|
All things juice....What is juice fasting? It is a period of time where all you drink is juice and nothing else. It gives your digestive system a rest and allows your body to process toxic waste and start healing itself. Some will view it as a way to lose weight and others will view it as a way to heal. I view it as a way to heal.
|
There are many articles on juice fasting but the one I trust the most is the information provided by either Tyler or Don Tolman. Both are very knowledgeable on water and juice fasting and they are careful about what they recommend. The following video explains what juice fasting is about.
The following video is a documentary about Joe Cross and his 60 day juice fast. He was monitored by his doctor during the 60 day period. It is a very informative documentary.
What is a juice fast - why do you do one?
Juicing gives your gut a rest from digesting food so it enables your body to heal. With fasting, our bodies pass through successive stages of cleansing, energizing and regenerating that happen in no other way. Fasting is Nature’s pathway to physical, mental and spiritual renewal.
Body Benefits
As we eat a regular diet, we store energy from the calories we consume. So, for the first two or three days of a fast, the body runs on glycogen, which is glucose stored in the liver. After this energy is depleted, the body switches to rapidly burning its own fat through a process called ketosis. This, in turn, creates stem cells, which have an amazing ability to promote profound healing throughout the body.
Fasting gives your digestive organs the signal to reset and switch from digesting to detoxing. After years of eating three meals a day, we all store up toxins from processed, dead foods-and even from whole foods treated with pesticides and herbicides. Every day of fasting allows the digestive system to push a little farther and cleanse a little more. And fasting with juices gives your body the energy it needs to sustain this process.
Busting Bad Stuff
One of the biggest breakthroughs in history is the revelation that we can naturally reverse and heal from chronic disease through fasting. Dr. Herbert M. Shelton has pioneered research on autolyzing tumors. This means that the body, when lacking protein from fasting, can actually deconstruct proteins that compose tumors, polyps, cysts, abscesses and viruses. These essential amino acids can then be re metabolized to rebuild clean body tissue. (The body will burn diseased proteins before good, lean muscle or clean tissue.)
But How Long?
Filmmaker Joe Cross made a self-documentary called “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” when he went on a 60-day juice fast to lose 100 pounds and recover from a debilitating, autoimmune disease. Likewise, I’ve seen many people absolutely thrive on a 30- to 60-day juice fast. But don’t let that intimidate you. If you’re fasting for the first time-and not suffering from chronic diseases-you might start with seven days. Then, if you feel great, try 14 days, then 21. Each seven-day stint compounds the effect of great things happening in the body.
Brain Food, Soul Food
Even one day of fasting stimulates neurons in the brain. And if you go beyond two or three days, the brain actually forms new neural networks-your brain literally grows and you become more intelligent. For thousands of years, every major religion has promoted fasting. This probably contributed to why great minds like Plato, Aristotle, Pythagorus, da Vinci and Gandi were so brilliant and their name and fame have endured. Fasting presses the limits of human experience and creates a divine connection. It gives space and time to expand the self-knowledge of who we really are. I believe the kingdom of heaven is truly found within.
So what do you need in order to do a juice fast?
You need a good quality cold pressed juicer. Tyler and Don Tolman both recommend the Kuvings cold press juicer. I myself have the Kuvings B6000 and have found it to be brilliant but there are likely to be many more that are also good. Just research them but it must be a cold pressed juicer so the nutrients are preserved. It is recommended that you buy organic fruit and vegetables however you can soak the fruit and vegetables in water and apple cider vinegar (2 lts of water to 1 cup of ACV), this has been proven to remove the pesticides. This makes it cheaper and it is safe. Soak for 10 - 15 minutes before you juice.
What to juice:
You can juice virtually anything. I personally gravitate to fruit with some vegetables included and one that I do every time is called the CABALA juice which is a combination of juices consisting of carrots, red apples, beets, yellow apples, lemons and green apples.
- 5 lbs. Carrots
- 2 Red Apples
- 1 Beet, 1/3 fist size
- 2 Yellow Apples
- 1 Whole Lemon (rind and all if able, otherwise just the juice)
- 2 Green Apples
You can of course create your own recipes, typically, I will juice the following:
- Apples
- Beetroot
- Carrots
- Lemons
- Grapefruit (but if you are on Cholesterol medication check you are allowed this)
- Pineapple
- Oranges (75% or the rind removed otherwise gets very thick)
- Ginger
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Plums
- Pears
- Kale
- Courgettes
How much should you drink?
I would normally drink 3 ltrs of juice a day and another 2-3 ltrs of water a day. As a rule you should drink 1 ltr of water per 22 kgs of body weight a day. If I feel hungry I will drink more juice.
Where can I get recipe ideas
Joe Cross (guy in fat sick and nearly dead) has a website that has a lot of juice recipes. He also has an app both Android and IOS that you can purchase which has the ability to generate shopping lists.
For Recipes go here; www.rebootwithjoe.com/category/blog/recipes/juice/
How long will the juice last?
If you are using a cold pressed juicer the juice should last up to 3 days in the fridge. When I juice I try to make enough for 3 days so I'm not making up the juice every day. It pays to get some good glass containers that will fit your fridge. I bought the Jamie Oliver recycled glass 2 litre bottles as they lie on their side quite well in my fridge but any glass bottle will do.
Will I detox?
Short answer is yes. it's important to listen to your body and realise that the first few days are usually the hardest. If you don't feel well during this period, it's usually because your body is detoxifying and it's a good idea to take it easy, lay down or have a relaxing salt bath. I've always found that an Epsom salt bath has worked well for drawing the toxins out of the body and after a good soak I've normally felt a lot better. The discomfort always tends to pass after a few days. After several days, most people usually find that their energy goes through the roof! Typical symptoms would include:
Are these normal - yes and there is no need to be concerned and they will pass usually in 3 - 5 days. If at any stage you feel overwhelmed by these types of symptoms, break your fast with a smoothie or something light like raw vegetables or fruit and try again when you feel ready.
