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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