Fasting & Detox Coach Certification

In this first module, you will discover what fasting is, beginning with its definition, significance, and
common misconceptions.

You will study:

• The etymology of fasting from the word “lunch”.
• The “do nothing” philosophy.
• What therapeutic fasting is, contrasted with allopathic vs homeopathic medical approaches.
• Other forms of fasting, including religious fasting, protest fasting, athletic fasting, celebrity fasting, and how
  fasting is viewed today.
• Indications and contraindications for fasting.
• Warnings.
• Client questionnaire.

This second module returns to the origins of fasting and underscores the importance of a healthy diet.

You will study:

• Ancient practices.
• “Therapeutic” fasting from antiquity to the 19th century.
• Pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Principles of a balanced diet.
• The primacy of food quality over quantity.
• Contemporary dietary problems.
• Problematic beverages and those to recommend.
• Daily meals and their composition.
• Snacking and its consequences.
• Practical tips to optimize digestion.

In this third module, we examine how certain authorities in the 20th century entrenched misconceptions
about fasting. We also analyze human physiology during defined periods of food deprivation.

You will study:

• The history of fasting in the early 20th century in the United States, in France with Dr Guelpa, and in the U.S. with
  pioneer Herbert Shelton.
• The 1950s–1970s in Russia and positive clinical experiences with fasting.
• Fasting and mental illness through Nikolayev’s experiments in Russia from the 1970s (and the protocol
  corresponding to the stages of fasting).
• The largest study of therapeutic fasting.
• Fasting in the management of obesity.
• What happens while we eat.
• What happens while fasting.

In this fourth module, we take a closer look. We address misconceptions in light of contemporary
scientific studies and detail the phases of fasting.

You will study:

• Current research, including in Germany the discoveries and clinical model of Dr Buchinger—a paradigm that
  continues today.
• Valter Longo’s research in the United States.
• Contemporary demonstrations and the challenges of conducting fasting studies.
• Selected results from scientific studies on fasting (obesity, diet, life expectancy, cancer, depression, etc.).
• Common misconceptions: “fasting equals starvation,” “fasting causes muscle loss,”
  “fasting triggers hypoglycemia,” “after fasting you overeat,” “fasting deprives the body of
  micronutrients,” etc..
• Fasting mechanisms: from 16 hours to 3 days and beyond; the stages (glycolysis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis,
  lipolysis, and ketogenesis).
• Fasting as a physiological stressor: understanding stress responses that are vital for the organism.

In this fifth module, we revisit assumptions and perceptions about hunger and explain that fasting is
protean, encompassing multiple options.

You will study:

• Food conditioning and the experience of hunger.
• How to manage hunger while fasting.
• Three main approaches (hygienic, naturopathic, and holistic) and several types (dry, water-only, intermittent).
• Various fasting durations (24 hours, 3 days, 5–7 days).

 In this sixth module, you will learn that food abstention can have therapeutic effects and confer benefits

to both body and mind.

You will study:

• Fasting in religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.).
• Ayurvedic fasting.
• Fasting in traditional Chinese medicine.
• Physical therapeutic effects of fasting (adiposity, insulin dynamics, weight, chronic illness, fatigue, etc.).
• Effects of fasting on the psyche.
• Psychological indications, contraindications, and precautions.
• Tools for fasting crises: meditation, the TIPI method, and qi gong anchoring (abdominal breathing, etc.).

In this seventh module, we approach fasting prudently, assessing each person’s health status.

You will study:

• How to define the objective of a fast.
• Choosing the appropriate fasting method.
• Physical, psychological, and practical preparation: visualizing the fast, training for fasting, assessing capacity,
  preparing the terrain, completing naturopathic questionnaires, understanding your constitution, etc.

In this eighth module, we address the fast itself and the steps to follow during abstention from food
through to breaking the fast.

You will study:

• Final recommendations before beginning a fast.
• Magnesium status assessment.
• Dietary tapering before a prolonged fast.
• Intestinal cleansing and colonic irrigation, distinguished from at-home enemas.
• How to navigate healing crises during fasting, with appropriate responses to fatigue, stomach pain, bloating,
  palpitations, nausea, dizziness, hypoglycemic episodes, etc.
• Breaking the fast: how to proceed, including urgent breaks if necessary.
• Gradual refeeding—the key to a successful fast.

In this ninth module, we review protocols for nearly all fasting modalities and address post-fast
nutrition.

You will study:

• “true” fasts that keep caloric intake to a minimum (water-only/purist, autophagic, metabolic, Buchinger,
  etc.).
• “false” fasts that permit foods and beverages with higher caloric intake (intermittent fasting, mono
  diet, a-protein, ProLon pack, etc.).
• Foods and beverages permitted during fasting.
• Eating better after fasting: the joy of taste, inclusion of “good” lipids, and precise approaches to
  eating and drinking.

In this tenth and final module, we explore adjunctive therapies, recipes, and further reading to deepen
your training.

You will discover:

• Complementary therapies to accompany fasting: meditation and selected yoga exercises.
• Recipes for preparing for a fast, for breaking and resuming eating, and for the post-fast period.
• Bibliographic references to expand your knowledge.
• A glossary of key definitions.