The art of fasting

Far less scary than it sounds, a guided 10-day fast is the modern springtime health fix

Allow me to disclose the downside of those fancily priced ashrams, spas and well-being retreats (funny no one calls them ‘fat farms’ any more): it’s impossible to live up to them when back in the real world. I’m not doing them down – I’ve learnt a lot from them – but not being able to stick with something sets you up for a what-the-hell, yes-to-a-third-slice-of-pizza attitude.

So I was int r ig ued by t he idea of ‘g uided home-fa st i ng ’. I k now. the F-word elicits all kinds of panic, plus inst inct ive ca rb f ront-load ing. Hard enough to fast when there’s a doctor in a white coat wielding a BMI calculator, let alone when your family are stuffing themselves with chicken korma.

my guru would be nutritionist and fa sting expert So ni awi singer. I ask her, why call it fa sting, given how off-putting that is for many people? ‘I don’t like t he word diet,’ she says. Fair enough. Although she adheres to the principle of 80:20 alkaline- to acidforming foods, eliminates sugar, alcohol, coffee, black and green tea, pretty much all salt and all processed ingredients, there’s no real deprivation.

After a two-hour consultation (at her Upper wimpole Street practice or via the internet), Sonia tailors a personal 10- day‘ fast ’. For an extra challenge, I asked her to make mine vegan and gluten-free. If you’re going to suffer…

Actually, the recipes she sent were delicious, and although I had to buy in some ingredients, there was nothing very exotic. Apart from a DIY enema kit.

‘Did I not mention enemas in t he emails ?’, asked Sonia as she niftily manoeuvred along tube and what looked like a colostomy bag. As it happens, she didn’t. ok, I thought. Never going to use that. Humour her.

Sonia advises only mild exercise while fasting – and lots of rest. She’s on hand to dispense advice (in person or digitally) throughout–and boy does she push hard on the enemas.

I cannot pretend that by keeping the enema kit close it became my friend, but let’s just say that if some emergency ever calls for one, I’m your woman.

I felt truly well at the end of my 10 days–clearer skin and eyes, more energy, no bloating and I lost 3 lbs (which you’re not supposed to admit is the point, but which has stayed off, so yes, bullseye).

Sonia helped me with a post-fast strategy (apparently as important as the fast itself ), and I learnt at least as much as I have at professional spas: zinc is good for hair; bananas are not good for sinus problems. Skipping dinner twice a week can increase melatonin production, helping sleep – for distraction on those nights, Sonia advises a luxurious bath (made more spa-like with the help of relaxing oil sand followed by circulation- boo sting body brushing) and a good book. I can’t say it’s easy, though. I also learnt that miso soup is high in sodium, so replace with Kallo vegetable ‘Did I not mention enemas in the emails? ’ asked Sonia. As it happens, she didn’t cubes; star anise, fresh ginger and turmeric in hot water is a delicious greentea substitute; chlorella is excellent for the immune system; breathing exercises really help calm you; nothing raw after 2pm; chew thoroughly…

Spring is an excellent time to ‘fast’ by the way. But if you can’t quite summon up t he ent husia sm, a ny of t he above small changes can make a big difference. wisinger.co.uk