The Buchinger-modified fasting program has recently been put to the test in the largest study on fasting in the world. Fasting has a long history as a therapeutic measure, but its benefits beyond weight loss are still being explored. Modified therapeutic fasting, such as Buchinger fasting, is popular in Europe and involves a very low-calorie juice fasting with some vegetable broth. Other forms of fasting, like water-only fasting or religious fasting like Ramadan, may not necessarily cut calories.
The largest fasting study to date involved over a thousand individuals who went through a modified fast, reporting very few side effects. In contrast, a study on water-only fasting reported nearly 6,000 adverse effects. Participants in the modified fasting study reported improvements in physical and emotional well-being and surprisingly did not feel hungry. Those with pre-existing health conditions also reported feeling better after the fast, with only a small percentage reporting worsening conditions.
Participants in the study also followed a plant-based diet before and after fasting, which may have contributed to their overall improvement in health. Another study compared fasting with a normocaloric vegetarian diet and found that both groups experienced significant increases in quality of life without significant differences between them. Individuals in both groups saw improvements in health conditions like arthritis, chronic pain syndromes, and chronic pulmonary diseases.
While the study had limitations, such as self-reporting and lack of a control group, the results suggest that fasting coupled with a healthy plant-based diet may have significant benefits for overall health and well-being. Experts recommend following a plant-based whole-food diet after fasting to maintain the benefits obtained during the fasting period.
