Urban Daytox

Fasting – or cleansing-detoxification – is the missing link in the Western diet, where it is well documented that many people routinely over-eat, eat too often or eat a high protein, high fat, over-rich or congesting diet. Because of this, fasting and detoxification are important corrective and rejuvenative processes in our cycle of nutrition – plus juices heal and protect the body.

A juice fast – as opposed to a water fast – supplies the body with minerals and nutrients that help break down and dispose of dying cells, rejuvenate active cells and speed up the process of building young, vibrant cells. Using juices, your body will be treated to enough nutrients so that you don’t have to deplete the sugar stores in your liver and muscles, or break down a lot of muscle tissue.
To quote Paavo Airola, Ph.D, a naturopathic doctor and advocate of juice-fasting,

“The only difference between a juice and water fast is that during the juice fast your body’s eliminative and detoxifying capacity is increased”

Juicing is the ultimate way to ingest vital nutrients in their living form and allows you to absorb highly concentrated amounts when compared with eating raw fruit and vegetables.

Freshly pressed juices contain:
• Living enzymes to improve digestion and break down mucous.
• Potent antibacterial substances to fight infections
• Anti-inflammatory substances to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Antioxidant vitamins C, E & flavonoids, beta carotene, carotenoids.
• Polyphenols give colour to fruits and vegetables and are powerful antioxidants.
• Organic sulphur compounds, which can detoxify poisonous chemicals and cleanse liver and blood.
• Vital minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, zinc, boron and selenium.
• Vitamin K: found in dark, leafy greens and is beneficial for bone strength, the immune system and blood.
• Finally phytochemical substances that can fight off many diseases include: flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenes, coumarins, chlorophyll, indoles, isothiocyanates, and isoflavones.

A one-day per week juice fast can ease digestive burden and allow vital organs the chance to catch up with ongoing, daily detoxification.
However the main benefit of a one-day per week juice fast is not significant detoxification. It is a concentrated period of rest for your digestive organs, and an opportunity for the vital organs – liver, kidneys, skin & lungs- to repair and rejuvenate themselves.
Less digestive burden and more physical rest equals more available resources for organ, skin and cell regeneration.

If you want to give your body a period of rest and intense cleansing, it makes sense to spend a day a week drinking freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices.

For many philosophers, scientists and physicians, fasting was an essential part of life, health and the healing process needed to recreate health where there was sickness. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Galen, and Hippocrates all used and believed in fasting therapy.