The Power of Fasting: Cleansing, Healing, and Renewal
I just finished a 72-hour water fast on February 9th 2025 to celebrate the New Year (a bit late, but life got in the way—I had to cook, clean, iron, and take care of someone with a broken arm for a few months!). I don’t usually write too much about water fasting or juice fasting because, honestly, a healthy, balanced lifestyle is what gets you the best results—eat right, exercise, think positive thoughts, be kind, have fun, and enjoy life (with a bit of chocolate, coffee, chips, beer, pickles, mustard, and fermented foods, of course!). But I’ve had my own journey with health, and there was a time when I had to make big changes. I faced metal toxicity poisoning, which forced me to completely shift my lifestyle.
Right now, it’s Ramadan, and the Muslim community is fasting. It feels like the perfect time to share a bit of my story. So, here’s a glimpse into my experience with detoxing and fasting. It’s a personal journey, one that’s led me to appreciate the balance between health and enjoyment, and how sometimes we need to make big shifts to feel truly well.
I’ve had some pretty interesting experiences with detoxing and fasting over the years—let's just say I've tested the limits a few times. One of the most memorable was a 28-day juice fast with my CABALA juice (Carrot, Apple (red), Beetroot, Apple (yellow), Lemon, and Apple (green)—a colorful, energizing blend!). I stuck to it for the full month, though I did allow myself a bit of wiggle room and enjoyed some apples along the way. After all, a little sweetness never hurt anyone.
I’ve also done water fasting, with my longest stretch being 11 days, plus a 9-day fast, a few 7-day and 5-day fasts, and more than a dozen 3-day fasts. Each water fast has been a transformative experience that taught me a lot about my body and its capabilities.
That being said, not all my fasting adventures were great decisions. I once tried a dry fast—and let me tell you, that was a huge mistake. It was dangerous and definitely not something I’d recommend. It was a lesson learned the hard way!
But through all these experiences, I’ve learned to listen to my body, find balance, and approach my health journey with intention. It’s all about discovering what works best for you and sticking with it.
The True Experts on Detoxing: Fukushima Survivors and Their Incredible Journey
While my personal detox journey has been a rollercoaster of self-discovery, there are true experts out there who have faced much more extreme circumstances. One of the most remarkable groups of detox experts are the survivors of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, and the brave Americans who supported them in their detoxing programs, both in Japan and in Hawaii.
Following the catastrophic nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, many survivors faced radioactive contamination and heavy metal poisoning, along with other toxic exposures. The survivors, along with those who helped them detox, became experts in healing and purification on a whole new level. Their work has shown the power of deep detox programs, using natural methods to cleanse and restore balance in the body after extreme toxicity. Their experiences are nothing short of inspiring.
As someone who has gone through my own challenges with toxicity, I find their journey both humbling and motivating. The bravery, resilience, and strength they exhibited while undergoing detoxing protocols and supporting others is a reminder of how powerful the body’s ability to heal truly is when we give it the right tools, focus, and patience.
Here are some videos I recommend for diving deeper into fasting and detox strategies:
Tyler Toman's Advanced Fasting Tips Tyler shares expert tips for taking your fasting practice to the next level. Whether you're looking to refine your fasting techniques or gain new insights, this video has something for you. Watch Tyler’s Advanced Fasting Tips - https://www.youtube.com/live/MPcvvCUkV7g?si=bKTBAtCCbe3v4_xY
Ben Cohn Talks About Fukushima Detox and Nutrition In this video, Ben explores detoxing from environmental toxins like those from Fukushima, and how nutrition plays a key role in the process. If you’re interested in combining detox with nutrition for better health, this one’s for you. Watch Ben Cohn on Fukushima Detox - https://youtu.be/dBOq8aQmKXI?si=w5fytTKrLcVZdP_G
Tyler Tolman on How to Break a Fast Breaking a fast properly is just as important as the fast itself. Tyler walks you through the best practices to ensure a smooth and beneficial transition back to eating. Watch Tyler Tolman on Breaking a Fast - https://youtu.be/dBOq8aQmKXI?si=w5fytTKrLcVZdP_G
Fasting has existed since the beginning of life on Earth. When an animal is ill or injured, its first instinct is to abstain from solid food until it regains health. This natural wisdom exists across the animal kingdom—instinctively recognizing that the body heals more effectively when digestion is not overburdened.
