WebMD writer Susan Seliger published another article on the website titled Is Fasting Healthy(www.webmd.com/diet/features/is_fasting_healthy), which was reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Dennison Haines. Seliger’s article expressed concerns from medical professionals that juice fasting was an unsafe method of weight loss and did not reap health benefits often lauded by health food stores.
"Fasting is not a weight loss tool. Fasting slows your metabolic rate down so your diet from before the fast is even more fattening after you fast," said Joel Fuhrman MD, author of Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Plan for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss and Fasting and Eating for Health.
"The appeal is that [fasting] is quick, but it is quick fluid loss, not substantial weight loss," said Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, founder and director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Weight Loss Management Center. "Fasts are sometimes accompanied with enemas to cleanse your intestinal tract, and that can be very dangerous. The intestinal tract has a lot of good bacteria. When you are changing that balance, the good bacteria are affected, too."
However, Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Fernstrom disagree on the detoxification benefits claimed by juice fasting enthusiasts.
"There is no scientific evidence it will detox the body. The issue of fasting to cleanse the body has no biological basis because the body is real good at that by itself," says Fernstrom. "The liver is a natural detox center; the lungs, the colon, the kidneys, [the lymph glands] and the skin get rid of toxins."
"We know that the body is unable to rid itself of toxins when we eat a diet low in nutrients," and that applies to most Americans, even those who think they are healthy”, counters Fuhrman.
"Americans eat 51% of their diet from processed foods and foods low in phytochemicals and antioxidants," he says. "So you see a buildup of waste products in the cells -- AGE, advanced glycation end products -- that build up in cellular tissues and lead to atherosclerosis, aging, diabetes, nerve damage, and the deterioration of organs. This is basic science and physiology every doctor learns in medical school. Fasting allows the body to most effectively remove these waste products," he says. "The body is designed to fast; we do it every night."
Fuhrman argues that fasting for more than one or two days prompts the body to go into ketosis which means it uses fat reserves for fuel.
"And the fat is where the body stores many of the toxins it absorbs from the environment," Fuhrman said. "Fasting followed by a vegetarian diet interferes with the immune system's activities, especially if the immune system is overreacting, as it does with other auto-immune diseases.”
Dr. Fuhrman cited to Seliger other studies to support his argument, such as the American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. Seliger also referred to studies on mice that were written up in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and The Journal of Nutritionin 2003. These journals published articles that stated how the mice who were put on a fast had better insulin control, neuronal resistance to injury, and overall better signs of improved health.
Seliger also includes comments from other endorsers of fasts who cite psychological benefits for juicing.
"I use very brief fasting with my patients to help them cope with stress and depression," said life coach Agnese Barolo. "I start them with just a few hours so they learn to say no to food. It’s the first step in taking control of their lives. I know some doctors say there is no scientific evidence for the curative powers of fasting but there is a reason every culture in every country has practiced some form of fasting for thousands of years."
While Barolo’s clients may have experienced improvement in dealing with stress some say fasting makes them more sensitive to it.
“I’ve seen people get grumpy because their mental alertness suffers,” said acupuncturist Catherine Herbin. “Protein is essential to neurological functioning and to eliminate it from your diet may make your cognitive ability duller.”
Juice fasting’s appeal also seems to be a matter of vogue. It’s hip and trendy in health conscious L.A. and other major cities. There is also the media endorsement of certain juice fast companies through product placement and celebrity endorsement. Tapping into the fan base of well known stars does increase the interest in juice fasts.
IzoCleanze is a popular cleansing system that has many raving testimonials from Hollywood stars. Many credit it with getting them into shape fast. The company delivers freshly made juices to a person’s home and also supplies them with nutritional supplements. There are different types of IzoCleanze fasts for those wanting rapid weight loss.
The IzoCleanze Core Cleanse is only available in L.A. and Orange County. It starts at $100 a day and can continue for as long as a person wants. You can also customize the cleanse based on your intentions for fasting. For those who want a less expensive IzoCleanze fast the company offers a do-it-yourself option where customer pick and choose their juice drinks. IzoCleanze calls this their a la Carte service which again, is also only available in LA and Orange County.
So far, the celebrity endorsements seem to be glowing about the quick weight loss experienced by the stars.