How do I prepare for a fast?
Begin 2-3 days prior to your fast by eliminating all meat, processed food and alcohol. There are also colon cleanse products offered by both Don and Tyler Tolman that can be purchased on their websites. You would typically use them 4 days before you start a juice fast. This will help clean out the colon before fasting. I have not needed to do a colon cleanse before every fast, but I do recommend you consider it. This leads nicely into what else to do while juicing to help clear your colon and kidneys of the toxic waste.
What should I be doing during the fast?
I'll get the one that most don't like out of the way first! During your fast you should consider doing enema's. Oh yes that word enema and most people will be thinking I can't do that (or maybe thoughts that are a little stronger), however I do recommend them to assist in the detoxing process. It really does speed detoxing up and therefore reduces any symptoms. There are many types of enema's you can do, I personally prefer the coffee enema which is used extensively in the Gerson Therapy. If you are water fasting, then some say coffee is too strong. I've not found that to be the case but if you have a sensitive stomach you should decide whether to do another enema or simply water down the amount of coffee you use. There is a lot of additional information about enema's here; youtu.be/n5YJ0eDcZtE and a 'how to do an enema' here; youtu.be/zhsepgsWpCw
Alternative options that can be used;
How often do you need to fast?
I've done a lot of fasting in the last 3 years so now I fast when my body feels sluggish or I have joint pain, or I just don't feel well. On average I probably fast once every 2-3 months for anywhere between 7 -15 days at a time. My husband does it with me as well but at the start it was just me, so meal times could be an issue. They say that most issues are related to the gut so if you clear up the gut, everything else will improve. I myself have resolved aching knees, hip, shoulder and ankles. My husband has resolved tennis elbow. Another bonus is that I look younger now that I did 3 years ago (I'm now 58). My skin is clear and smooth although I do not wear any makeup or anything toxic on my skin. They say that the more you hurt (detox) during your fast the more you need it so don't expect all issues to be resolved by the first fast - it may take quite a few to resolve the issue you have but you will notice improvements with every fast you do.
If you are using a cold pressed juicer the juice should last up to 3 days in the fridge. When I juice I try to make enough for 3 days so I'm not making up the juice every day. It pays to get some good glass containers that will fit your fridge. I bought the Jamie Oliver recycled glass 2 litre bottles as they lie on their side quite well in my fridge but any glass bottle will do.
Will I detox?
Short answer is yes. it's important to listen to your body and realise that the first few days are usually the hardest. If you don't feel well during this period, it's usually because your body is detoxifying and it's a good idea to take it easy, lay down or have a relaxing salt bath. I've always found that an Epsom salt bath has worked well for drawing the toxins out of the body and after a good soak I've normally felt a lot better. The discomfort always tends to pass after a few days. After several days, most people usually find that their energy goes through the roof! Typical symptoms would include:
- Headaches
- Cold or flu type symptoms
- Lacking in energy
- Runny nose
- Skin breakouts
- Coated tongue (white looking film)
- Sore joints
- In winter you will likely feel cold
- Could be more as it will depend on the individual
- and lots more possible symptoms
Are these normal - yes and there is no need to be concerned and they will pass usually in 3 - 5 days. If at any stage you feel overwhelmed by these types of symptoms, break your fast with a smoothie or something light like raw vegetables or fruit and try again when you feel ready.
How do I prepare for a fast?
Begin 2-3 days prior to your fast by eliminating all meat, processed food and alcohol. There are also colon cleanse products offered by both Don and Tyler Tolman that can be purchased on their websites. You would typically use them 4 days before you start a juice fast. This will help clean out the colon before fasting. I have not needed to do a colon cleanse before every fast, but I do recommend you consider it. This leads nicely into what else to do while juicing to help clear your colon and kidneys of the toxic waste.
What should I be doing during the fast?
I'll get the one that most don't like out of the way first! During your fast you should consider doing enema's. Oh yes that word enema and most people will be thinking I can't do that (or maybe thoughts that are a little stronger), however I do recommend them to assist in the detoxing process. It really does speed detoxing up and therefore reduces any symptoms. There are many types of enema's you can do, I personally prefer the coffee enema which is used extensively in the Gerson Therapy. If you are water fasting, then some say coffee is too strong. I've not found that to be the case but if you have a sensitive stomach you should decide whether to do another enema or simply water down the amount of coffee you use. There is a lot of additional information about enema's here; youtu.be/n5YJ0eDcZtE and a 'how to do an enema' here; youtu.be/zhsepgsWpCw
Alternative options that can be used;
- A salt flush. This is where you mix salt and water together and drink it. If you elect to do this be prepared to spend at least 4 hours close to a toilet and don't do it on a work day. For a salt flush see this; youtu.be/HKC9LWHkDnY
- Get a colonic. There are businesses that offer this service.
How often do you need to fast?
I've done a lot of fasting in the last 3 years so now I fast when my body feels sluggish or I have joint pain, or I just don't feel well. On average I probably fast once every 2-3 months for anywhere between 7 -15 days at a time. My husband does it with me as well but at the start it was just me, so meal times could be an issue. They say that most issues are related to the gut so if you clear up the gut, everything else will improve. I myself have resolved aching knees, hip, shoulder and ankles. My husband has resolved tennis elbow. Another bonus is that I look younger now that I did 3 years ago (I'm now 58). My skin is clear and smooth although I do not wear any makeup or anything toxic on my skin. They say that the more you hurt (detox) during your fast the more you need it so don't expect all issues to be resolved by the first fast - it may take quite a few to resolve the issue you have but you will notice improvements with every fast you do.
