FunctionAs has been mentioned, people may undergo juice
fasting for one or more of the following reasons:
Spiritual or religious practice
Some people find a juice fast to be useful as part of
a general religious or spiritual retreat. As was noted
earlier, the first stage of an Ayurvedic pancha karma
includes extra time given to meditation and nature
walks as well as gradual exclusion of stimulants and
solid foods from the diet. Those who undertake a juice
fast in order to wean themselves from smoking, drugs,
or a food addiction are also often looking for spiritual
as well as physical release from the habit they are
struggling to break. Many people report relief from
emotional stress as a side benefit of juice fasting.
Detoxification
Naturopaths frequently recommend juice fasting
as a way of ridding the body of various toxins, which
they identify as coming from several sources:
Heavy metals. These include such substances as cad-
mium, arsenic, nickel, aluminum, chromium, mer-
cury, vanadium, strontium, antimony, cobalt, and
lead, which are used in various manufacturing proc-
esses and some medical procedures as well as being
present in batteries, electronic equipment, coins,
cookware, food containers, and other common
household items.
Toxic chemicals taken directly into the digestive tract
through alcoholic beverages, pesticide residues on
supermarket produce, additives in processed foods,
or drugs of abuse; or taken into the respiratory tract
through breathing household solvents (nail polish
remover, spot or stain removers containing benzene,
etc.)
Toxins in the digestive tract produced by yeast and
other microorganisms. Ridding the body of this
group of toxins is frequently cited as a reason for
combining laxatives or enemas with a juice fast. The
reader should note that mainstream physicians dis-
pute the notion that normal digestion produces toxic
substances in the colon that must be removed by a
laxative or enema.
Ammonia, urea, and other breakdown products of
protein metabolism. Naturopaths often recommend
a vegetarian lifestyle as well as periodic juice fasts in
order to minimize the production of these byprod-
ucts of meat and dairy products consumption.
Treatment of specific illnesses
Juice fasting is sometimes recommended for the
treatment of specific diseases and disorders, most com-
monly arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and depres-
sion, but it has also been claimed to be an effective
treatment for severe infections (including AIDS), mul-
tiple sclerosis, and cancer. Both Jay Kordich and Ber-
nard Jensen have maintained that juice fasts healed
them of cancer. One theory that is sometimes advanced
to explain the healing power of juice fasting is that the
energy that the body would normally use digesting
heavy or high-protein meals can instead be directed to
its natural self-healing capacity. The medical profes-
sion would not recomment the thes practices as a sole
treatment and many would discourage their use as
they may interfere with and complicate conventional
treatments.Benefits
The benefits of juice fasting include a rapid imme-
diate weight loss, an effect frequently mentioned in
client testimonials. Average weight loss runs between
three and five pounds for adults for a three- or four-
day juice fast. Mainstream medical research also indi-
cates that juice fasts are useful in providing a period of
rest for the digestive tract for patients withirritable
bowel syndromeor other functional disorders of the
intestines. Lastly, juice fasts have sometimes been
helpful in identifying food allergies. As solid foods
are gradually reintroduced after the fast, some people
discover that they have a previously unsuspected
allergy to such foods as corn, wheat, or tomatoes.Precautions
In general, anyone considering a juice fast should
consult a health professional beforehand. Some groups
of people, however, should not undertake a juice fast:
Pregnant or lactating women.
Children.
People with any of the following medical conditions:
diabetes, hypoglycemia, anorexia or bulimia nerv-
osa, kidney or liver disease, gout, asthma, impaired
immune function, epilepsy, cancer, terminal illness,
active infections, anemia, malnutrition, or ulcerative
colitis.
People who are underweight.
People who have increased energy needs such as
those who have recently undergone surgery or treat-
ment for severe burns.
People taking any prescription medication should
consult their primary care physician before a juice fast,Juice fasts