I felt absolutely fantastic on the iZO Cleanze and am recommending it to all my friends. In just 3 days, I lost a few pounds and had amazing energy, enough to get me through my hectic awards season schedule. I am officially red-carpet ready! IZO has a new convert! I can’t wait to do a 7-day cleanze next. Melissa Rivers
The iZO Cleanze flooded me with the nutrients my body was craving and I was surprisingly not hungry at all. The delivery was trustworthy and reliable, there by 7am every morning. What a great service! Daisy Fuentes
The iZO Cleanze is amazing! My skin is glowing! My energy level is at its max and I feel great on the inside and out! The iZO Cleanze kick-started a new way of life for me.Nia Long
I did the iZO Cleanze originally for five days. I had never done anything like it, and I didn't think I could do it. I have never felt better in my life! I had a cold when I started and it went away almost immediately. I never felt hungry. I liked it so much, I had decided to do the iZO Cleanze once a week. Doing a juice cleanse is something everyone should do once in a while, especially in our hectic schedules. The iZO Cleanse makes it so easy!Emily Deschanel
The iZO Cleanze was an amazing experience for me. In just 3 days, my face was crystal clear and dewy, and my energy was never compromised, even during a hectic TV production schedule. Not to mention that I was never hungry- and that's saying a lot for a food fanatic!!! I'll definitely be doing the iZO Cleanze again! Thanks again for everything!Eva LaRue
After 3 days on Tim's iZO Juice Feast, not only was I five pounds thinner, my skin was radiant and glowing. It's a great way to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle.Sanaa Lathan
If you reside outside the iZO Cleanze service area, another juice fast program for weight loss is the BluePrintCleanse. This also delivers juice to your door but its accessible by anyone in the United States. There are different types of juices available depending on the type of cleanse a person wants. Customers also have the option to just juice or juice with food.
Beginning juice fast participants are advised to start with The Renovation Cleanse. It is designed for those who have never done a juice fast before and are looking primarily to lose weight. The system comes with 6 juice bottles for a 3 day cleanse and is combination of green drinks and various fresh fruits. For more experienced juice fast fans that don’t have time to prepare juices properly there is The Foundation Cleanse designed for gentle detox that may lead to weight loss. Serious juice enthusiasts seeking to balance the ph level in their body can purchase The Excavation Cleanse which is designed for a more serious detox.
Fortunately for BluePrintCleanse, it has celebrity testimonials that help market it.
Halfway through a BluePrintCleanse and no longer feeling like I ate a Goodyear blimp and washed it down with cement. I recommend.Olivia Wilde
I first tried a BluePrintCleanse before starting Dexter, and I was surprised at how much energy it gave me. The effects of the cleanse go way beyond weight-loss, I found I had so much mental clarity during and afterwards. Now I do a cleanse any time I feel overloaded or need to give my system a break. I actually crave the green juices and the cashew milk! Julia Stiles
I love the BP green juice when I need my veggies on the go! Elisabeth Hasselbeck
After a few decades of treating my body like a trash can, BluePrintCleanse was just what I needed to kick start a sane, healthy, restorative year. BluePrintCleanse has become a trusted tool in my continued effort to reclaim my body and redefine my complicated relationship with food.Edward Ugel Author of I'm With Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks
BluePrintCleanse is a smart and simple idea. Whether you do a full cleanse or incorporate the juices into your day, BPC juices are a great choice for the healthy girl on the go. Bethenny Frankel Natural foods chef and author of New York Times bestselling book, Naturally Thin.
The 21-Day Detox Diet is a juice fasting program that comes in a kit and also promises rapid weight loss. It is a comprehensive program that often is taught in workshops in various cities. It’s obvious we listen to celebrities and our local gym gurus. Most of the gym buddies I have recall their fasting experiences in different ways. One woman said she kept going to the bathroom. Another said she had the runs for the whole week. A few reported a quick drop in water weight that returned as soon as they starting eating again. Those who changed their eating habits made fasting a regular practice since it eliminated their cravings. Most healthy and active people seem to do well on a juice fast but those less clean in their lifestyle often complained the most of headaches and fatigue. It appears that fasting brings out the quality of your life habits in the best or worst ways.