The human body shares this instinct. It’s common to lose appetite during illness because the body prioritizes healing over digestion. Many ancient and modern religious traditions embrace fasting, both as a spiritual practice and a means of preventing and curing diseases. Today, many health advocates fast regularly, recognizing its powerful benefits.
How Fasting Cleanses the Body
The body is often unable to eliminate all the toxins, waste products, acids, excess proteins, and fat deposits accumulated over time. When this condition persists, it can lead to various diseases, including cancer. Fasting provides the digestive system with much-needed rest and initiates a deep cleansing process.
During fasting, the body undergoes powerful biochemical processes, breaking down stored fat and inferior tissues—such as diseased, aged, or damaged cells, abnormal growths, tumors, and other unwanted tissues. These metabolic processes take place whether or not food is consumed, releasing stored energy and accelerating detoxification.
Excretory organs—the large intestine, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and sweat glands—work diligently to eliminate toxins. However, as toxic waste is dumped into the bloodstream for removal, it can cause discomfort, nausea, and fatigue. Supporting the body’s detoxification with enemas, deep breathing exercises, skin cleansing, and hydration can ease these symptoms.
The Healing Power of Fruits
Certain fruits act as natural cleansers, pulling excess sodium and toxins from cells. Some people experience discomfort when eating fresh fruit, mistaking this detox reaction for sickness. In reality, fruit facilitates deep cellular cleansing, temporarily stirring up stored waste before elimination.
What Happens to the Body During Fasting?
Intestinal Changes: The stomach and intestines shrink, digestive juice production decreases, and the intestines transition from absorption to excretion.
Liver and Organ Detox: The liver and other digestive organs expel waste and toxins, intensifying after the third day of fasting.
Hormonal Shifts: Growth hormone production increases, promoting muscle retention and fat metabolism. Sex gland activity decreases, and menstruation may be delayed or temporarily absent.
Gallbladder Contractions: The gallbladder releases mucus and solid matter, aiding detoxification.
Weight Loss: Fasting primarily results in fluid loss, with waste expelled through urine, lungs, and skin. However, muscle mass is preserved, and post-fast hormone levels support muscle growth and fat metabolism.
Managing Detox Symptoms
Transitioning from solid food to liquids may cause temporary discomfort, such as hunger, nausea, muscle aches, cold sensitivity, or constipation. Those who experience the most discomfort often need fasting the most. To ease symptoms, prioritize fresh air, daily movement, a peaceful environment, enemas, and adequate rest.
Extended Fasting and Safety
A properly managed fast—even for up to 40 days—does not harm the body but should always be done under the care of a doctor or at a water fasting clinic. For example, the TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, is known for safely overseeing extended water fasts with professional guidance. The key is ensuring effective toxin elimination. Many people undergo extended fasts to heal their bodies, improve health, and prevent disease. With the right conditions, your body has the innate power to heal itself.
Health Benefits of Fasting
Fasting is a powerful physiological process that triggers deep metabolic shifts, promoting healing, fat loss, and even disease prevention. When the body enters a fasting state, it transitions from relying on glucose to breaking down stored fat for energy. This metabolic shift, known as ketosis, reaches its peak around the tenth day of fasting. During this period, the body also prioritizes eliminating harmful cellular masses, toxins, and pathogens, contributing to profound health benefits.
Cardiovascular: Lowers blood pressure, improves heart health, and reduces cholesterol.
Diabetes: May reverse type II diabetes and improve insulin sensitivity.
Autoimmune: Reduces inflammation and alleviates conditions like arthritis.
Digestive: Treats IBS, improves immune function, and aids detox.
Longevity: Regular fasting may contribute to a longer lifespan and prevent disease.
