Basic Explanation: An Extended Period Of Time When The Body Isn’t Digesting, and Calories are Reduced 

There is a lot of information out there about the different ways to fast, so I have put this together to give you a bite sized look at the different methods.

Firstly though, I would like to point out that fasting isn’t a detox unless you are eliminating. As you limit calories and the fat cells start to break down in order to be used as energy, they will release the stored toxins which will then be neutralised by the immune system and sent for processing and eliminating. 

However, if you are not able to release the toxins because the exits are not working efficiently or are blocked – bowel, bladder, skin and lungs –  then you are not actually detoxing. In fact, you will feel flipping awful, because now you have a whole bunch of toxins running around, without an exit plan, or fat cells to be stored in. Not a good idea. If you do want to crank it up a notch, then I would suggest you have a colonic, or take herbs to support bowel movements at the very least

BENEFITS OF FASTING ARE:

  • Weight loss – Fasting stimulates fat loss as your body starts to burn your fat for fuel.
  • Increased energy – The energy usually used for digesting a meal can now be utilised more efficiently by the body, including healing and repair.
  • Rests digestive system – Resting your digestive system allows it to heal and repair.
  • Increases cellular and genetic repair.
  • Reduces inflammation throughout the gut and other areas of the body.
  • Reduces chronic disease, most of which is linked to inflammation.
  • Improves insulin sensitivity – and therefore reduces the risk of diabetes. Fasting improves the use of insulin, so we need less of it and therefore, less fat for storage and lowers inflammation.
  • Improved mental health –  You will be improving your gut health and the bacteria that reside within your gut. The gut and brain are interconnected, resulting in improved mental clarity. A healthy gut produces 80% of our serotonin and 50% of our dopamine, so you may also see a reduction in anxiety and depression.
  • Spiritual health – Fasting has been used for 100’s of years as a way of connecting to your inner consciousness or higher power, god or the universe. I have myself experienced some profound insights, light bulb moments, emotional releases, mental block breakthroughs and life changing transitions, that have transformed my life for the better…..without ever going back. A complete spiritual reset…..Happy days!

People who shouldn’t fast or detox – Pregnant ladies, children, athletes in training, Type 1 diabetes and anyone with a history of eating disorders or a chronic wasting disease.

THE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO FAST:

Intermittent Fasting – Only eating between a restricted time frame. Usually 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating, so you might eat all of your meals between 11am and 7pm. 

We need to be fasting for around 5 hours before our insulin levels go down and our cellular healing and cleansing mechanism starts its process. Drink lots of water when you wake up and throughout the day to aid the cleansing process.

During your eating window, don’t under eat, or your metabolism will slow down and become inflexible, plus, the food needs to be healthy and balanced – protein, fat, carbohydrate and lots of fibre. Intermittent fasting 3 days per week…..maybe Monday, Wednesday and Friday….will keep your metabolism flexible and not put you into starvation mode.

The 5:2 Diet – Made popular by doctor Michael Moseley, this diet means that you eat normally for 5 days of the week, and then reduce your calorie intake to 500-600 calories on 2 non-consecutive days of the week. To get the maximum healing benefits, your eating window could still be in a reduced time frame, plus, it needs to be healthy food.

Extended Fasting – This would include a juice, bone broth or water fast, anything over 2 days long. When you do extended fasting or intermittent fasting, you produce ketones as your body has to switch from burning sugar as fuel, to burn fat for fuel. The fasts below can all be extended, however, if you can’t do this on a retreat, and intend to do it at home, I would suggest you prepare well and take it easy that week.

Water Fasting – An extremely powerful healing process, which can be very beneficial for people with severe inflammation or chronic disease. It can help the body destroy abnormal cells, stimulates deep healing and can reset the immune system. However, I would never encourage you to embark on this process without the support of a practitioner who knows what they are doing and consulting with your doctor too. Also, to keep electrolytes balanced, you need to add Pink Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt.

Bone Broth Fasting – Highly recommended because it is one of the best ways to heal your gut and bring down chronic inflammation in your body, particularly joints, because of the high collagen content. Bone broth also contains a high volume of alkalising and balancing electrolytes, which can help the body adapt to reduced insulin levels, plus, amino acids to support the liver and keep your muscles happy. Personally, I always include 1 or 2 portions of bone broth per day within an extended juice fast.

Juice Fasting – Drinking 3 or 4 juices per day will flood your body with cleansing and healing nutrients whilst keeping your blood sugar balanced. You can include green powders but I highly recommend that you keep the fruit content low. The odd apple is no problem but steer clear of higher sugar fruits like mango.

If you would still like help and guidance then book in for a Holistic or Detox consultation with me. Combine it with a Colonic and you will get 20% off. 

MANDY ELLIOTT – Holistic Health and Wellbeing Coach 

Homeopathy, Colonic Hydrotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique – EFT

 Gut Health and Detox Support, Health Lecturer 

07368 309506   www.mandyelliott.co.uk   [email protected]