Every drop counts

It’s the go-to of many celebrities to drop a few pounds and, as Jason discovered recently, while water fasting takes focus, the results can be surprisingly energising

ater fasting has been in the headlines and, as Jason always likes to try out health trends, he recently jumped on a 7-day H2O-only cleanse. No stranger to liquid diets, the Juice Master was ready to see what a week of water, bolstered by his Juice SOS! Veggie Boost Powder and rock salt, would achieve.

Jason’s in good company, with a red-carpet crowd of Hollywood celebrities all swearing by the water-only plan – Jennifer Aniston, Gisele Bündchen, Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman, among others, all practise intermittent fasting to stay fit and healthy. While some stick to a liquidonly diet for half or most of the day, eating an evening meal, others choose to fast on certain or a series of days. X-Factor star and Rak-Su band member Myles Stephenson used water fasting to prepare to enter the jungle in 2019’s I’m A Celebrity, sharing a shot of himself on Instagram and declaring, “Strangely I have more energy and life when I am water fasting. Cleanses my body and soul!”

While water fasting continues to remain popular with the A-list, there’s nothing new about the nil-by-mouth approach which has been recognised for its health benefits since ancient times. In the 5th century BC, Greek physician Hippocrates recommended abstaining from food or drink to help his patients to recover from illness.

LESS IS MORE

Water fasting is considered the purest form of detox, cleansing the body and helping it to reset. Fasting has risen in popularity in recent years, particularly the 5:2 diet and similar time-restricted eating, and Jason’s own 5:2 Juice Diet combines healthy eating and nutrient-rich juices as a fantastic long-term health-management plan. Intermittent fasting, following an eating pattern with hours or days of no or very minimal consumption, is widely recognised as an effective way to lose weight and improve general health.

Fasting helps to bring insulin levels down, building resistance and using the fat our body has previously stored. Complete water fasts every few months can bring significant benefits during a more condensed period of time and if you’re wondering if you can really survive on just water, the answer is yes! Water is imperative for survival as it forms the basis of our blood, perspiration, digestive juices and urine. Our body comprises 50-75 per cent water, with H2O contained in lean muscle, fat and bones, but because we are unable to store water, our supplies need replenishing regularly. By contrast, we can survive without food for several months.

A water fast can give an overburdened body a chance to reset and cleanse the cells, as well as lowering the risk of some chronic conditions including heart disease and diabetes. Typically undertaken for 2472 hours, as Jason discovered after his

What is autophagy?

Autophagy is a natural process that occurs as your body clears out and replaces damaged cell parts with new ones. Although this occurs constantly within our body, fasting can speed up the process which has several health benefits including weight loss, improved brain function and slowing the progression of some diseases. However, fasting is not recommended for adolescents, pregnant women and people with a history of eating disorders, diabetes, gout or other underlying health conditions.

Prep like a pro

To get the most out of your water fast, follow these three simple steps.

1. Check a water fast is right for you – see our guide bottom left. 2. Taper down your intake of food in the days before your fast, eating lighter meals and incorporating more fruit and vegetables into your diet. 3. Create an environment which supports your fast – plan to take things easy for the first few days, read some inspiring books or watch some health documentaries to get into a positive mindset.

week-long fast, the results of seven days of just water were surprisingly energising.

Rather than feeling weak and tired, many people who water fast feel an increase

in energy levels. One theory for this is that eating several times throughout the day, as most of us do, means our metabolism goes through multiple cycles of breaking down carbohydrates. Once these are turned into blood sugar and stored in cells, levels drop, bringing our energy levels down and making us want to eat again. With this process on pause, we aren’t victim to these repeated highs and crashes.

Studies on animals have consistently found that water fasting helps

promote autophagy. This is the process in which your body breaks down old, damaged or unneeded parts of cells and recycles them for cellular repair or the formation of new cells.

