Juice and Water Fasting at Hopewood

Feeling a bit sluggish after hibernating over the last few months? Need to get the energy moving, clean out those clogged up vessels and get the immune system back on track?

At Hopewood Health Retreat, we guide our patients through two types of fasting—water fasting and juice therapy. A juice diet or a restricted diet is not strictly fasting, however they can both achieve similar benefits and in some cases may be recommended in preference to fasting. Juice or water fasting helps you to feel revitalised, prepare for the summer months and feel motivated to pick up your exercise to where you know it should be for good health!

The human body has an incredible capacity to heal itself and fasting – going without food – can help to flush out and eliminate poisons and toxins, balance the body and improve overall health and wellbeing.  Juice or water therapy not only helps to improve health conditions, it boosts the nervous system. It also cleanses the liver which in turn cleans the blood and can slow down, or possibly reverse, the progress of the ageing process by lowering free radical damage.

What is juice therapy?

Simply put, fasting cleanses the body, giving our internal organs a chance to rest. Fresh juice is referred to as ‘live’ food because it still contains active enzymes. Packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, fresh juice requires minimal energy to digest. Once absorbed by the body, the fruit begins to establish a better acid/ alkaline balance within the body.

On a juice detox a state of partial fasting can be achieved relative to the degree of calorie restriction. A juice diet comes with less of the uncomfortable effects often associated with a full fast eg weakness, dizziness and headaches. It provides similar benefits of a full fast but to a lesser degree.

Water fasting therapy

Water Fasting is often considered the most effective way to increase elimination of waste and enhance the healing process of the body. Water fasting is not the same as starvation. Unlike fasting, starvation is a process in which the body uses essential tissue for fuel, when not eating. Water fasting spares essential tissue (vital organs) while utilising nonessential tissue (primarily fatty tissue but also adhesions and swellings etc) for fuel.

What do toxic substances do?

When the body is exhausted, continually digesting food, or overrun with emotion and stress, we are more vulnerable to toxic substances clogging our system.  Toxins ultimately decrease the flow of vital nutrients causing irritation and damage to cells, fatigue, inflammation, and potentially chronic pain or disease.

Why fast?

Just about everybody benefits from fasting. Even living a relatively healthy lifestyle doesn’t protect the body from all toxic substances - eating habits, pollution and stress all increase toxic deposits throughout the body which in time can lead to serious health issues.

Over the years of supervising juice and water therapy, we have noted significant improvements in conditions such as: arthritis, hypertension (high blood pressure), poor digestion, poor circulation, skin eruptions, chronic back pain, fatigue, headaches, improved immunity, eczema, chest congestion, allergies, ovarian cysts. Fasting can also be a great opportunity to kick-start a new lifestyle change, and as an opportunity to give up smoking.Other benefits include improved energy levels, less respiratory congestion and clearer eyes. The main benefit, however, is a more functional liver process.

The liver is challenged day-to-day by alcohol, viruses, prescription and social drugs, pesticides, pollutants and poor eating habits. The liver is the seat of detoxification in the body, capable of deep cleansing and regenerating given the right environment, such as committing to a juice or water fast.

Weight loss and fasting

Fasting is not a solution for obesity. The fat you lose during a fast can easily be replenished if you do not resume a good diet and regular physical activity.  Repeated fasts or repeated crash diets are not advised because they may have the lasting effect of slowing your metabolism. In this regard it is better have a longer fast less often then frequent short fasts.

Three basic changes

During a fast the body needs to spare the breakdown of muscle and enzymes. As the body undergoes a series of hormonal and metabolic changes energy is drawn from adipose (fat) tissue allowing the body to conserve its body mass. Typically divided into 3 bio-chemical stages, during a fast the body often undergoes the following process:

1. Glucose – approximately the first 12 hours.  Initially this comes from your last meal then from glycogen stores in your liver ( glycogenolysis)

2. Amino acids (gluconeogenesis) provide a fuel source particularly from the 10^th to 40^th hour. They come from free amino acids in the circulation, digestive tract, liver and traces from muscle protein.  These amino acids are converted in the liver to glucose for energy which is also vital for brain function.

3. Fats – from approximately the 2^nd day onward (but particularly from the 3^rd day) adipose tissue begins to be broken down and fats used directly and their by products, ketones are both becoming the primary source of fuel.

Some symptoms experienced during a fast

Often due to the withdrawal of caffeine, alcohol, sugar or cigarettes, some side-effects are to be expected. During a fast it is possible to experience one or a combination of symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, backaches, and nausea, among others, and is not unusual to experience temporary symptoms associated with any previous or existing health problems or injuries. These generally subside over a day or so and are generally followed by an improvement.

Length of a fast

Because there are many circumstances that determine who can and how long a fast can continue, the length is determined on an individual basis. Generally an acute disease such as a cold require only a short fast and chronic diseases eg arthritis, require a longer fast.

Breaking a Fast

Juices are the best way of breaking a fast. Then gradually introduce fruits, then salad vegetables. Next gradually add cooked vegetables and more substantial foods can be added. Also, just as when fasting, rest is important.  When discontinuing the fast, physical activity should be gradually resumed. Care must be taken at this stage so that the full benefits of a fast can be realised.

What else is involved in juice or water therapy?

Hydrotherapy is another part of the detoxing process. Warm and cool packs are applied to the liver on a daily basis, to assist in the removal of toxins and waste. In turn, this also assists in moving the lymph (immune function) and gives a relaxing, nurturing support to the guest.

Rest in vital. Being able to relax in a non stressful environment is essential for a good detoxification. Massage and hydrotherapy are very important parts of this health package, bringing deep relaxation and tend to support a more peaceful nervous system whilst assisting in further removal of toxins.

At Hopewood, our Naturopaths will provide help and support during the entire detox process, as well as establishing healthy eating practices, an appropriate exercise regime, and provide nutrition guidelines upon returning home. 

Jenny, Doug and Wendy hope to see you soon!!

*Juice therapy is not suitable for everyone. Our Naturopath will advise you if it is suitable for you.

Fasting should be carried out only under proper supervision.