Fasting - Why?

Tools for Fasting

Fasting is a fantastic tool to help us detoxify and feel better. Plus, it really can help reduce our biological age. This is pure magic, and all you need to do is follow some simple rules

Did you know that fasting for periods of time can lead to a longer healthier life?
With this you will benefit more if you fast for more extended periods – 2, 3,4 or even 5 days can substantially increase your whole healing process.

Now, this happens through a process that includes telomeres.

What is a telomere?

We are replicating our cells all the time and they just keep on reproducing

Telomeres are a compound structure that is the end of a chromosome, and these telomeres protect our DNA, and our DNA dictates how our cells divide and how it changes. Our DNA is basically our blueprint for how our health is right here and now.

So, what happens throughout our life is that the Telomeres get shorter through wear and tare and can no longer protect our DNA. It is this process that allows us to age.
For example, your Telomeres are like the plastic protection sheath at the end of a shoelace. When that shoelace gets old and tatty, then your shoelaces start to deteriorate. Which means that the little plastic sheath has lost it’s ability to protect the shoelace and the shoelace starts to unravel even more. This is what happens to our DNA when our protective Telomeres get overworked, they deteriorate and so can no longer act as our DNA’s protective sheath. 

The telomeres shorten every time that a cell divides and multiplies – this happens millions of times every second through our bodies – when the telomeres lose their effectiveness you then become much more susceptible to oxidation, chemicals, foods, etc. etc.

What the telomeres do is to act like a magnet for all the toxins that bombard our bodies all the time – The telomeres act as a diversion driving the toxins away from the DNA itself.  It is quite masterful, in fact if you look at it, it is an act of deception.

There is however a price to pay for this, as every time your telomeres take a hit then they decrease in size and ability to attract to the toxins away from the strands of DNA leaving them unprotected and vulnerable to attack.

So how does fasting help with this.

Research is showing us that restricting the amount of food you eat can help with longevity. Plus, those in the studies who were eating a restricted diet had a significant slowdown in the reduction of telomere length. This makes sense when you understand what the telomeres do, doesn’t it?

The less toxins (that come in the food chain mainly) in our bodies the less workload the telomeres must deal with. This meant that the group who ate less lived longer and had less disease processes going on in their bodies. It was found that this group also had a significant reduction in tumours than the other group 38% compared to 78% which is huge. This is just by eating less!

Now when we get to fasting this is so exciting

That is an enzyme called Telomerase, it is a very powerful enzyme, in fact it is unique it is the only enzyme in our body that can repair Telomeres.  This is built into our body – wow isn’t our body amazing?

It can regrow the plastic sheath on our DNA’s shoelaces.
Now, not all cells create this enzyme, they are very special cells, to add to this as we increase in years these cells decrease in our bodies – Therefore, our bodies ability to protect our DNA as the telomeres decrease in their ability to protect us, we start to age in a variety of different ways. Aches, pains, disease processes.
The cells that produce this magical enzyme are called stem cells which I am sure you have heard of before.

Stem cells are the sentinel cells of our body - when our cells become damaged, stem cells swoop in and secrete proteins that initiate the repair process
When our Stem cells die, they give birth to daughter cells that can replace the cells we lose through a process called differentiation – big word I know !

So to recap, as this is so important for you to understand this- The important thing for repair and antiaging where stem cells are concerned, is that they express telomerase, so they tend to maintain long telomeres.
Additionally, cells that are born directly from stem cells likely have longer telomeres than cells that aren’t, based on the simple fact that they’re one cell division away from exposure to high levels of telomerase.
So being as we lose stem cells as we grow older, we really want to find out how to maintain their replication and make sure that they are looked after
The other good thing about stem cells is that they aren’t a one-trick pony, they can also duplicate themselves through a process called self-renewal, creating more stem cells These new stem cells also express telomerase, so their daughter cells will also have long telomeres.

So many people go and get stem cell implants – but just wait before you book yourself an appointment – You can increase your own stem cell production, read on – now we know a little about stem cells and what they can do to help us, what does fasting have to do with it?  

When we go through a period of prolonged fasting 48 – 72 hours or more encourages your body to produce more stem cells which in turn produce more Telomerase which will help protect your DNA, enabling true healing to occur.

When you break your fast, differentiation starts happening-  as the stem cells start dying off when their job is done, they give birth to multiple daughter stem cells, they, in turn, create more Telomerase – so the more often you do multiple day fasts the stronger your body becomes and more able to cope with the toxins that inevitably come our way!!  

 You are in effect giving yourself your own stem cell implant!!! Turning back time!!

As you can see there is huge benefits to fasting – so, why do we recommend using the broths?
As civilisations we have been using bone broth for nutrition for thousands of years. And the benefits are huge. Our ancestors really did know a thing or two about healthy living.

Most people know that broths are great for them, but do you know why?

Did you know that 30% of all the protein in your body is collagen protein?? Amazing, isn’t it?