While you might notice pangs of hunger at times during your fast, not giving in to these will reduce your appetite and cravings. This can also help you to overcome the desire to snack or overeat at meal times when you aren’t fasting. Mentally, you may notice an improvement in your willpower, too. Research has also shown that water fasts can help people lower their blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol and inflammation while also reducing insulin levels and making use of the fat you have previously stored. With your body starved of food, there are no new carbohydrates to fuel it. Your body will then look for energy elsewhere and can find this through glucose in amino acids. In addition, fasting leads to a rise in products of the citric-acid cycle which takes place in mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells, and releases stored energy.

Research has also shown that water fasts can help people lower their blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol and inflammation

ROCK-SOLID SOLUTIONS

During his water fast, Jason added Himalayan rock salt, and for good reason. Despite the benefits of water fasting, a lack of food means a lack of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium, minerals which require a small electrical charge to function. They’re vital to human health as they regulate our nerves, muscles, blood acidity Many health experts say the best way to heal the body is to do nothing, so, when Jason was feeling a bit burnt out late last year, he thought he would try a water fast reset. No stranger to liquid-only diets, the challenge of drinking only water was an interesting experiment. The only additions to his H2O plan were Himalayan rock salt, which guests at Juicy Oasis are encouraged to add to their water to maintain essential electrolyte levels, and his own Juice SOS! Veggie Boost Powder which is packed with the ‘good stuff’. “I had the luxury of being at Juicy Oasis while I did my water fast,” says Jason, “but unusually for me I didn’t do any exercise for the week that I was fasting.

“I took things slowly for the first two or three days and the evenings were tough, but after that I felt off-the-scale brilliant! I drank around six or seven litres of water with the powder and rock salt each day and I felt amazing. Obviously I am used to detoxing several times a year, but the interesting thing is that the end result was very similar to living on juice. In fact I lost 7lbs after a week of water, the average weight loss many experience on one of my juice challenges!”

Jason takes on the challenge

and hydration. We lose electrolytes through sweat and urination and our body cannot produce them, so a lack of food can lead to a deficiency which is why some fasters struggle with fatigue.

Himalayan rock salt is a great source of sodium chloride, providing two of the essential electrolytes. It also contains up to 84 other minerals, including calcium and potassium, so sprinkling salt into your water will support you.

As well as salt, Jason added his Juice SOS! Veggie Boost powder to some of his drinks. The green alkalising supplement combines a comprehensive mix of land and sea vegetables, algaes, enzymes and bacterial cultures which, when mixed with water, produces a liquid superfood. Adding it to your water fast will keep your body topped up with nutrients and vitamins and, combined with salt, ensures your body has what it needs to stay healthy and hydrated.

One important aspect of your water detox is the period immediately following your fast. While you’re unlikely to want to, avoid the temptation to eat a large meal as your fluid and electrolyte levels re-establish themselves. Break your fast with a juice, blend or smoothie before introducing small meals over a few days. •

Boost your success!

Intrigued to give water fasting a go like Jason? Whether you try a day or a week, it’s important to ensure that your body gets what it needs to function effectively. Jason’s Juice SOS! Veggie Boost powder is the solution and provides a daily nutritional lift when mixed with water. With no preservatives, artificial flavours, sweeteners, fillers, gluten, wheat, soy or dairy, simply add one heaped teaspoon to water. As one Juice Master fan says, “It contains even more nutrition than I am able to get from juicing the veggies!” Here’s what’s in a scoop…

Land vegetables Nettle leaf, wheatgrass, barley grass, horsetail, alfalfa grass juice, carob, burdock root, ginger root, nopal cactus, barley grass juice, wheatgrass juice, oat grass juice, dandelion leaf, parsley leaf, kale, broccoli, cabbage, amla fruit.

Algaes Spirulina, chlorella (broken cell wall).

Sea vegetables Kelp, fucus vesiculosus.

Enzymes Lipase, cellulase, protease, amylase, bromelain, papain.

Bacterial cultures Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium breve, bifidobacterium infantis, bifidobacterium longum.

Keep up the good work!

Once you’ve completed your water fast, keep your nutrition on track with Jason’s 5:2 Juice Diet, which includes 16 delicious juices to provide you with two ‘fasting’ days per week. Available as an app, e-book and book, you can make it even easier by ordering the plan from Juice Master Delivered – visit juicemasterdelivered.com. All you need to do is open a bottle and sip.

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