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Long regarded as a marginal or spiritual practice, therapeutic fasting is now moving back to the forefront of integrative approaches. Far from “publicity stunt” courses or sporting feats, supervised fasting is becoming professionalised and establishing itself as a serious clinical tool, capable of supporting the body in detoxification, immune regulation and the prevention of chronic conditions.
In this webinar organised by Simplycure, naturopath Laura Azenard (a fasting specialist, Ayurvedic practitioner, author and course organiser for over ten years) shares her clinical experience and practical pointers. Find her key insights in this article!
An ancient practice, validated by modern science
You are probably already aware that fasting is nothing like a recent trend. From Hippocrates to Paracelsus, via Galen and Avicenna, physicians of Antiquity already regarded it as a means of stimulating the body's natural defences. More recently, the work of Buchinger in Germany revolutionised the practice by combining fasting, walking and remineralisation.
Today, scientific research confirms these intuitions:
in oncology, Walter Longo has shown that fasting can improve tolerance to chemotherapy and recovery1;
in rheumatology, numerous clinical observations confirm its value in reducing inflammation and pain2;
in neurology, the neuroprotective effects linked to ketosis and neurogenesis open up prospects for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease3.
The key message: fasting does not cure by itself, but it reactivates the body's inner physician by strengthening its capacity for self-repair.
The metabolic mechanism: from glycogen to ketone bodies
From a clinical standpoint, the value of fasting lies in the energy shift it induces.
Day 1: depletion of carbohydrate reserves (hepatic and muscular glycogen).
Day 2: transient reliance on amino acids, with activation of the first autophagy pathways4.
Day 3: the “cellar door” opens: triglycerides are mobilised and converted into ketone bodies.
This ketogenesis marks the true transition into fasting. It is sometimes accompanied by an “acidosis crisis” (fatigue, mild tachycardia, coated tongue, insomnia), which can be controlled through supervision and active walking.
Key point: physiological ketosis is at the heart of therapeutic fasting. It nourishes the brain, reduces inflammation and stimulates cellular repair mechanisms (autophagy, sirtuins, neurogenesis).
Clinical indications for therapeutic fasting
In practice, the indications are numerous. Here are the main categories:
Indication and documented clinical benefits Inflammatory diseases (osteoarthritis, IBD, rheumatoid arthritis): anti-inflammatory effect of BHB, improved pain, cellular regeneration. Metabolic syndromes (type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension): normalisation of triglycerides and blood pressure, insulin regulation. Autoimmune diseases: reduction in hyper-inflammation and support for the intestinal mucosa. Oncology (with medical support): improved treatment tolerance, reduced fatigue. Neurology (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis): neuroprotection via ketosis and stimulation of neurogenesis.
Absolute contraindications: anorexia, hyperthyroidism, hepatic or renal insufficiency, type 1 diabetes, severe addictions, unstable coronary artery disease.
Keys to effective therapeutic fasting
1. Preparation
A supervised fast begins well before food intake stops. In consultation, guide your patients towards a gradual reduction in sugar, coffee and heavy animal proteins to limit the acidosis crisis. Also offer targeted remineralisation (magnesium, electrolytes, B vitamins) to optimise tolerance.
2. Supervision
Your role is not only to validate the indication, but also to ensure the safety of the process. For patients with chronic conditions or ongoing treatments, coordinate where needed with specialised organisations such as the Académie médicale du jeûne. This close follow-up makes it possible to adapt the protocol and prevent complications.
3. Movement
Encourage your patients to include walking as an integral part of the protocol. It is not a peripheral activity: daily walking promotes fat mobilisation, stimulates the emunctory organs and limits muscle loss. Present it as a therapeutic ritual that largely determines the quality of the fasting experience.
4. Targeted supplementation
During the fast, direct your prescriptions towards hydration and remineralisation (electrolytes, Quinton water, gentle hepatic plants such as rosemary or nettle). Certain essential oils can be offered occasionally to relieve discomfort (peppermint, hawthorn, Scots pine).
5. Refeeding
Finally, impress upon your patients the importance of refeeding. This is where the consolidation of benefits takes place: repair of the intestinal mucosa (glutamine, probiotics), support for muscle mass (spirulina, whey if needed).
A gradual, structured refeeding process ensures the durability of the results achieved: intestinal balance, stabilised weight loss and lower inflammatory markers.
Fasting and practical support: what should practitioners take away?
First, see fasting as a therapeutic trigger. It opens a metabolic and psychological window in which your patients can more easily anchor new habits: a simpler diet, regular activity, stress management. As Laura Azenard points out, stopping intake, shifting into ketosis and then carefully refeeding create this decisive “switch”. Your role is to frame this period with appropriate preparation (gradual withdrawal from sugar and coffee, prior remineralisation) and simple guidance to limit the acidosis crisis.
Second, genuinely individualise the approach. A sedentary patient does not have the same tolerance as a walker; a Vata does not fast like a Kapha. Duration, activity intensity (walking is therapeutic) and the use of targeted supplementation are all adjusted. The goal is not performance, but a comfortable, reproducible metabolic shift. Success depends above all on refeeding, which locks in the improvement in the microbiota, the reduction in inflammation and, where relevant, lasting weight loss.
Finally, ensure rigorous clinical follow-up. In the case of illness or ongoing treatment, coordination with the Académie médicale du jeûne is essential. And where tools such as bioimpedance analysis are available, the effects (cellular health, hydration status, preservation of lean mass) can be objectively measured and care adjusted accordingly. What distinguishes a beneficial fast from a costly one is less its duration than how it is prepared, supported and followed up.
Giving therapeutic fasting its rightful place
As Laura Azenard sums up: “Fasting is not a miracle, but a revealer. It allows the body to mobilise its own defences and rediscover its biological intelligence.”
In practice, then, it is not about having your patients fast “for as long as possible”, but about offering them a supervised, safe and tailored interlude that will serve as a springboard to better health.
Contact us or create an account to find out how Simplycure can help you incorporate fasting and supplementation into your clinical care!
