Juice fasting for beginners
Fasting is not some new age hype that all the skinny people talk about. It is an often ignored, age old custom that is our oldest health remedy. Fasting is simply taking a break from food…as simple as it is, it can be quite therapeutic. It takes a lot of energy to digest food. Those internal organs are hard at work after we ingest a meal. When we stop taking in food, our digestive system gets a chance to take a rest and our bodies will automatically heal themselves by eliminating toxins and balancing the body’s chemistry. Health is restored through cleansing.
Years of a diet filled with artificial flavors and dyes, preservatives, pesticides and rancid oils (not to mention the air and water pollution we are exposed to) takes its toll. Our systems become overloaded with toxins and they begin to interfere with our normal functioning. Even the most health conscious amongst us are continually being exposed to environmental toxins. Excessive eating, sugar, processed foods, alcohol, cigarettes…you know how easy it is to fall back on your vices from time to time.
Your body gives off clues as to when things are out of balance.
Physical signals: a cold, cough, stuffy nose, body odor, headaches, lethargy, coated tongue, or runny nose.
Emotional signals: lack of clarity, moodiness, boredom, depression, confusion, brain fog, anxiety, frustration.
Now technically, juice fasting is not real fasting. Actual fasting means no intake of nutrients whatsoever. Water only. I’m not going there….that works for many people, but not for me. Juice fasting is a bit easier because you are taking in sufficient nutrients through the fresh vegetable and fruit juices to sustain you through a typical day. You’ll be drinking lots of water as well throughout the day and the juices will be your meals. Since you aren’t taking in any solid food, your digestive system is still getting the break it needs.
The juices work because your body can absorb and assimilate all of the nutrients immediately. You couldn’t possibly eat all of the vegetables that go into a glass of juice…you’d get too full. Instead, you reap the rewards of all the vitamins, minerals, live enzymes and trace elements of large quantities of vegetables and fruits by drinking their juice. The fiber is important of course in your normal diet, but during juice fasting you don’t want to take in any fiber.
There are many different ways to approach juice fasting, but since this article is geared towards those who may have never tried it, we are going to keep it simple. A good way to start is with a one day fast. One day can mean 24 hours or 36 hours. For a 24 hour juice fast (basically anyone can do this) say you start on a Sunday. You skip dinner and don’t eat again until dinner on Monday evening. For a 36 hour fast, you start after dinner on Sunday, don’t eat at all on Monday, and your first meal will be break-fast on Tuesday morning. (Monday evening will be the most challenging). Mealtimes will include a large glass of vegetable juice (add in a lemon or apple for flavor) or a fruit juice. Try not to drink too many fruit juices because of the high sugar content. In between meals, drink tons of water. You are flushing your system.
If you fasted one day each week, you will have fasted 52 days over the course of the year. Even just doing it occasionally is a good preventive measure to avoid getting sick in the future. It increases your energy, strengthens your immune system and can extend your life. Think of the juices as supplements or medicine.
The last time I felt a cold coming on (which was about three years ago!) I took a day of extreme self care. I cancelled my activities for the day, rested, took a long walk on the beach, did some deep breathing and gentle yoga, drank only water and freshly made vegetable and fruit juices, and went to bed early. By the next morning, I was completely back to normal without even a trace of a cold. That is so much better than downing some cold medicine and trying to plow through the day. I would have been fighting off that cold for at least a week if I had done that.
So are you ready to give it a try? It’s important to set yourself up for success. Choosing the right time and place is essential. I think if you want to do a fast of 2 or 3 days or longer, it is best to go to a retreat, outside of the demands of your normal life where you can rest and be supported by others who are also fasting, but since that is outside of the realm of possibility for most of us, choosing to do a 1-2 fast is our best option. Even one day can be a challenge to those of us who really like food, but it’s something we can all do if we set our minds to it. It really is preventive medicine and an investment in our health and well being.
To prepare for your fast, eat a pre-fast diet of just fruits and vegetables for a couple of days. (No sugar, processed foods, alcohol) Choose a day where you don’t have strenuous activity scheduled or any social conflicts…it’s pretty tough to go to a party when you are fasting. Pure torture…don’t even attempt it.
I’ve done short term juice fasts in the past and have liked the results, but it’s been a while. I’m long overdue. And since I do currently have some of those symptoms of imbalance which I listed above, I think it is time. I’m going to choose a day next week and give it a shot…Mondays usually work best for me. It’s a great way to start off the week and flush out any excesses from the weekend. If anyone wants to do it with me, send me an email and we can support each other. There are a few juice ideas here or you can pick up a copy of Juice Fasting and Detoxification: Use the Healing Power of Fresh Juice to Feel Young and Look Great : The Fastest Way to Restore Your Health
or Raw Juices Can Save Your Life!: An A-Z Guide to Juicing
. Good luck to all of you fasters out there and let me know how it goes.
Hi Carol, Great article.. any suggestions for those of us who do not have a juice machine? I’d love to try juice fasting… Thanks Jen
Hi Carol
I’m ready to juice for 36 hours. When are you starting? This monday? Works for me.
I’m in! I actually bought a juicer the other day but haven’t taken it out of the box yet. This will give me the push I need to do it again. I always feel great after doing a juice fast.
Jen,
You can still do a juice fast without a juice machine especially since it is a short term fast. You’ll just need to visit your local juice bar/health food store to get a freshly made juice. You’ll need at least three 16 oz juices over a 24 hour period…maybe a little more depending on how hungry you get. Remember to drink alot of water in between each juice.
That’s great Mary and Monique! We start on Monday…which means the last meal we can eat is this Sunday. Make it a good one
Thanks for posting, I’ll definitely be subscribing to your blog.
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
For those of you who will be fasting today, mine started this morning. I started the day with a cup of hot water with the juice of a lemon squeezed in (my “tea”) After 2 of those, I made some fresh squeezed orange juice and in a little while I am making a grapefruit, celery, spinach juice. Remember to drink LOTS of water to flush your system, stay well hydrated, and help keep you feeling full. For lunch I am planning on a large all greens juice with an apple thrown in for flavor. I’m working at my kids Field Day today so it is going to be challenging to fast with food in front of me all day, but hopefully it will work out okay. I’ll bring water and juice with me. Good luck to everyone else who is fasting today!
I found this juice fast to be alot more challenging to do than I had anticipated. I was okay until about 2:30 when I was suddenly starving. I got through that okay but found the entire afternoon to be difficult. I was fantasizing about what I would eat tomorrow! Juices I made: watermelon, water, ice and lime juice; “bloody mary” (lettuce, celery, jalapeno pepper, lemon, tomato, carrot, cucumber); carrot and apple. I drank over 2 liters of water and some herbal tea as well. About 7pm I caved and ate some raw veggies with hummus and some of my kids calamari! So I made it for 24 hours…not the 36 I had intended. Maybe next time! I think if you do these types of fasts on a regular basis it becomes easier….we shall see.
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