In this
page we are going to focus our fasting chat on the healing powerhouse
and miracle of juice fasting. While I initially got into fasting to
help my son, I have since adopted it as a lifestyle.
The result has
been weight loss, intestinal detoxification, as well as a rejuvenated
appearance, increased mental clarity and overall vitality.
Juice
fasting
has, in essence, been my personal Fountain of Youth! This is Page THREE
of our juice fasting series. These articles are designed to give you
information about fasting, fruits and vegetables. But, most of all,
what I want is to shake you
from inertia and indecision and get you into action. I want you to
experience the miracle of juice fasting for yourself!
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.
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!
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 detox 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 represent nature's medicine in its most pure and powerful.
If you give yourself to this task without reservation, you'll be well on your way to experiencing
the miracle of juice fasting
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, in its 5 A Day program, 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 the 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 will take a prompt turn
for the better, as it always does with me.
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 that 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 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. 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.
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