Fasting and Juicing

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Fasting and Juicing
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Fasting is the practice of abstaining from, or eating very little, food for an extended period of time. It has been used to detoxify the body for curative purposes, as a quick fix for having gained a few pounds over the holidays, and as a sacrificial gesture in many religious events. In fact, fasting has been practiced by devotees of every one of the world's major religions. Buddha did it. Christ did it. Muslims fast from sunup to sundown every day for a month during Ramadan. In many religions it is not just a sacrifice but a means of purifying body, mind and spirit, a way of clearing out all the waste and making oneself ready for the presence of The Almighty. Today, whether one is of a religious nature or not, fasting is often the chosen method for losing a few pounds and giving oneself a health boost.
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Some people consider it fasting if they eat lots of fruits and vegetables for a few days and avoid between meal snacks. Others would scoff at anything less than a three day water-only fast. There are countless ways of fasting and how one goes about it will probably depend on what they are hoping to accomplish with the fast.
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Many of us have heard the age-old adage, "Feed a cold and starve a fever." Using a fast to cure illness may be as ancient a practice as fasting for religious purposes, or even older. It's just natural to avoid food when one is not feeling well and effective medical treatment often mimics the body's own common sense. The basic concept at work in a curative fast is to rid the body of the offending toxin, whether it be a particular food stuff or a disease-causing organism. This is often accomplished by eliminating all solid food and flushing the body with plenty of water or clear liquids. Similar methods have been used by medical practitioners of both the Eastern and Western schools as well as indigenous peoples all over the world.
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In addition to being a treatment for acute diseases, fasting has been known to improve certain chronic conditions such as arthritis and chronic fatigue. However, fasting is not a cure-all. In fact, if you have ever suffered from an eating disorder, are pregnant or nursing, have a serious physical or mental illness, are diabetic or anemic, you should not attempt to fast.
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This same technique of purifying the body is commonly used to maintain health as well as restore it. The benefits of regular fasting have long been extolled by those who practice yoga and Ayurveda. The idea behind this practice is that our bodies just naturally build up toxic residue and need to be cleaned out ever so often. With the increased awareness of the toxicity of our modern environment, many modern western practitioners are also beginning to recommend a regular routine of fasting. But one must be careful about taking up this practice. It's not something you casually jump into.
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In yoga it is recommended that a person go into fasting gently and gradually, perhaps starting with a one day juice fast, moving on to a two-day and eventually a three -day juice fast. The next step would be to do a one day water fast, then a three-day water fast and finally, an occasional seven-day water fast. The frequency of these fasts would also be increased gradually over a period of years with the ultimate goal being to do a one-day fast weekly and a seven day fast with each change of seasons. Yogis consider fasting to be a means of strengthening and purifying the body, the mind and the spirit.
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Fasting is not commonly recommended for weight loss purposes. For one thing it can be dangerous, throwing off the body chemistry and causing weakness, fatigue and disorientation. It is also a short term solution that may result in the loss of a few pounds but will not facilitate the lifestyle changes that are necessary to bring about a permanent solution to a weight problem.
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Although strict water fasts should only be done under professional supervision, juice fasts have become a popular remedy for everything from a cold or flu to just being stressed out. During a fast the energy that is normally used for digestion is directed towards the repair and healing of the other body systems. The juice fast is usually preceded by a day or two of light eating, specifically raw or lightly steamed fruits and vegetables. Only pure, preferably organic, fruit or vegetable juices with no additives should be used. Some programs recommend using herbal teas in addition to the juice, with nothing added except perhaps a squeeze of lemon juice. One to three days is the common duration and the fast should be broken gradually. Fruits and raw or lightly steamed vegetables are the recommended diet for the first day post-fast, with the participant gradually adding in grains, cooked vegetables and eventually a full, balanced diet.
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If you have a juicer, you can make an endless variety of fruit and vegetable juices for your juice fast. If not, you can probably get a nice variety of pure, organic juices at the health food store. Juicers have become a popular kitchen appliance, not just to facilitate juice fasts but for the purpose of making freshly squeezed (or more accurately, extracted) juices a daily component of a healthy diet. Fruit and vegetable juices contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals which, when extracted from the plant fiber, are easily assimilated by the body. Digestion occurs in a matter of minutes rather than the several hours required for digestion of the whole food.
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"Juicing," the ingestion of pure, organic, freshly prepared fruit and vegetable juices, is a factor in many of the healing diets used to treat chronic and degenerative diseases. It is also frequently employed at health farms or retreats. It is widely accepted by the medical and scientific communities that a generous intake of the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables helps to boost the immune system and decrease the risk of cancer, diabetes, arthritis and a host of other ailments. There are a number of juicers on the market, some, of course, more pricey than others and, like anything, you get what you pay for. Considering the health benefits that can be derived from juicing, it may be well worth the investment to buy a good quality one that will last a long time.
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One thing to be aware of with both fasting and juicing is the potential appearance of what seem to be unhealthy symptoms or side effects. It's a pretty drastic process when toxic substances in the body are flushed out and replaced by beneficial materials, which are then used to create new and healthier tissue. Common manifestations of this rejuvenation process are headaches, tiredness and/or muscle weakness, cold or flu-like symptoms and skin eruptions. By no means does everyone experience any, or all, of these symptoms but one should not be alarmed if they do and should not abandon the program unless symptoms are severe. Again, the importance of having professional guidance (a doctor, dietician or nutritionist who understands these processes) is stressed. It will help to still your fears or concerns and keep you on the healthy path.
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There are a number of books available on juicing and fasting. Before trying either one I recommend that you do some reading. See Recommended Reading for a few suggestions.
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This article is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this publication is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or health-care provider before starting any new diet or procedure involving your health. Prompt professional medical guidance is recommended for any health problem.