My question is mainly to monks and nuns in this group, but I welcome answers from others as well. If one were to give up eating solid food after the midday, as instructed by the Buddha to his Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni, what practical advice would you give such a person in order to avoid getting gastritis and stomach ulcers?

Many religions have period or specific practice including fasting. I'm aware of the eating prescriptions of monks, but are there traditions or practices involving fasting for Lay-people? If not in scripture, are there in culturally Buddhist countries?

In Hinduism, when a person is old, bed-ridden and fulfilled all their obligations, they are able to fast to death to end their life. This is called *prayopavesa* and is an acceptable practice in India. I do understand that the first precept in Buddhism says not to kill others which includes oneself. However, are there certain instances like those mentioned above where fasting to death is acceptable in Buddhism ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayopavesa

From this coming full moon I've to start fasting and keep it on, so what I've to practice on this day ?

One of the answers to this question 'https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2303/is-there-a-tradition-or-practice-involving-fasting-in-buddhism-or-buddhist-count ' says that fasting is followed by Tibetan Buddhists. Why is fasting allowed since it is as extreme as gluttony and not a middle way? If I am right, following the path of the śramaṇic and yogic systems which existed at the time of Gautama Buddha, he subjected his body to extremes such as fasting and then realized that such extremes do not help in his enlightenment. Has the Buddha prohibited fasting in any of his teachings?

Got interested after seeing benefits of intermediate fasting in retreats from noon (more energy more time) - but started to read about benefits of longer fasts now (24 hours - 28 days) But there is the whole middle way thing to consider - did buddha talk against fasting ? or just against fasting to suffer on purpose thinking that would liberate you ? If i do it for health benefits it might be ok - right ? maybe it does have benifits that can help the practice (more energy more time etc).