Fasting
Hellloooo healthy warriors!
To fast or not to fast, that is the question! Why? What’s so dang scary about not eating a meal? We’re all so attached to food for so many different reasons that the idea of skipping solids brings waves of panic and visions of hospitalization. Here’s the deal. Don’t fast without nutrition. It’s that simple. water, maple syrup, cayenne, vinegar – THAT AIN’T nutrition. Obviously, I’m referencing a few common plans rolled into one taco.
I base my fasting protocol on what I learned during my health educator program at Hippocrates. This is what Brian Clement says in his AWESOME book, “Living foods for optimum health”:
Fast one day a every week, consuming only freshly squeezed green drinks, vegetable juices, purified water, herbal teas. These fasting days will allow any potential long term toxins to be released before they can cause serious damage. It’s like changing the oil in your car BEFORE your engine fails. (Note: I would add blended foods too – and kick in 2-4 oz of wheat grass)
Remember, when you give your body a break from the difficult task of digesting food – especially meat, dairy & poorly combined foods, you allow it to focus on healing and repair. Since lots of toxins are dumped into the blood stream during a fast it’s a good idea to follow it with an enema or a colonic. Keeping the pipeline clear allows for better evacuation of that which does not serve you. If you are clogged up the toxins will back up.
Many people do longer fasts. Common durations include one day, a week, ten days, twenty one days and even 92 days (like our pal Philip on the forum). I think baby steps are important. If you are interested, I would start with 1-3 days. If your health is currently weak, fasting is not recommended. Be realistic and if you have any concerns check with your doctor. Make sure you mention that you will be getting nutrients, just in liquid or blended form. Most people think that fasting = abstaining from food. CSL fasts = resting from food while still receiving optimum plant based nutrition.
Here’s a basic sample of a fast day por moi:
Upon rising drink 8 oz of purified water with lemon and a dash of cayenne – gets the circulation going – lemon cleanses the liver. Drink herbal tea if you like and then get ready to juice, juice, juice!
Ingredients for the juice, juice, juice:
Cucumber
Sunflower & or Sweet pea sprouts
celery
brocoli stems
kale
dandelion greens
Drink as much as you like and change the menu to suit your palate. Eight 6-8 oz glasses is what works for me. At night I blend a green soup or a smoothie.
Ingredients for soup:
1 large avocado
2 cups salad greens
Kale
purified water
scallions
1 tsp kelp or dulse
1 tsp nama shoyu or a pinch of sea salt
1 clove of crushed garlic
Cayenne
Fresh herbs – like dill, thyme, BASIL – yum!
Get creative sassy pants! Ya don’t have to follow this – make your own, what veggies do you love? If you don’t use the avocado add some EVOO or Flax oil.
Ingredients for my go-to green smoothie:
1 avocado
fresh mint
1 cucumber
a bit of kale
coconut water (or purified)
Stevia to taste
If you can’t get mint try adding lime – awesome.
Happy fasting! It’s great to do it together. Maybe we should do a CSL fast????
Peace & liquid,
Kris
PS. Toss an inch of ginger in the mix too!
65 Comments
I made it through my fast!! I was sooo tempted last night to break it because I was surrounded by goodies, but I didn’t do it! I was surprised that I was feeling a little hungry when I went to bed, but not so much that it kept me from sleeping.
Maybe next time I’ll try for 3 days! Then one day 2weeks!
Happy Fasting!
Lauren, congrats on making it! You’ve given me hope for the big day tomorrow!! How do you feel today?
Lauren, good going,you are doing so well with the fasting! Shorter ones are better I think, give you more sense of success.
Hey all: I have to do my Taxes today.. may not be online so much as usual.
Wish me luck and a good RETURN.. ie: cash money honey.
love deb xooxoxoxxo
hi all
If you read my two part blog at debbiedoesraw.blogspot.com
you will want to see what Dhurmil posted. please watch this.. we all need to get aware before change can happen:http://www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/2008/04/the-world-accor.html
Hi all,
I’m partway through a one or one-and-a-half day fast. (Last time I had anything solid was last night about 8 o’clock. So I’m about 16 hours in.
