If you have not done so, read the first two parts;
Juice Fasting I
and
Juice Fasting II. The juice fasting series continues with
Juicers and Extractors and concludes in
Juicing Recipes where we present fruit and vegetable mixtures to get you started.
You also can visit
the lemonade diet
page for a four-part discussion on that particular fasting detox method. The lemonade diet
is another way to lose weight and detoxify your body, and it has become increasingly popular over the past
couple of years. For a step-by-step juice fasting/water fasting and detoxificatioin system,
check out our 9-month life-transforming Fastingology course.
Healing Power
I was first made aware of the miracle of juice fasting by an article in a holistic magazine years ago
that talked about the rich nutrients in fruits and vegetables known as
Phytochemicals. I had no idea what any of this
was, but I had been searching for anything that could help my son - who at the time was stricken
with a terrible liver condition. I was actually sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office where
my son was having a liver biopsy done. I recall feeling totally hopeless and scared while I waited. Unable
to stop fidgeting, I casually glanced at the stack of magazines on the table to pass the time. Little did
I know of the "divine intervention" that would soon follow.
The miracle of juice fasting has alleviated my son's liver condition and given him a brand new lease
on life. But it also changed my life. And it can do the same for you. All you have to do is become
willing to give it a try. I know that you will not be disappointed! One particular source that
has given me deep insight into this discipline is
Juicing, Fasting & Detoxing for Life: Unleash the Healing Power of Fresh Juices & Cleansing Diets.
That book is a must-read for anyone interested in juice fasting and detox cleansing as a lifestyle. I have
read it multiple times and, in fact, it is one of the inspirations for this series of pages you are
reading. You can also browse other fasting and detox cleansing books at our
Fasting Shop I.
Disease Prevention
Many persons live their lives in the quiet desperation of obesity and toxicity. They
- eventually - end up in a hospital
bed severely ill and puzzled. Some wonder:"How on earth could this happen to me?"
The answer is plain and simple:
There are millions who are quick to look for medical help when they get sick
(as they should), but - for some unknown reason - appear to be unwilling to
live a life of DISEASE PREVENTION via proper nutrition, exercise and
the miracle of juice fasting and water fasting. Too many are becoming sick and dying before
their time. This, to me, is heartbreaking. That is one of the primary reasons why I wanted to
participate in this website.
We want to sound off a health alarm and give readers a
CALL TO ACTION. If you are here and are
looking for ways to lose weight and improve your health, then you need not look any further!
The miracle of juice fasting is real, dear friend. It CAN produce
dramatic weight loss in a very short period of time. Moreover, it facilitates the cleansing of disease-causing
toxins in the blood, digestive system and fatty stores. Practiced regularly, the miracle
of juice fasting can give you a brand new lease on life; physically, mentally and spiritually.
How can we pass up the opportunity to tap into such transforming power?
I was truly astonished to learn that the phytochemicals in many fruits and
vegetables can actually help prevent deadly illnesses as cancer, asthma, heart disease, allergies etc.
It truly boggles the mind - especially considering the alarming rate at which these conditions are
spreading in the US. What is to blame? Well, I am not a doctor or scientist. But from much reading and
research, I can definitely tell you that the main culprit appears to be, yep, you guessed it:
A POOR DIET.
I am hopeful that health awareness will continue to grow as people look for ways to live longer
and look younger. One thing is certain: phytochemical compounds may someday change the way we think
about food. The miracle of juice fasting, I hope, will one day be part of the lifestyle of millions
of new practitioners.
Indeed, I am convinced that just about EVERYONE
would be better of if they incorporated juice fasting into their lifestyles.
Yet the miracle of juice fasting is no new discovery. The
American Cancer Society recommends consumption of 5 servings of fruit and 3 of
vegetables daily. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, the society concludes, can prevent and/or cure
a wide variety of diseases.
Let's take a quick look at some of the science behind these healing nutrients called phytochemicals.
Here are just a few examples to help you get an idea of the miracle of juice fasting:
A phytochemical called
Diindolylmethane found in broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage and kale, for example, is used as a treatment for recurring respiratory disease and a variety of
cancers.
This particular combination helped a friend of mine find healing from cancer. Miracle of
juice fasting! She did NOT discontinue her chemotheraphy, but rather used
juice fasting to complement her treatment. After one year of regular juice fasting, she was
finally able to stop the chemo. Through the miracle of juice fasting
AND a complete change in
her eating habints, she has now been in remission for nearly ten years.
Anti-Carcinogen Citrus
Meanwhile, it has been found that
citrus foods as lemons, oranges and grapefruits help the body to flush out
carcinogens.
Grapes contain a phytochemical that appears to protect each cells' DNA
from damage. That is, yet again, another example of the miracle of juice fasting. Imagine what
juice fasting could do for you if you adopted it as a lifestyle!
Here's What I Recommend: Work towards accomplishing a 14-to-30-day juice
fast for initial cleansing and detoxification, THEN continue to
drink raw fruits and vegetables several times weekly.
I have no doubt that your life, weight and health would be transformed ... revolutionized.
At this juncture some people tell me:
"But wouldn't just eating less fat and more fruits and vegetables bring about a similar
result WITHOUT me having to do a total liquid diet?"
