Juice Fasting

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Juice Fasting

 

August 27, 2004

 

Juice Fasting

Before I tried juice fasting years ago for the first

time, I thought it was extreme and unnecessary. Why

starve yourself when you can just eat a healthy diet?

But the reality is that most people have a lifestyle

that makes it difficult to eat healthy. Hectic work

schedules and family responsibilities drive people to

consume coffee, fast food, and sugar. Juice fasting is

an advanced method of detoxification that speeds the

elimination of toxins from the body. Learn all about

juice fasting, include benefits, diet guidelines, side

effects, and other guidelines.

 

Juice fasting is an advanced method of detoxification

that speeds the elimination of toxins from the body.

 

Fasting refers to the avoidance of solid foods and the

intake of liquids only. Water fasts are one type of

fast, but juice is often used because it requires

minimal digestion, helps stabilize blood sugar levels,

is easily assimilated by the body, and supplies

nutrients and calories to maintain energy while

clearing body waste. Juice also helps to decrease the

unpleasant detox-withdrawal reaction that can occur

common allergens are eliminated from the diet.

 

Why do people try juice fasting?

Many people experience enhanced physical, mental, and

spiritual well-being during and after juice fasting.

 

People who report the greatest benefit from juice

fasting have congestion, excess mucus in their bodies,

and constipation.

 

Symptoms may include:

# headaches

# constipation

# chronic sinus congestion

# white or yellow tongue coating -- tongue coating is

usually a good sign of congestion and toxicity

# bad breath

# acne or other skin eruptions

# bloating, gas, flatulence

# postnasal drip

# premenstrual syndrome

# runny nose

# excess meat and fat consumption, overeating

# chronic bronchitis

# muscle stiffness in the low back

 

Proponents of juice fasting believe that it can

prevent chronic degenerative diseases brought on by

poor diet and lifestyle choices. It can also help

people transition to a healthier lifestyle.

 

It is important to choose a cleansing technique that

is not too extreme for your condition. People who have

never tried fasting may wish to try the detox diet

first.

 

What are the guidelines of this diet?

 

* Timing – Spring is thought to be the best time

of the year for a juice fast. Fasting should only be

done during the warmer months. In Canada and northern

regions of the United States, this means spring,

summer, and early fall.

 

Some people prefer to wait until a vacation from

work to perform a juice fast. Most people should not

perform more than two fasts per year, because it can

cause depletion and weakness. After a fast, be sure to

spend the next months strengthening and rebuilding

your system. Restorative or anusara yoga, probiotics

(friendly bacteria) supplements, and stress reduction

are some strategies that can help.

 

* Level – People who are fasting for the first

time, have the above symptoms, or who are not healthy

should be supervised by an experienced health care

professional. The following methods can be used to

minimize risks and slowly detoxify the body:

o Five to seven days before the fast,

eliminate alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, dairy,

wheat, animal meat, fish, eggs. The diet should

consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, and beans.

o Limit the fast to three days or less. One

method is to abstain from food for 38 hours, from 6 pm

one night to 8 am two days later. Most people will

feel slightly hungry and may experience some symptoms

such as irritability or headache by the end of the

second day.

o Optional: Eat fresh fruit or vegetables

during the juice fast.

o Optional: Eat one meal daily at around 2

or 3 pm.

o Optional: Eat light meals based on

protein, vegetables, and starches. It is no longer a

fast at this point, but a detox diet.

Proper supervision is necessary when fasting is

used by people with medical conditions or who are

taking prescription drugs.

 

* Juicing guidelines

o The basic procedure is to use between one

and three parts distilled or mineral water to one part

fresh juice. The juice is sipped throughout the day.

Good choices for detox are celery, carrot, kale,

cabbage, apple, pineapple, cranberry, spinach, beet,

and greens. Citrus fruits should be avoided. At least

8 glasses of water should be consumed to flush out

toxic substances.

o Use organic fruits and vegetables. If you

cannot find organic produce, peel the skin off fruits

and vegetables or wash vegetables with a non-toxic

produce cleaner, usually available at health food

stores.

o Low-allergen protein supplements, such as

Ultra Clear and Medi Pro Protein Powder, can be added

after the third day. They provide protein, vitamins,

and minerals to support the detoxification process.

