of necessity. As a moral and spiritual act, Hindus believe that fasting purifies the mind and body bringing one closer to divine grace. The strictness of fasting in Hinduism can be less or more severe. Some will remove one meal every day, the types of grain they eat, or they might abstain from eating meat altogether. Though diet is a popular fast, not all fasts have to be centered around food. Some devotees will restrict the amount of light they receive, forcing them to turn their attention beyond the physical plane. With fasting being such an important staple to Hindu culture, it's no wonder that saints and hermits of the religion are known to be breatharians. Paramahansa Yogananda, a master of Kriya Yoga, met multiple breatharians throughout his life. Daoism Also known as Taoism, is another eastern religion that focuses strongly on balance, the yin yang being a primary symbol of the theology. Daoist believe the balance of spiritual and physical is so complete they should be treated as the same body. A popular type of fast in Daoism is Bigu, or grain avoidance. A Daoist named Master Mu practiced Bigu for over 22 years. During this time he refused physical food and only drank liquids. Prevalent Breatharians Breatharians have existed for many years, throughout the world and in several religions. During that time scientist have tried to make sense of their strange diet. Prahlad Jani "Mataji" (1929-2020) Jani was an Indian Breatharian monk who said he was sustained by the goddess Amba. Jani was part of two separate scientific studies in his life, one in 2003 and the other in 2010. During both these studies, Prahlad Jani survived for extended periods of time without food or water. Wiley Brooks (1937- ) Wiley Brooks is the Founder of Breatharian Institute of America. He teaches others to remove most food and water from diets and replace them with our true source of energy, the energy in the universe all around us. Jasmuheen (1957- ) Jasmuheen, born Ellen Greve, is a pranic healer who shares her knowledge with all who wish to learn from it. She says she manages to survive off barely any food, less than 400 calories a day, and prefers to just drink tea and water. The Science and Danger If you are thinking about fasting, there are lots of safer ways to start. Although there have been records of religious masters and spiritual leaders sustaining on nothing but air and sunlight, there have been many deaths or people trying to immolate the breatharian diet. Scientist quickly label breatharian ideology as a pseudoscience and encourage all humans to regularly eat food and drink water. If you really want to try a breatharian diet be sure to contact an expert on the subject before starting, and always consult your doctor before you make changes to your diet.