My answer is: Yes, you can indeed receive a similar benefit by cutting fats and starches and
increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. BUT
doing a 100% liquid fasting diet has the additional benefit of giving the digestive system a break
from constant digestion so it can focus on cleansing, tissue repair and healing. The detox that
occurs when one abstains from solid food is a key catalyst to the miracle of juice fasting.
Phytochemical-Rich Foods
Here are the TOP 10 phytonutrient-rich foods with their respective
disease-fighting, detox cleansing
nutritional compounds. I am not going to turn this into a scientific discussion. Still, as
a juice fasting practitioner, you will benefit greatly from having a basic working knowledge
of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables. I have linked many
of the nutrients listed below to outside resources in case you wish to learn more about them and their
relation to the treatment of specific health conditions. Sooooo, let's look at the miracle of
juice fasting in action:
WATERMELON - lycopene zeaxanthin, sulphoraphane and
indole-3-carbinol.
I know that you are probably a busy person. However, if you truly are interested in the
miracle of juice fasting, then I HIGHLY encourage you to visit
these links and learn about the nutrients in these foods.
As you go along, you will also learn a lot about the proper mixture of these fruits and vegetables,
both for taste and for nutritional value.
Some vegetables that I combine regularly are:
carrots, parsnips, cabbage,
beets, celery, cucumbers, broccoli and
burdock root. The leafy
greens are: kale, collards, parsley, wheatgrass, lettuces, dandelion, and
watercress.
Spinach and beet have a very strong taste and should be juiced in small quantities. You can also mix them
with milder tasting juices such as carrot, celery and/or apple.
Preparing and Storing the Juice
If you are juice fasting for more than three days, I suggest that you
prepare at least a gallons' worth of juice. Refrigerate it
in an air-tight jar to keep oxygen from entering and spoiling the juice prematurely. Wrap the jar with
aluminum foil to block all light in the refrigerator, which - believe it or not - can also
compromise the juice. If you follow these simple instructions, a gallon of juice can last you as long as
three-to-four days.
Take the juice out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes prior
to drinking since it is easier to digest at room temperature. Drinking the
juice too cold may reduce the miracle of juice fasting. It is
NOT recommended that you turn this into a frozen smoothie.
By all means, add some ice to make it palatable, but not too much! Drink the juice
as close to room temperature as possible. For protein, some
add seeds into the mix. The most common are :
grounded sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds.
Again, this miracle of juice fasting page is
but an introduction to juicing. I'll give you more detail to help you prepare and handle the
juice in the last page of this series.
Protein powders
Some athletes - particularly cycling professionals - want to lose fat quickly for competition and often ask me
whether or not it is acceptable to add protein powder to juice during a liquid fast. My answer is that
YES, it is okay to do so - but the powder should be used sparingly.
The same would apply to a person who is not an athlete but wants to fast while still maintaining a hectic
and demanding daily lifestyle.
There are some who would call this a sacrilige, indicating that a juice fast
should be ONLY juice, without
exceptions or deviation. I say DO WHATEVER IT TAKES... if adding a little
protein helps you stick to the liquid diet, then you're doing great.
My favorite protein powders for juice fasting are the
Whey Protein - Gold Standard and
Nutribiotic Rice Protein.
I particularly like the
Genisoy Vanilla Soy Protein Shakes; they are very tasty but not overly sweet. Again, add protein
sparingly to maximize the miracle of juice fasting.
Common Fruits You Can Use
With an investment of a few hundred dollars anyone can set up their own juice bar, making the miracle of
juice fasting a regular part of their daily diet. If you do not have one yet, then it is time for you to
browse through and purchase a
Juice Extractor. If you already have a juicer, then you are ready to start
exeperiencing the miracle of juice fasting. First, let me mention a few of the fruits that I juice
regularly, along with some pointers to help you get the most out of them.
WATERMELON - juice the whole watermelon with rind and seeds.
APPLES - experiment with a wide variety of red and green ones. Juice
WITH the skin.
PEARS - cut the stems and juice the rest, including skin.
ORANGES - keep at room temperature; they yield less juice when cold. Roll oranges in hard
surface to soften and then cut in half.
The best for juicing are: honey tangerine (sweet oranges) and
Valencia oranges.
Some Popular Recipes
CITRUS MORNINGS -TWO
peeled tangerines, ONE Pink Grapefruit (peeled),
TWO Oranges (peeled), 1/4th Oz. of
LIQUID GINGER.
KIDNEY CLEANSER -TWO Apples (with skin),
SIX Watermelon Triangles, TWO Pears (with skin).
DETOXIFIER -THREE Apples (with skin),
ONE Pink Grapefruit, ONE Lime.
FOR ENERGY -TWO Oranges (peeled),
TWO Carrots, ½ Inch Ginger Root,
THREE Papaya Slices (no seeds), THREE
Apples (with skin), ONE Cup of Cubed Pineapples, ONE
Tablespoon of
Organic Spirulina Powder.
Alright, now that you have a little information about the miracle of juice fasting and how it can
help you, let us move on to
The Juice Fast Process and talk
about juicers and extractors - the hardware required to practice this life-giving discipline.
