Today I'd like to start a series of postings on the topic of JUICE FASTING and JUICE FEASTING.
I believe that juice fasting and juice feasting are keys to good nutrition and tips to eating healthy with the Uri Feast. However, before we talk about juice fasting, I would like to first lay a solid foundation for the whole concept of FASTING.
THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF FASTING
Fasting is the most ancient therapeutic method known to man. Since the begining of time, man has instinctively stopped eating when feeling ill and has fasted from food until his health was restored. Even animals go on a fast when they are not feeling well in order to cure themselves of illness and restore their health.
Throughout the long medical history of man, fasting has been considered one of the most dependable curative and rejuvenative treatments for man's illnesses. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, prescribed it and practiced it, along with other great physicians such as Galen, Paracelsus, and many others. Fasting was called, "the greatest remedy; the physician within," by Paracelsus. Many of the great philosophers of history such as Plato and Socrates practiced fasting as a way to attain mental and physical efficiency. Most of the Eastern philosophers and spiritual leaders have practiced fasting regularly, along with meditation, in order to attain long life, mental efficiency, and spiritual awareness. 
Over the past 60 years, medical science has rediscovered the value of fasting. Many scientific studies and clinical test have been done, particularly in Europe, to determine the prophylactic, therapeutic, and rejuvenating properties of fasting. I encourage you to do your own research on these studies. Are Waerland is an example of a great Swedish health pioneer who advocated and practiced fasting. In fact, fasting is a standard initial cleansing method in the world-famous Wearland Healing System. In Germany there are literally hundreds of clinics operated by medical doctors where fasting is now employed on a large scale. For example, at the Buchinger Sanatorium in Bad Pyrmont, fasting is used initially in almost every condition of ill health. Over 80,000 therapeutic fasts were supervised by Dr. Otto H.F. Buchinger and his father, both medical doctors, during their 50 years of practice. According to Dr. Werner Zabel, another great fasting specialist in Germany, "Together with fever and optimal nutrition, fasting is man's oldest and best healing method."
THE REJUVENATING BENEFITS OF FASTING
The therapeutic effect of fasting has been well documented by clinical experience both in Europe and the United States. According to Dr. Adolph Mayer, "Fasting is the most efficient means of correcting any illness." In the words of Dr. Otto H.F. Buchinger, Jr., M.D., fasting is indeed a "Royal road to healing."
Throughout history and today, fasting has been used not only for the therapeutic purpose of healing illness, but also for its obvious revitalizing and rejuvenating effect. People across the globe fast regularly not to cure any particular illness, but because they consider fasting to be an effective way to cleanse the body from accumulated wastes and toxins, to increase physical stamina and the resistance against illnesses, and to revitalize and rejuvenate the functions of all their vital organs. In Sweden, fasting has almost become a new national sport.
Contrary to what most people may think, fasting doesn't cause people to feel depleted and weakened. In fact, the opposite is true. After fasting, you will actually feel stronger and revitalized, your health will be significantly improved, and your physical and mental working capacity will be greatly increased. You will not only feel a new sense of energy and vitality, but you will also have a tendancy to look younger. This is not only because of pounds you will lose, but mostly because fasting has such a dramatic rejuvenating effect on the functions of all your vital organs, including the functions of your endocrine glands, which are responsible for how young or old you look and feel.
Okay, I'd better stop here for now.
In my next posting, I will continue on this topic of fasting and juice fasting, and I will explain in greater detail WHY FASTING IS THE NUMBER ONE HEALER AND REJUVENATOR.
As a final note, I'd like to share the fact that I practice fasting once a week for health reasons, as well as for spiritual reasons. It's a great habit to develop and one that you may consider establishing as you start the upcoming new year. And always remember, fasting and juice fasting are keys to good nutrition and eating healthy with the Uri Feast.
To your health,
Josiah Friberg
Health and Nutrition Educator
