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A "Fast" Road to Health
 Fasting is not a new idea. For thousands of years many religious holidays and spiritual practices have incorporated fasting as a part of the ceremony. Besides reasons of faith, we have recognized the positive impact fasting has on our physical health and well-being.
Fasting, quite simply, is a rest from food. It is also a process of extreme detoxification. It promotes self-healing within the body by casting off poisons and toxins and setting the stage so the body can heal itself. By periodically avoiding the perils of modern processed food such as artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, pesticides and rancid oils, we give ourselves a chance to "clean house" and reverse a trend towards toxicity.
A total fast is one in which only water is consumed. Water fasts are very powerful healing tools, which are usually best undertaken under the supervision of an experienced health professional or in a fasting facility.
A popular fast in recent decades has been the "Master Cleanse" program, in which only water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper are consumed. This fast is often undertaken as a quick weight loss program rather than a truly detoxifying experience.
Juice fasting is a good place for someone new to the concept of going without food to begin. Unlike water fasting, juice fasting provides calories and nutrition. In fact, the nutrition provided by drinking several quarts or even a gallon or more of fresh fruit and vegetable juice each day would be hard to match by consuming solid foods. When you juice fast:
- You take in more vitamins, minerals and enzymes than in a solid food diet, in part due to the sheer volume that it is possible to consume.
- Fresh vegetable juices are essentially pre-digested. This leaves you with more energy available for repair, maintenance and healing processes.
- You can continue to live your daily life and fulfill your regular obligations. Some people even find they need less sleep during a juice fast!
The conditions that can be improved by fasting are practically limitless. From acne to varicose veins, virtually all states of health can be helped by a deliberate abstinence from the standard modern diet for a period of time.
It's pretty easy
A juice fast itself is relatively simple to follow and understand. You are essentially just consuming a quantity of freshly made (not packaged) preferably organicjuice every day. Drink as much juice as you care for. Some days it'll be a lot (up to a gallon or more), other days you'll find you're content with a couple of quarts. Just be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water in-between your servings of juice. To help make this simple, here are a few points to remember:
- Don't ever feel you have to "go hungry." While you will naturally experience a bit of an empty feeling, if you feel an energy lull or the need for some nourishment, drink some more juice.
- Use more vegetables than fruits when making your juices to avoid sugar spikes and crashes. Drink a variety of juice recipes each day to get a full range of nutrients.
- While freshly made juice is optimal, there may be days that your schedule will mean you have to juice ahead of the time when you'll actually be consuming your liquid meals. Store fresh juices in a glass container in the refrigerator or a cooler and drink them as soon as possible after making them.
- Consider participating in a group fast. In addition to having people to swap juice recipes with, there can emotional issues that can arise during the fasting process, and it can be very helpful to have partners along for your journey.
The most important part
For many people the discipline required for doing a fast is pale in contrast to the discipline needed to properly break a fast. Once you re-ignite your taste buds and digestive processes it is essential to not have "too much too soon," or you could experience severe stomach cramps as well as diarrhea and other symptoms. Of course if you only fast for a few days your transition will be easier, but breaking a fast of two weeks or more requires some forethought.
Take the time to research options for first meals after a fast and see what sounds manageable to you. Avoid fats, processed foods or difficult to digest items such as beans for a period of time after breaking your fast.
Once your fast has been broken, view your body as now being a clean slate. Use the time ahead as an opportunity to leave behind some of the old habits you set aside during your break from solid foods.
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Sheree Clark is a holistic health and nutrition counselor. Through her private practice called Fork in the Road, Sheree helps empower individuals, families and corporate groups to get the most out of life by improving their health. She offers lectures, classes, hands-on workshops, coaching and consultations in Iowa and nationwide. She is a graduate of Living Light Culinary Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. An inspiring author, presenter, teacher, motivator and raw vegan chef, Sheree has written and presented on topics ranging from raw food 101 to overcoming career burnout.