I’m feeling okay. Not great; not awful. I have a slight headache. I definitely feel a little weak and dizzy and shaky. I have moments when I think this is just too hard and dizzy-making, and I can’t imagine how anyone does it for longer than a day. Then a few minutes later I think, hey, this is not that bad, it’s good for me, I feel pure. I do not see how anyone could do it for 92 days!
So far today I’ve had:
12 ounces purified water with juice from half a lemon and some cayenne.
16 ounces green juice–apple, lemon, broccoli stem, celery, cucumber, spinach
8 ounces coconut water
14 ounces beet/carrot/orange juice
4 ounces chamomile tea
I also did a little meditation this morning, an hour of yoga, a major dry brushing and took a bath in Epsom salts.
Anyone else fasting today?
Anne, girl, wow you’re almost there! You did it!! I just came back from grocery shopping so I am ready for my fast tomorrow. By the way I got a bigass armload of kale and it was only 52 cents. How can that be? What is purified water? Boiled? Bottled? Blessed?!
I don’t know what purified water is, exactly. I have a gallon that I bought at the regular grocery store awhile ago (for enema purposes) that says “purified water.” The label also says something about filtered and reverse osmosis. I don’t know if it’s the right stuff, but I figure for today’s detox purposes, it’s better than tap water. (I really need to get a filter carafe.)
I’m going to continue this fast til tomorrow mid-morning. I’m feeling better now that I made myself one of Kris’s green smoothies–mine had avocado, cucumber, half a lemon and chard. I’m craving salt, though, and actually looking forward to a raw soup for dinner.
52 cents for kale is awesome!
Thanks Debbie and Lurky me for the congratulations!
I feel good today. Sorry I couldn’t comment earlier to motivate you guys who are doing the fast today. I’ve been busy. I didn’t have much sleep last night, but I felt okay today. Maybe it was all my green juice yesterday!
Oh boy…have I said how much I’m loving green smoothies?! I had another one today. I can’t believe that not too long ago I was barely keeping it down, and now I totally love the taste! I think that’s crazy :)
Good luck with your taxes Debbie!!
I’m visualizing mucho dinero coming your way!
Okay, adding to my totals for this day of juice fasting. Here it is in order:
12 ounces purified water with juice from half a lemon and some cayenne.
16 ounces green juice–apple, lemon, broccoli stem, celery, cucumber, spinach
8 ounces coconut water
14 ounces beet/carrot/orange juice
4 ounces chamomile tea
16 ounces green smoothie–avocado, half lemon, big cucumber, chard
6 ounces miso soup with 100-degree water and unpasteurized miso
16 ounces green smoothie–same as above, just the other half of the quart
6 ounces purified water
10 ounces coconut water
Closing in on the dinner hour, planning an avocado/cilantro soup and hoping I can sleep tonight. Between feeling hungry and headachy and light-headed, I’m also afraid I’ll be up to pee every five minutes.
That list of stuff I drank today looks so huge to me . . . how can I be hungry?
Lurkyme, good luck tomorrow!
Drinking some Plant Blood myself right now…YUM!!!
Kristen’s Raw
Ok… Plant Blood ?
Dang….that is right to the point, isn’t it ?
Good job Anne! How did you feel at bedtime?
ginger + carrots + orange
= CRAZY ZING!!!
(and maybe throw in a celery stick if you like!)
Hey, y’all! Loving the conversation here. I may join in the fast starting on the 15th. The issue I’m having at the moment is that I’m still so in love with eating out. My husband and I are traveling around the country and one of our favorite things to do is check out the great restaurants in each city. Next stop: San Francisco. I’m looking forward to Cafe Gratitude which, I understand, is super healthy and faboo. But we also have reservations at some fine dining establishments where I am sure to indulge in the bread basket and a glass or two of wine. I am proud that I schlep my juicer around in the suitcase and stuff organic greens into hotel mini-fridges, but I could do so much better.
Lori from the library- I LOVE what you said about trying to be perfect all your life. I’m learning to cut myself some slack as I continue on the path toward the healthiest I can be.
Rhonda, I always love reading your insights.
Deb, how’s the tum? Top Chef awaits on my tivo…can’t wait to catch up with you.
Callie, I miss you sistah.
Everyone else, peace out.
Sandra
April 6, 2008