Can I drink other things besides water and herbal tea?

by Marina Schroff • 24.08.23

Our Buchinger Wilhelmi FASTENBOX is designed in such a way that you do not need to consume anything apart from water and the yoghurt that is not included in the box. Other than that, you don’t need to add anything.
Anything else you consume will usually have additional calories. With normal Buchinger therapeutic fasting, you have an average of 250 to 400 kcal per day. With our box, it is about 600 kcal per day, due to the oils it contains.
Oils or fats act as a booster during fasting and ensure that the body stays in the ketogenic metabolism and you are still supplied with enough energy to continue doing your everyday tasks.
To stay in fasting metabolism, it is important not to exceed your daily calorie count, otherwise your body will go out of fasting metabolism and you would miss your goal.

If you want to have something with flavour for a change, we recommend reaching for our herbalessence or adding fruit to your water to give it a different taste. On a small scale, low-energy and highly diluted vegetable juices are also fine. Unsweetened teas can also be drunk hot or cold.

Basically, however, we recommend sticking to the fasting plan so that fasting succeeds as it should.

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How does fasting affect the menstrual cycle?

by Marina Schroff • 10.08.23

During fasting, the change in metabolism can also lead to changes in hormones. This can affect women’s menstrual cycles, so that menstrual bleeding can be heavier and last longer during fasting. Normally, these changes in the menstrual cycle regulate themselves at the end of the fast. However, if you are unsure, we recommend that you talk to your gynaecologist.

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When should I eat fruit and vegetables? In the morning or in the evening?

by Marina Schroff • 03.07.23

Depending on your tolerance, yoghurt and fruit can also be eaten in the evening. Fruit has more energy than vegetables and can therefore also be eaten at breakfast. With vegetables, especially raw vegetables, it depends on how well you tolerate them. If you tolerate raw vegetables well in the evening, raw vegetables can usually also be eaten in the evening.

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Can I just eat vegetables for dinner?

by Marina Schroff • 03.07.23

Eating only vegetables for dinner is not complete enough. We therefore recommend including some protein in your diet and optional carbohydrates (whole grains are best).

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Does the 5:2 method make sense after the FASTING BOX?

by Marina Schroff • 03.07.23

5:2 is a way to integrate fasting into everyday life. However, you should make sure that the method is compatible with your daily activities, your job, your eating rhythm and your physical constitution. Our body loves regularity. If we don’t provide our body with the energy sources it is used to several times a week or if we eat too irregularly, this can throw off the metabolism. Likewise, cravings can develop more often, bowel movements can become more irregular and moods can deteriorate. So it’s best to try out whether this method is something for you.

However, you should make sure you get enough exercise and eat wholesome food with plenty of vegetables and fibre. The focus should be on natural, non-processed foods.

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What is the best way to prepare vegetables during the switchback phase?

by Marina Schroff • 03.07.23

The vegetables that you prepare during the build-up days should be cooked gently. You can do this, for example, by using a sieve insert and a pot filled with a little water and covered with a lid. Alternatively, you can steam the vegetables in their own juice or a little liquid.

Another option would be to prepare the vegetables in the oven. However, the oven temperature should not exceed 160 degrees Celsius to ensure that the vegetables are cooked gently. However, a little oil is needed for this. The oil should always be measured out with a spoon. To do this, cut the vegetables into small pieces and season them in a bowl with some spices and herbs as well as a little oil and then bake them in the oven (approx. 20 – 30 minutes). The vegetables should be cooked al dente so that they are easier to digest.

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What is the switchback-phase?

by Marina Schroff • 26.07.22
healthy nutrition

The switchback phase lasts roughly four days and involves gently returning to a balanced diet. We recommend choosing local and organic foods, ideally fresh (e.g. bought from a market stall). Opt for high-quality organic, cold-pressed oils (e.g. olive oil, walnut oil or sunflower oil).

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What happens on the Restart day?

by Marina Schroff • 26.07.22
fasting routine

You will have no difficulty in getting out of bed. You may even need less sleep than usual. Stick to your daily routine and celebrate your last day. You may even feel a little sad to be leaving the fasting days behind you. Or you may be pleased to be able to eat whatever you like and enjoy your meals with other people. Remain cautious and follow our recommendations for healthy, tasty and environmentally sound eating (see p. 69), as this is the start of the switchback phase! To be well prepared for the coming days, we recommend getting your shopping done today. You can find a shopping list on page 55.

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What is »ketosis« exactly, and why is it so important?

by Marina Schroff • 21.07.22
ketosis measurement

Put simply, ketosis is a metabolic state in which body fat is used as the primary source of energy. The body normally gets the energy it needs from sugar, i.e. from carbohydrates. If the body has no access to carbohydrates for a prolonged period, it needs to find a different solution. This is where ketosis comes into play. Once the glucose reserves have been used up, the body’s own fat is mobilised, and partly converted into ketones in the liver. This
process is referred to as ketogenesis. The ketones supply the body with energy. As ketosis only begins once the glucose reserves in the muscles and liver have been used up, carbohydrate intake must be kept very low. But don’t worry, the body still has sufficient energy in a state of ketosis. Ketones are water-soluble and can be transported to all organs via the blood-stream. They can even pass through the blood-brain barrier and are even available to the brain as a rapid supplier of energy. They activate the nerve cells and intellectual capacity and enable new brain cells to be created from brain stem cells. This is often accompanied by an uplifting mood. It has also been proven that people who fast regularly are less prone to depression, anxiety disorders and neurological illnesses, such as Parkinson’s and
dementia. At the same time, ketones have a palliative effect on chronic inflammations, such as those that play a major role in chronic inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatism, allergies, epilepsy, MS) and diseases of civilisation (such as excess weight, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease). The ketosis that occurs not only during fasts but also in fat-based diets not only alleviates pain and symptoms – it also normalises sugar and fat metabolism.
Regular fasting, for example with the FASTING BOX, helps to slow down ageing processes in brain and body cells.

What’s more, a European of average weight can live off their fat reserves for 40 days, even if fasting for such a long period is rarely necessary for therapeutic reasons.

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Can I smoke or drink alcohol during the programme?

by Marina Schroff • 21.07.22
alcohol nicotine

Fasting disrupts patterns of behaviour that you have become accustomed to. This makes it easier to go without nicotine and/or alcohol. Ideally, you should reduce your nicotine and/ or alcohol consumption a few days before your programme.

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