DR. JEAN-PAUL WUERTH ANSWERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

If you are not sure whether therapeutic fasting is right for you, you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions simply by clicking on them below: 

 

Who stands to profit from therapeutic fasting?

 

Besides individuals who need to lose weight, those suffering from metabolic disorders (including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and fatty liver), hormone-related fertility problems, gastrointestinal complaints, for example irritable bowel syndrome, skin ailments, as well as chronic fatigue, stand to benefit from therapeutic fasting.

Furthermore, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests fasting can be beneficial in the fight against cancer, memory loss and other forms of neurological diseases.

 

Who should not fast?

 

People who are underweight, expectant and nursing mothers are advised not to fast. Individuals who are on prescription medication should consult their doctors before embarking on a fast.

 

Is there an age limit to who can fast?

 

Young children and frail elderlies should avoid fasting. Otherwise fasting can in principle be recommended to anyone from 12 to 75. At FONDATION, our youngest guest so far was 11 and our oldest guest was 89. 

 

Can I fast if I am not overweight?

 

Yes, fasting offers many advantages beyond weight loss. While you fast, your body is relieved from the burden of digestion. It can repair and regenerate itself faster and more effectively. 

 

Can I smoke or consume alcohol while I fast?

 

Smoking and alcohol consumption undermine your body’s regeneration process and burden it with toxins. At FONDATION's fasting retreats, both smoking and drinking are forbidden.
 

 

Can I take medication while I fast?

 

On the first day of your fasting retreat you will receive a personal consultation from Dr. Jean-Paul Wuerth. You should bring your medication with you so that Dr. Wuerth can advise you. 

 

Is fasting dangerous?

 

Our bodies are equipped with the ability to survive famine which was not uncommon in our ancestors’ times. Research has shown that a healthy person can fast continuously for 60 days provided he or she drinks enough water. A slightly built man at the age of 74, Mahatma Gandhi, the non-violent campaigner for India’s independence, famously survived 21 days on nothing but sips of water. 

 

Will fasting cause malnutrition?

 

A short period of fasting up to three weeks will not cause any malnutrition. Quite the contrary, it improves the body’s ability to assimilate nutrients after fasting.

 

How do I prevent the loss of muscle mass while I fast?

 

During FONDATION’s typical one to two week fasting retreats, we include small portions of protein in your meals to minimize your loss of muscle mass. Through a balanced diet and an improved lifestyle after fasting, not only will you regain any muscle mass you may have lost, your muscles will regrow stronger. 

 

Can I exercise while I fast?

 

Gentle walking or swimming up to 30 minutes twice a day is recommended during the first four days of fasting. More than that will strain your body. Towards the end of your fast when your energy level rises, you can exercise following your body’s desire.

 

Will I feel shaky, dizzy or faint while I fast?

 

Your body is born with the ability to keep your blood sugar level steady by tapping into your fat reserve. So just because you reduce your caloric intake while you fast doesn’t mean you will feel shaky or faint. 

 

Will I feel hungry all the time?

 

There will be times when you feel hungry. But if you ignore your hunger by diverting your attention elsewhere, these moments will pass. 

 

What should I do if my hunger becomes unbearable?

 

Drinking water or warm herbal tea dilutes the ‘hunger hormone’, ghrelin, secreted in your stomach and helps you alleviate the discomfort. If your hunger persists, you can dissolve one teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink it slowly once every two hours. If you do not tolerate fructose, substitute honey solution with diluted rice milk.

 

What should I do if I do not experience diarrhea after drinking the Epsom salt solution?

 

You should drink more water or herbal tea. When you fast, you are recommended to drink 2.5 to 3.5 liters of clear fluids per day depending on your height and your body weight. You should also make sure you are relaxed and do some gentle walking to stimulate peristalsis.

To speed up elimination, you can ask our physician about colonic irrigation or taking a second dose of Epsom salt before lunch. 

 

How long and how often should I fast?

 

Depending on your usual lifestyle and how overweight you are, your body needs at least 5 days of fasting to cleanse your bowel and regenerate on a cellular level. This is why our fasting retreats are minimum one week long.

A fourteen-day fast allows your body to cleanse itself more thoroughly and rejuvenate on an even deeper level. With the extra time, you can practice getting back in touch with your body’s natural rhythms and hone your ability to listen to its needs. This helps you rebuild a healthy lifestyle after your fast and prevents you from relapsing into your bad habits. A third week of fasting is generally not necessary unless you are significantly overweight.

To stay at your best, we strongly recommend you do a one to two week fast every six months. 

 

Will I become addicted to fasting and slip into anorexia?

 

No, therapeutic fasting with FONDATION will not leave you addicted or become anorexic. Our unique method teaches you how to reawaken your body’s inner intelligence so it can send you clear signals to tell you how much food it needs, when and in which nutritional form. Your body knows instinctively what your ideal weight is. If you listen to your body and live with it in harmony, you will not develop eating disorder or put on excess weight again.