The benefits of collagen are many.
They include: -
Skin
Hair
Nails
Gut Health
Joint Health

As you know Bone broths are made from the connective tissue of animals Grass fed beef and chicken
and after cooking all the liquid comes out as a concentrated superfood. – in the broth you have collagen – More about that in a bit – Hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin plus other vitamins and minerals.

Now did you know there are 28 types of collagens and 5 are the most common in our food. But 3 types of collagens are the most important for our health – type 1, 2 and 3.

Beef has high levels of type 1 and 3 Collagen and chicken has high levels of type 2. All three are equally important, especially when you are on your fasting journey, after all you are getting more Telomerase so your body is all ready and waiting to repair and by putting this wonderful superfood in your body – which is also delicious – your body can repair with superior nutrition.!!
 Type 1 and 3 collagen makes up your skin, hair, nails, bones, discs, plus part of your gut lining.
Type 2 is what makes up your ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, fascia and so many other areas including gut.

In theory type 2 collagen is the most important collagen that would be recommended every day even when you have finished our program as it is quite simply superior nutrition.

When you look at the statement, I made in the beginning of this section that collagen makes up at least 30% of our protein in our body make up then it would make sense to take about 30% or more of the protein ingested as broths made from bones.

Did you know that there is more collagen in your bones than calcium – in fact there is more collagen than all the minerals combined!! Plus, it is vital that you understand that collagen is vital for healthy gut health.

Let’s just come off collagen and move onto Hyaluronic Acid – this is our other antiaging nutrient and there it is in Bone broth!!!

Hyaluronic Acid

This nutrient is found in the most absorbable from broth, skins and the meat off the bone of the chicken, beef, Fish, Pork

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in all vertebrates  including us humans. Foods containing hyaluronic acid include the whole bodies including the heads of fish, including mackerel, sea bream, and eel, as well as the cartilaginous tissues of beef, pork and poultry. According to the research, the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid is found in the eyes and joints of the animals.

Luckily for vegetarians, there are plant-based sources of hyaluronic acid foods such as leafy greens, bell peppers, carrots, potatoes, avocados, and nuts contain hyaluronic acid.

However, there isn’t enough research been done on the absorbability of vegetarian sources. Because of this, for now we will stick to the tried and true of broths!! Plus of course when you have broth you are getting the collagen as well!!

What is Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid forms a gelatinous fluid that acts as a cushion in the body, allowing it to bare weight, withstand physical tension and endure physical stress. It also helps to produce luscious locks, moisturises the scalp and hydrates your skin. With long term use you can see the difference in your skin and feel the difference in your gut and joints.

This substance breaks down very quickly in the body and so needs to be replenished on a very regular basis. If you do this, you are less likely to sustain injuries and if you do get injured you will repair quickly.

Hyaluronic Acid is necessary to keep your eyes moist and operating well, again acting as the eyes shock absorber!! Because of this it can support great vision and eye health.

For example, if you have cartilage problems your body can repair itself if you drink lots of Chicken broth. Add a beef bone broth and you have a magical combination of balance of collagen and hyaluronic acid which are a dynamic duo that work together as a team. To bring about healing, not only for skin, and bones but your whole body if you give it time enough!!

The combination of Collagen and the Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid and collagen complement each other when it comes to creating a diet for optimal skin. While collagen firms the skin, the hyaluronic acid hydrates and retains that collagen by holding onto water. However, if your skin doesn't have an ample supply of collagen, there's not as much for the hyaluronic acid to keep moist and supple.

Sin isn’t the only are that is helped by this duo of power, if you are regularly having good quality bone broths you can heal almost everything

For example, if you have cartilage problems your body can repair itself.  If you drink lots of Chicken broth. Add a beef bone broth and you have a magical combination of balance of collagen and hyaluronic acid which are a dynamic duo that work together as a team. To bring about healing, not only for skin, and bones but your whole body if you give it time enough!!

If you would rather not have beef bone broth, then you can gain the benefits by making Jelly using good quality beef bone gelatine and using either lemon or grapefruit which is delicious when you are on a fast.

The benefits of gelatine are just like beef bone broth, but you can find it is satisfying when you are fasting as it is a great textural change from liquids.

I have personally found gelatine to be much better for my skin and hair than collagen powders for example.

I had been using gelatine for many years – about 8 in fact and I decided to try collagen powder and what I have noticed is that my skin lost a lot of flexibility and my hair started to fall out in far greater amounts than it had ever done.

When I started on the Ultimate Detox I had just accepted that my hair was falling and that my skin was aging very quickly. What I noticed after only 10 days is that my hair loss had dramatically reduced, and my skin was feeling much better, I am still waiting to look 20 years younger – but I am sure it will happen (maybe not 20 years, but definitely I know I will improve.
What I have noticed in my physical self is that my bowels are working so well, I decided to have LBS!! in my cupboard but not to use them unless I missed a daily bowel motion and I haven’t missed a beat, which is very interesting. Being as I have a history of constipation from overuse of laxatives – due to an eating disorder I had for a while – more about that later in this book – in my personal journey!

