Notes on Fasting [Liquid Diets; Blended Foods; Cleanses]

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

 

Recently and in the past, people in various discussion group s have shared

questions and experiences regarding fasting and various forms of

pseudo-fasting, such as the " master cleanse " , " juice fasting " , and the like.

I'd like to share just a few thoughts on all this, which I hope some may

find helpful. PLEASE receive this as only a very brief overview and nothing

more.

 

1. Over the long course of human history on Earth, " fasting " has meant

cessation of eating, usually with consumption of water, occasionally

without.

 

2. Also over the long course of human history on Earth, diets consisting of

liquid and/or pulverized food have routinely been fed to the very young

(nursing), the very sick, and the very old (and sick/degenerated).

 

3. Some early raw food teachers, perhaps most notably Ann Wigmore, applied

the idea of a liquid/pulverized diet to the feeding of sick people in

general. Ann remains famous for her green soups and the like. These were

basically smoothies, in that the whole food was retained in the mix. (In

contrast, " juicing " typically means separating and discarding all the fiber

and the many nutrients it contains.)

 

3.1 More recently, Victoria Boutenko popularized the eating of pulverized

food under the moniker " green smoothies " .

 

4. Relatively recently, some clever people decided to rename various forms

of liquid/pulverized diet and call them " fasting " , typically with some word

in front. For example, most people today are familiar with the term " juice

fast " , which is actually nothing more than a liquid diet, where the liquid

is extracted from some combination of fruits, vegetables, and green leaves.

 

5. During the same general time frame, others created various forms of

liquid/pulverized diet and called these " cleanses " . For example, most people

today are familiar with the term " master cleanse " , as well as with various

other cleanses.

 

Now, we have reached a point where many people have heard of all these

things, yet almost no one really comprehends them. People undertake various

activities, all with a good and genuine intent to improve their health and

well-being, and many people suffer as a result. Some suffer directly from

the activity itself, as several have reported here today. And others suffer

a bit later in the process, when they are clobbered by cravings and other

challenges for which they are entirely unprepared. Either way, the results

are physically uncomfortable ... and sometimes downright destructive ... and

emotionally debilitating.

 

This latter point is crucial. I cannot even tell you the number of people,

with whom I have spoken and/or corresponded, whose self-esteem absolutely

plummeted after one of these experiences. So, here are a few points of

clarification, points to consider:

 

F.1 In a sense, vitality is a function of energy economics. Every organism

travels through a lifelong ebb and flow of activity and recovery, activity

and recovery.

 

F.2 Almost all cleansing, construction, and reconstruction/repair occur

during periods of recovery, which I often call " relative rest " . I use this

term, because any reduction in activity constitutes relative rest, from the

point of view of one's body and mind. I have also heard Doug Graham use the

term " comparative rest " , I believe with the same general intent.

 

F.3 One way to create relative rest is to reduce the load upon one's system

to digest, assimilate, and eliminate food. In this sense, several approaches

to raw foodism bring about a state of relative rest in the body and mind of

those who previously ate a poorer diet, and significant healing often

ensues, at least for awhile.

 

F.4 We can imagine an energy economics continuum, as follows: At one end,

imagine total, intense, outrageous activity, the kind no one can sustain for

more than a brief period. At the other end, imagine the most complete,

perfect rest a human can experience.

 

F.4.1 When we transition from cooked to raw foods, and particularly if we do

so wisely, we move ourselves along this continuum, away from the activity

end and toward the rest end. We bring about relative rest, 24x7, and we

benefit accordingly. (Though we may experience " cleansing symptoms " for a

bit.)

 

F.4.2 When we transition from a solid to a blended/pulverized diet, if we do

so wisely, we move ourselves in the same direction.

 

F.4.2.1 Juicing moves us a bit farther in one sense, but without fiber the

remaining liquid rushes through our digestive system faster than nutrients

can be recognized and assimilated, so considerable nutrient waste occurs in

the process. It is important, in this regard, to note that sugars ARE

generally absorbed and recognized. For this reason, people generally " feel

good " during a so-called " juice fast " ... they have not reduced their

caloric intake all that much.

 

F.3 When we reduce our food intake, regardless of our diet, we move

ourselves in the same direction.

 

F.4.4 When we stop eating for a period of time (fasting), we move ourselves

considerably closer to the " rest " end of our continuum. And if we

concurrently reduce or cease other forms of activity (working, watching

television, etc.), we move ourselves closer still.

 

This act of fasting, when accompanied by reduction of other sensory inputs

and other forms of activity, brings us to the most restful state we can

attain AND sustain for a long period of time ... weeks or longer. And it is

in such a state of deep, sustained rest that the deepest cleansing and

restoration of every part of our being can occur.

 

This is genuine fasting. Everything else is eating. One is not " better " than

the other, but they are decidedly different. ONLY during a true fast ... no

food, water only ... can certain healing occur. A practical example: people

who have picked up STDs along the way can eliminate these completely and

permanently, but only via a true fast. The other methods simply don't bring

one to a deep enough period of sustained rest.

 

So, what about all these cleanses out there? You know, the stuff where you

eat gobs of salt or cayenne or psyllium or whatever. Well, whenever we eat

this sort of thing, our body definitely begins cleansing itself ... of the

thing we have just eaten. So we PERCEIVE a cleansing effect, but we are

deluded into believing that what is cleansed come from deep within. This

simply cannot be the case:

 

C.1 Substances like cayenne, pepper, salt, and the like are very strong

stimulants. This means that, when consumed, the body responds by creating an

acute cleansing response to remove or safely store (in brine or adipose

tissue, aka fat) the stimulant. This is not good news, though one surely may

feel " energized " . Just remember that this feeling called " energized " means

that your system is expending vast amounts of energy. In other words, your

system is becoming enervated ... energetically depleted.

 

C.2 Substances like psyllium clog our digestive system. You can see this

effect for yourself, plain as day. Just take some of the stuff, add water,

mix, and watch. Within seconds, it becomes an unmovable blob. Keep adding

water ... more water ... more water ... and you begin to get the idea just

how much of YOUR body's water is needed to move this stuff out your other

end, as it were. What a complete and utter waste of metabolic potential.

 

Well, I imagine I've said enough for now. I'm happy to respond to questions,

if anyone wishes.

 

Best to all,

Elchanan