A major revelation for me getting healthier was discovering fasting through natural juices/smoothies/soups. There are many types of fasting you can try for many different types of health issues, but I always think it’s best to write about your own experiences so here goes.

It all began three years ago when I was fortunate enough to stay at Jason Vale’s Juicy Oasis retreat in Lisbon.

I spent a week at the retreat and I couldn’t believe how well I started to feel and how much energy I suddenly had, so much so that I was able to go on long walks, play tennis, volleyball and do yoga three times a day! Hardcore!

I drank only natural homemade juices, smoothies and soup all week, made up of all the nutrients I needed to keep going. I felt so good that I have continued to have a smoothie every day for breakfast ever since. If I get back late from work I will have a smoothie or soup in the evening, as I’m sure you know it’s not good to eat anything too heavy at night. Here’s a bit more about why fasting works for gut issues:

Common disorders of the Gut include:

• Increased Intestinal Permeability ‘Leaky Gut’
• Dyspepsia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Symbiosis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Modern day living exposes us to increasing levels of chemicals and toxins, further challenging the body’s systems. This increased toxic load can result in the gut and other detoxification organs within the body struggling to detoxify efficiently.

What does fasting involve?

Fasting facilitates a powerful, rapid and safe detoxification process by providing a period of concentrated physiological rest during which time the body’s natural healing processes are stimulated, resulting in improved gut repair and reduced toxicity.

Typically in modern day lifestyles the body only experiences brief periods of fasting whilst we are sleeping.

Benefits of Fasting

• Fasting helps to facilitate deeper cleansing by eliminating toxins such as dead cells, fat tissue, intestinal mucus and other waste products stored in the body.
• During the fasting period the body transitions from using glucose as a main source of energy to using fat.
• Toxins stored in your body’s fats cells are, also released, further detoxifying the system and often facilitating weight loss.
• Fasting effectively reduces digestive workload as energy is no longer required for digestion and our gut cells are transitioned into repair mode. Energy is beneficially diverted and utilized in metabolism and the immune system.

Fasting improves gut health by:

• Cleansing cells of accumulated toxins and waste products.
• Strengthening the gastrointestinal mucosal lining.
• Improving digestion.
• Reducing oxidative damage.
• Reducing inflammation.
• Improving metabolism.
• Balancing the gut microbiome.

So if you feel like your digestive system needs a bit of a rest and detox try starting off slowly by replacing just one meal a day with a homemade smoothie, soup or juice and see how you go. Everyone is different so see what works for you.

Disclaimer

Fasting is very safe as long as you use all natural products in your soups, smoothies and juices and stay hydrated. If you are on medication or have a health issue please do check with your GP first.