Fasting Considerations for Women
Women’s hormonal cycles affect how fasting impacts their bodies. To avoid disrupting hormonal balance, fasting should be adapted to different phases of the menstrual cycle:
Follicular Phase (Days 1–14): Best time for longer fasts, as estrogen levels support fasting.
Luteal Phase (Days 15–28): Avoid prolonged fasting. Stick to shorter fasts or consider skipping fasting if feeling fatigued.
The Body's Adaptation: A Reflection of Leadership
Just like your body, leadership adapts to its environment—thriving or decaying based on the energy it receives. Poor leadership, like unhealthy habits, can cause stagnation, but when aligned with purpose, it inspires growth and vitality.
When you nourish your body with the right foods and energy, it regenerates, just as effective leadership clears obstacles and fuels progress. True leadership isn’t about control, but about channeling higher values, guiding others with authenticity and vision.
As your body adapts and regenerates, so too can leadership evolve—moving from management to inspiration. Leaders who embrace personal growth and the well-being of those they lead create a ripple effect, elevating others and creating lasting impact.
Your body, like leadership, thrives when given clean, positive energy. The key is to align both with a higher purpose to truly transform.
The Power of the Lungs: The Organ of Life
Your lungs are the gatekeepers of your vitality. Every breath you take revitalizes your body by absorbing oxygen into your bloodstream, fueling life itself. In a purified environment, this process energizes and cleanses you from within. However, polluted air reverses this process, leaving your blood filled with toxins instead of life-giving oxygen. This constant exposure can thicken the blood, hinder circulation, and lead to fatigue and illness.
In the lungs, tiny capillaries interact with your blood, cleansing it as it passes through. But when the air is polluted, toxins replace oxygen, poisoning your body with every breath, leading to chronic health issues.
Air is more than just something we breathe—it’s infused with a cosmic energy that nourishes all living beings. The air you breathe sustains not just your physical health but your spiritual growth, connecting you to the energy of the universe.
Living in polluted environments—whether outdoors or indoors with trapped chemicals—can gradually poison your blood. It weakens your immunity and leads to chronic illness, often going unnoticed until the damage becomes profound.
Ancient wisdom taught that air and light were essential for health and spiritual vitality. By reconnecting with nature and breathing in purified air, we restore balance and vitality to our bodies and minds. When practiced consciously, breath can enhance your health and extend your life. By purifying the air you breathe and nourishing your body, you not only improve longevity but align with the cosmic energy that sustains all life.
Breathing is more than a simple function—it’s the gateway to vitality. By reconnecting with nature and breathing clean air, you can restore balance, health, and live a life full of energy and light, transforming your body into a radiant temple of vitality.
Purifying the Temple of the Body
The breath of life is more than just an involuntary function. It is the gateway to our vitality, a powerful force that sustains, heals, and nurtures us. To live fully, we must purify our bodies by reconnecting with the natural world, breathing in clean, life-giving air, and nourishing ourselves with pure foods. Only then can we fulfill our true potential and experience the full power of life.
As we embrace the wisdom of the ancients and learn to live in harmony with the Earth, we can unlock the secrets of longevity and immortality, transforming our bodies into radiant temples of light.
Warning: Fasting
Fasting, when done correctly, is a powerful tool for promoting health, reducing inflammation, and even reversing certain chronic conditions. Whether for metabolic health, longevity, or disease management, fasting continues to show promising results in scientific research.
However, fasting is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or individuals with certain health conditions without the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider. Always consult a professional before beginning any fasting regimen, as it may not be suitable for everyone. Prioritize your safety and well-being when exploring fasting as a tool for health.
Fasting is a powerful practice that transcends cultures and traditions, bringing both physical and spiritual renewal. To my Muslim friends and colleagues, happy fasting and Ramadan —may this sacred month bring you peace and reflection. To my Christian friends and colleagues, may your fasting during Lent inspire and strengthen you on your journey. For those preparing for Passover, may this time of cleansing and reflection bring deeper meaning to your celebration. Whether you’re observing Ekadashi, Yom Kippur, or another fasting tradition, may your fast be a time of growth, renewal, and connection.