Stages of Fasting: The Detoxification Stages during a Juice Fast
Source: MasterCleanse.com
Stage 1 (Day 1 to Day 2)
The body undergoes significant changes as it adapts to the absence of food.
On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.
What Typically Happens During Day 1 and 2?
- Blood Sugar Drops: The liver converts glycogen to glucose to maintain blood sugar, but this reserve only lasts half a day.
- Metabolism Slows: The basal metabolic rate (BMR) decreases, leading to a slower heart rate and reduced blood pressure.
- Muscle Glycogen Depletion: Glycogen is pulled from muscles, causing weakness.
Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Bad breath
- Glazed eyes
- Coated tongue
Tip: Intense hunger is common, but using an enema can help transition the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.
Stage 2 (Day 3 to Day 7)
The body enters a deeper cleansing phase, breaking down fats for energy.
Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.
The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.
What Happens?
- Fat Breakdown: Fats are broken down into glycerol, converted to glucose. Skin may become oily as oils are purged.
- Complexion Changes: A pallid complexion may indicate waste in the blood.
- Appetite Suppression: Ketones, formed by incomplete fat oxidation, may suppress appetite.
Healing and Immune Response:
- Digestive Rest: The digestive system rests, focusing energy on cleansing and healing.
- Immune Boost: Increased white blood cell and immune activity.
- Sinus Activity: Mucoid matter is expelled, leading to clogged and cleared sinuses.
- Colon Repair: Impacted feces on the intestinal wall loosen.
Symptoms:
- Oily skin
- Pimples or boils
- Yellow mucus discharge
- Foul breath
Tip: If you experience lung pain, it may be a sign that cleansing organs are repairing.
Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15)
The body becomes more efficient, experiencing increased energy and mental clarity.
On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body's increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body's ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body's natural healing ability was compromised.
During fasting, the body's healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.
What Happens?
- Increased Energy: You may feel better than you have in years.
- Old Injuries: Previously healed injuries may ache as the body heals scar tissue.
Pain and Discomfort:
- Healing Pains: Aches in previously injured areas are common as the body completes the healing process.
- Muscle Tension: Toxins cause muscle tightness and soreness, especially in the legs.
- Cankers: Excessive bacteria in the mouth may lead to cankers.
Symptoms:
- Muscle soreness
- Tightness
- Mouth cankers
Tip: Daily saltwater gargling can help prevent or heal cankers.
Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30)
The body fully adapts to fasting, leading to mental clarity and improved emotional balance.
The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.
What Happens?
- Full Adaptation: The body is fully adapted to the fasting process, with increased energy and mental clarity.
- Cleansing Cycles: Cleansing periods may be shorter, with many days of feeling good in between.
- Organ Healing: The body works at maximum capacity to replace damaged tissue.
- Lymphatic Cleanse: The lymphatic system is nearly clean, with occasional mucus discharge.
- Mental Clarity: After day 20, heightened clarity and emotional balance are common, with improved memory and concentration.
Symptoms:
- Occasional mucus discharge
- Improved memory and concentration
- Emotional balance
Tip: Enjoy the newfound mental clarity and emotional balance; this is your body's natural state.
Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast)
Transitioning back to eating requires careful planning to maintain health.
The sticky, toxic, mucoid coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.
What Happens?
- Intestinal Cleanse: The mucoid coating on the intestinal wall loosens, and the first meal helps free it.
- Bile Discharge: The gallbladder releases a heavy discharge of bile, causing instant bowel movements.
- Managing Discomfort: An enema can help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms during this stage.
Symptoms:
- Instant bowel movements
- Intense diarrhea
Tip: Reintroduce food gradually, starting with light, easy-to-digest meals.
The Process of Autolysis (Self-Cleaning)
The body enters a state called autolysis after several days of fasting, allowing it to target and eliminate weak and diseased cells.
After fasting for several days, the body goes into a condition known as "autolysis". This is when the body starts to feed on itself because you are giving it no solid food to feed off of. Fortunately, the body in it's brilliant design feeds on only the weak, diseased, dying, or dead cells. All of the vital organs, the heart, liver, kidneys, and the brain are spared and because of the absence of all of the sickly cells in your body, your vitals are actually rejuvenated and made healthier because of the clean bloodstream and unadulterated oxygen now circulating throughout your body.
What Happens?
- Autolysis: The body feeds on weak, diseased, dying, or dead cells.
- Organ Preservation: Vital organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain are spared, leaving them healthier with a clean bloodstream and unadulterated oxygen circulation.
- Targeting Damaged Cells: During this process, the body efficiently eliminates unhealthy cells while preserving vital organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain.
- Rejuvenation: This self-cleaning leads to rejuvenation of the body's systems, resulting in improved vitality and health.
Symptoms and Benefits:
- Improved Energy Levels: As damaged cells are removed, energy levels rise.
- Enhanced Immunity: The immune system is strengthened as unhealthy cells are eliminated.
- Clearer Skin: Many people notice improved skin clarity and texture.
Tip: Fasting isn't just about detoxification; it's a profound healing process that enhances your body's natural ability to repair itself.