The Secrets of Cleansing and Fasting

Cleansing is an important part of any balanced health program.  Fasting is a GREAT way to cleanse.  For the purpose of this article, please allow me to redefine fasting simply as “abstaining from certain substances for a given period of time for the purpose of strengthening and cleansing the body”.  Given this definition, you could fast from sugar, dairy, processed foods, etc.  Below is a chart that gives six options of ways that anyone can fast.  The ones on the top (starting with the Daniel fast) tend to be gentler and easier to start with than the more invasive fasting on the bottom.

Fasting

Brief Description

Pros

Cons

Duration

Daniel Fast

Drink only water and eat only plants (vegetables and fruits) and a small amount of nuts, seeds or whole grains.

(Traditionally accompanied with prayer and scripture 3x/day)

  • Anyone can do it
  • Very little prep needed
  • Gentle in terms of the cleansing effect
  • Creates a much slower cleanse than other types of fasting

Traditionally 10 or 21 days; can be done for many years

Intermittent Fast

Many options:

  1. Eat only from 10am-2pm
  2. Eat every other day (can have 500 calories on fast day)
  3. Fast 2 days/week
  • More sustainable as you can do this for years
  • You never fast more than 1 day at a time
  • Typically you lose less muscle mass than traditional fasting
  • The fast days can be difficult for some if they fall on a day where you have social engagements or have an intense schedule

Years

Green Smoothie Fast

Consume only green smoothies (can be done with or without protein and fat)

  • Gives digestion a big break
  • Can do this long term while working, exercising, etc.
  • Quick to prepare the food
  • Can still consume a lot of calories if you don’t have a good understanding of what you’re putting in.

REALLY long term if fat is added


Juice Fast

Consume however much juice you’d like, any type, any quantity

  • Gives digestion a break
  • You don’t feel hunger
  • Easy to consume a lot of fruit juice (which is a concentrated sugar.)
  • Easy to consume the same amount of calories you’d get if you were just eating (since fruit juice adds up quickly in calories)

Usually 1-40 days

Green
Juice Fast

Consume green juice only which is a base of 80% celery or cucumber and 20% in dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, chard, romaine, etc.)

  • Almost as intense as water fasting (in terms of cleansing) but safer to do on your own because minerals are still going in
  • Harder to do while keeping up with daily life
  • Often invokes an “emotional cleanse,” which can be challenging to deal with if you don’t have help or resources available

1-15 days


Water Fast

Water only (purified)

  • A deep and faster cleansing effect
  • Really should be done in a clinical setting if you’re doing more than 1-2 days.
  • Reduced strength and muscle mass after a couple of days

1-40 days

***I don’t recommend water fasting if not in a clinic. Supervised fasts are best in this case.

Please keep in mind that it is ideal work with a qualified natural health practitioner before starting a cleansing or fasting program to understand the best approach for YOU and your specific needs.  If you are extremely sick or weak, I do not recommend fasting without supervision to ensure your safety.

Enemas are an important part of the fasting that doesn’t include consuming fiber.  When you dramatically reduce your calories, especially when you’re only consuming water or juice, toxins are released from the cells at a rapid rate.  With no fiber to “push them out,” enemas are needed;  Otherwise, toxins will be re-absorbed in the body and they are more and more toxic each time they recirculate.  You can also use colon hydrotherapy, which is wonderful but of course more expensive, so many people just prefer enemas.

Spring is a great time to cleanse and fast, so determine which one you will start with and get it going!  Feel free to share this article and friends and family.  Fasting is always easier when done in groups!

Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.  It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.

Dr. LeAnn Fritz, PhD

Dr. LeAnn is a practitioner, coach, speaker, consultant, and the founder of New Hope Health. She is also the author of The Quantum Weight Loss Blueprint, and Get Healthy Now. She is laser-focused on practical, evidence-based practices to empower her clients to get real results that last. She sets the bar when it comes to radiant health that will change every area of your life forevermore.

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