"The Key" to Fasting Safely

The Key to Fasting Safely

Fasting without the direct supervision of an experienced professional can lead to complications.

Asa Frey, D.C. (Certified Member of the International Association of Hygienic Physicians) Published in 2019 in Health Science journal.

Nowadays, it is almost impossible to ignore the topic of fasting. It permeates social media, and there are documentaries about fasting on Netflix and Amazon Prime. There are over 5,000 books on fasting available online, and some modern doctors and health promoters are using fasting therapy with their patients, promoting it in detox programs and for treating various diseases.

In general, the current use of the term “fasting” refers to a wide range of health benefits. It is a powerful word whose popularity has grown in New Age medicine, alternative medicine, and among medical providers for celebrities. If you “are in the know,” then fasting is the topic to discuss.

There are many types of fasting: water fasting, juice fasting, absolute fasting, prolonged fasting, and intermittent fasting. There are fasting-style diets that use certain foods and dietary supplements in the form of drinks and pills. For each type of fasting, there are many books, and for each book, there are numerous programs, Facebook groups, and fasting “challenges” with the same promise: “Restore your health quickly!” However, one essential factor is missing in all do-it-yourself fasting programs: the direct supervision of an experienced professional.

How to Avoid Complications

The primary goal for anyone considering fasting should always be to maintain safety during the process. The Latin phrase primum non nocere means “first, do no harm,” a key concept of the Hippocratic Oath known to all physicians. If our primary goal is to avoid harm during fasting, supervision is essential.

It is true that fasting is a natural process, and humans have practiced fasting since the beginning of humanity. Nevertheless, many natural processes can be dangerous. Complications can occur (and do occur). Every case is unique and important, deserving proper attention. To minimize risk and identify potential complications, appropriate screening and assessment procedures are required: a detailed medical history, an in-person physical examination, and relevant laboratory tests.

These preliminary actions allow for the collection of baseline data, which is vital for making safe and effective decisions or interventions if patients experience discomfort or symptoms. Daily rounds and weekly lab analyses enable the physician to identify potential dangers even when no noticeable symptoms are present.

Real Supervision

Pulse cannot be measured over the phone. Direct supervision must, in fact, be direct. Supervised fasting occurs in a controlled environment where doctors observe their patients in person and daily.

Health and progress data collected during rounds provide measurable points to track progress and prevent adverse events. Additionally, these visits offer the opportunity for interaction between patient and doctor to reevaluate strategy and goals. The physician also uses this time to manually check the patient’s pulse, look them in the eyes, listen to the tone and strength of their voice, and ask relevant questions.

It is worth noting that direct, in-person supervision eliminates the problematic variable of anxiety and worry. Every individual is different, so each fast is unique. As the body transitions and remains in a fasting state, physiological and symptomatic changes occur quickly. Experiences can change from one moment to the next, and without proper supervision, these changes may trigger feelings of concern. Uncertainty and fear create a tense environment rather than a relaxing, healing one.

Without direct supervision, patients may experience unfounded fears due to normal symptoms and positive physiological changes during fasting. Common symptoms that can cause worry and distress during what should be a time of rest, recovery, and peace include dizziness, weakness, vomiting, anxiety, and rapid heart rate.

What symptoms are normal? When should intervention occur? When should fasting end? Which changes are normal and which are warning signs? Being under the supervision of a physician experienced in fasting can make the difference between a successful fast and a harmful one.

Seek Trained Professionals

Academic knowledge cannot replace professional experience when it comes to fasting. Professionals trained in therapeutic water fasting (certified members of the International Association of Hygienic Physicians, IAHP) have invested time to gain the experience necessary to supervise fasting safely.

After earning our Doctor of Chiropractic degrees, my wife, Dr. Joanna, and I completed a six-month internship at TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. During this time, we conducted daily rounds to observe fasting patients and were on call 24 hours every day. Considerable time was also spent conducting patient intake interviews, attending lectures, observing new patient exams and final visits, ordering and analyzing lab tests, studying all patient cases, and learning their daily vital sign values. This educational experience provided the time needed to successfully manage hundreds of cases, gain competence in the fundamentals of physiology and lab interpretation related to fasting, and participate in proper patient selection protocols.

Fasting supervision is not taught in schools. The only way to acquire knowledge and experience in fasting therapy is through a substantial internship under the mentorship of an IAHP-certified member at a residential supervised fasting center. I have supervised fasting for six years and continue to gain knowledge and experience with each patient.

On many occasions, I have consulted with colleagues and mentors, including Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Dr. Greg Fitzgerald, Dr. Michael Klaper, Dr. Gracie Yuen, and Dr. Joanna Frey, among others. As IAHP members, we understand that we are more than the sum of our individual practices and patient experiences; the goal is patient success and the promotion of education and truth.

A generalized approach to fasting is as ineffective as a generalized approach to diet and lifestyle. Climbing Mount Everest requires many years of training, practice, and professional experience—or hiring a guide.

Comparing fasting to climbing the world’s tallest peak may seem extreme, but the similarities far outweigh the differences. If you mention this analogy to someone on day 15 of a 25-day water fast, they will confirm its accuracy. In terms of physical effort, fasting may differ, but regarding psychological strength, few things compare. Climbing the mountain without a guide may get you to the summit, but you could die trying.

Every person has their reason for fasting. These may include: lowering blood pressure, normalizing blood sugar levels, eliminating medications, improving skin conditions, restoring the palate, returning to a healthy diet, resting and recovering after surgery, looking and feeling younger, increasing energy and eliminating stimulants, or connecting with oneself and enriching spiritual connection.

Stay Informed

When setting goals and designing plans to achieve them, it is highly beneficial—even essential—to consult the most recent scientific documentation. Information derived from rigorous scientific processes helps avoid costly mistakes and provides a clearer path to the most effective course of action.

For example, scientific data on fasting has already demonstrated the efficacy of supervised fasting in managing hypertension (normalizing blood pressure and eliminating medications in nearly 100% of study participants)¹. If the goal is to achieve normal blood pressure, the patient’s success depends on following the specific protocols that were successful in the study and, of course, being supervised by an experienced physician in these methods.

Do not trust fasting programs that promote dietary supplements, stimulant beverages, unhealthy eating habits, or promise weight loss or resolution of any health issue. As fasting becomes rapidly popular, finding a physician with the necessary education and experience in therapeutic fasting is rare. Ensure that the physician supervising the fast is a certified member of the IAHP.

Above all, take responsibility and educate yourself. Do your research. Achieving health is a process, and processes take time. Avoid rushing into a major health decision, including fasting, without understanding what it entails. Always fast under the supervision of a qualified professional.

Reference:

1. Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of hypertensionGoldhamer, Alan et al. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 24, Issue 5, 335-339

Biography:

Dr. Asa Frey, co-founder and director of Back to the Garden Clinic, has been utilizing healthy lifestyle methods and water-only fasting in a clinical setting since his practice at TrueNorth Health Center in 2010. Located in the beautiful city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Back to the Garden Clinic is the only doctor-supervised fasting center in Latin America. Dr. Asa Frey and Dr. Joanna Frey integrate health education as an essential component of their fasting programs.

Visit the website: http://backtothegardenpr.com.