The powder can be mixed into juices.

o It is preferable to drink freshly juiced

fruits and vegetables, but if unavailable, buy it from

the health food store or juice bar as fresh as

possible.

o You may add blue-green algae, spirulina,

or chlorella to juices to provide more energy.

 

* Other suggestions

o Be sure to drink plenty of warm water in

addition to juices.

o Go to bed early. In traditional Chinese

medicine, 11 pm to 1 am is when the liver, the major

detox organ, is most active.

o Keep warm.

o Nurturing and relaxing are important

during this time. Breathing exercises, yoga and/or

meditation are some optional suggestions.

o Get lots of rest.

 

# Other suggestions

 

* Enemas or colonics can be combined with a juice

fast to help expel the stagnation and toxins in the

colon. A coffee enema is often recommended to

encourage liver detox. Instructions for a coffee enema

can be found here.

* Supplements that can help to absorb toxins in

the digestive tract so they can be excreted are

bentonite clay and activated charcoal. Both can be

purchased at health food stores.

 

 

# Duration of the fast – A fast usually lasts for one

to five days. Longer fasts should only be done with

medical supervision.

 

Pay attention to weight, symptoms and degree of

congestion, tongue coating, degree of hunger, and

energy level. If energy level drops for more than one

day, if weight becomes too low, or if any symptoms

become particularly intense, it is time to break the

fast.

 

# thicker or have a more pronounced color (yellow,

white, grey) as the body eliminates toxins. Although

tongue coating should be used as a general indicator

only. Some people retain a coated tongue even after

all other symptoms have improved.

 

# How to break a fast – The guidelines on how to break

a juice fast can be found here.

 

Benefits of the diet

In addition to promoting the excretion of toxins and

decreasing congestive symptoms, juice fasts are

believed to have the following benefits:

 

* Eliminates most food allergies and

sensitivities.

* Reduces the burden on the digestive system,

allowing it to heal.

* Releases pesticides, drugs, and other chemicals

from stored fat, which can then be eliminated.

* Enhances mental, physical, and spiritual

well-being

* Has less severe withdrawal symptoms than a water

fast.

* Increased energy

* Mental clarity

* Glowing skin

* Prevents chronic diseases caused by poor diet

and lifestyle

* Clears mucus dishcharge

 

 

Side effects and healing crises

In the first three days, it is not uncommon for

headache and hunger to occur. These side effects are

usually gone by the third or fourth day. Many people

notice a thickening in the tongue coating, which can

be brushed off with a toothbrush. Other common

experiences – known as healing crises -- are bad

breath, unpleasant taste in the mouth, foul-smelling

stools, digestive upset, acne, energy fluctuations,

mucus in the stools, sinus congestion, skin eruptions,

fever, irritability, yawning, muscle aches or

tightness, and gas. Most healing crises pass within

one or two days.

 

Healing crises often occur during a detox or other

positive change in lifestyle. In addition to physical

symptoms associated with the release of toxins,

emotions can also be released during a healing crises.

Old symptoms from the past can also appear during

fasts. They usually last for a brief period.

 

If any symptoms last more than two to three days, it

should be considered a problem and be addressed. If a

problem worsens or causes concerns, or if fainting,

bleeding, dizziness, low blood pressure, vomiting and

diarrhea, palpitations, kidney problems, or

arrhythmias occur, the fast should be stopped

immediately and a doctor consulted. In general, people

should consult a health professional skilled in

detoxification before trying a juice fast.

 

Who should not try juice fasting?

People with the following conditions should not try a

juice fast: diabetes, hypoglycemia, eating disorders,

anemia, epilepsy, kidney disease, impaired or weak

immune system, cardiac arrhythmias, candida, cancer,

peptic ulcer, malnutrition, pregnancy, nursing, gout,

lactation, severe bronchial asthma, terminal illness,

tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, any condition that

causes depletion and weakness, underweight, chronic

infection, nutritional deficiency, serious disease.

People should not try juice fasts before or after

surgical procedures. Fasting can reduce blood proteins

and change the way prescription drugs react in the

body. People taking prescription medication should

consult a health professional skilled in

detoxification before trying a juice fast.