Two other nutrients that are in bone broths are Glucosamine and Chondroitin

So what are they and what are they helpful for

You have probably heard of these two nutrients, especially if you have suffered from long term joint pain and for very good reason.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar. Your body uses it to build cartilage. When we have enough nutrients, the connective tissue is tougher than muscle but more flexible than bone.
Amongst other things, it pads the end of your long bones. It thereby cushions these bones from impact and plus keeps joint motion flexible. 

One mineral that your body needs to build and repair cartilage is sulphur. Glucosamine contains natural sulphur. Sulphur works alongside Glucosamine which helps your cartilage absorb and utilise this nutrient.

Natural glucosamine is found in the shells of shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish. It can also be found in corn, wheat, and certain fungi, however, nature made glucosamine is often hard for people to digest. For example, the glucosamine sourced from corn is derived by first fermenting the grain. Since natural sources of glucosamine are hard to find, most people stick to supplements however using broth on a daily basis is a delicious absorbable multi nutrient powerhouse

Glucosamine is used by body builders, Why?

The reason bodybuilders  supplement with glucosamine is that it prevents joint deterioration. Most bodybuilders because of the exercise regimes, are hard on their joints. They have to push themselves to get the results. By using supplements such as glucosamine, they can protect their cartilage from breaking down and help it remain flexible.

In addition to preventing deterioration of the joints, glucosamine can help with joint pain and back pain as well as with weight loss. The weight loss is due to the inflammation reduction, which in turn reduces stress within your system.

What foods are high in glucosamine? 

Unfortunately, there are only a few glucosamine containing foods. Rich natural sources of glucosamine include animal bones, including the bone marrow, the fluid around joints, shellfish and some fermented foods

Traditional diets used to provide this nutrient through their cuisine, and you can too. You have probably guessed by now that In order to get enough bioavailable glucosamine, you’ll have to do what traditional societies did, which is to drink bone broth!! Here are some suggestions of glucosamine foods: 

Eat the tough parts of your steak 

People love tender, succulent steaks that melt in your mouth. However, a tough steak might be better for you. If it’s got cartilage, instead of cutting it or spitting it out, you might try eating it. The natural cartilage found in meat is a great source of the nutrients you need to make your own cartilage. The easier way is of course to do a long slow cook so that the cartilage/gristle is easy to eat and you will absorb it easier.

Chicken soup made from the whole chicken, including the feet and necks

Oxtail soup – I have very fond memories of delicious oxtail soups on cold winters days or you could try roasting marrow bones and adding to soups and broths – this really increases the depth of flavour and texture, making the broth silky smooth.

Cook your shellfish with the shells on as some of the nutrients will spread into the cooking liquid and therefore you can drink in the delicious liquid and know that you are getting some amazing benefits – as well as satisfying your tastebuds!

Mussels, especially your green lipped ones are very high in Glucosamine – plus they have an enzyme inhibitor that can be a rescuer for your joints.

Nearly every supplement of glucosamine contains chondroitin – so what is the difference between them?

Like glucosamine Chondroitin is a molecule that occurs naturally within our bodies. It is a major component of cartilage. It is the tough connective tissue that acts as a cushion for our joints.

When you purchase this in supplement form it is most often made from shark and bovine cartilage. However it normally comes from synthetic sources and as such is difficult for the body to utilise fully.

Chondroitin helps to keep cartilage health and flexible. It does this by absorbing liquid and acting like a shock absorber.
As well as joint and connective tissue health Chondroitin has been found to help with bladder conditions such as cystitis and overactive bladder. There are many other things that this nutrient is said to help with such as heart disease, some cancers and osteoporosis for example. However there are no studies to evaluate this.
The only natural sources that I can find so far is bone broth including fish bone.

The great thing about Glucosamine and chondroitin is that they are in our bone broths and we don’t have to worry about taking pills etc. They have an abundance of nutrients that are bioavailable so that our bodies can enjoy the effects very quickly!!

I am sure you can see by now how beneficial for your whole being it is too fast on these wonderful broths.

Before we move on, I would like to discuss the benefits of fasting on our emotional and spiritual health.

This is a vital part of this program as I feel it is important that we look after us as a whole being, not put into categories.

We are all unique and so your reaction to this program will be a journey that is totally and utterly unique to you. So we may not cover exactly what you are going to go through – but in the client sharing pages you will probably identify with much of what the ladies have experienced.

When we fast, all sorts of things come up as we go through the stages. What I would recommend is that you stick with the process no matter what happens,

For example, if you have been floating along feeling awesome but after 10, 20 or even 30 days on the program you feel awful, this is what we call a healing crisis

Our new Program - Ultimate Detox 12 week Challenge includes Fasting in a very beneficial way + you are supported in a group environment - our New challenge starts on 10th September 2022 and would love for you to join us - click here to get started