The purist argument, and why we disagree
Ask a fasting purist and they'll tell you that a real fast means water, and nothing else. We take a different view, and have done for over three decades: a juice fast tends to be gentler on the body, easier on the mind, and just as effective for most people who come to us.
What juice actually does
On a water fast, the body is genuinely deprived of everything except water. On a juice fast, it isn't, the juices are full of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, your taste buds stay engaged rather than shut down entirely, and the natural alkalising effect of fresh juice tends to soften the more uncomfortable symptoms of detoxification. It rarely feels as frugal, either, which matters more than people expect over a week or ten days.
What we add around it
Herbs support the gastro-intestinal tract throughout the programme, the sauna works through the skin, and yoga and meditation take care of the mind and spirit alongside everything happening physically, the whole approach is built to work on several levels at once, not just the digestive system. We've had guests who'd previously tried water-only fasts elsewhere tell us they noticed a great deal more shift with juice, broths and proper support around them than they ever did on water alone. Most guests here stay reasonably active throughout, walks, treatments, time by the pool, in a way that simply isn't advisable, or comfortable, on a water fast, where rest is usually the safer approach.
Where we draw the line
To be clear: we do not offer or support water fasting at Moinhos Velhos, for anyone, at any length. Juice fasting is the whole of what we do, and after more than thirty years of doing it, we remain convinced it's the better route to the same destination.
