Already a firm fan of intermittent fasting, Liz tries a rigorous protocol at the prestigious Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic in Germany.
Known as ‘the father of fasting’, Dr Otto Buchinger dedicated much of his life to developing a ‘therapeutic fasting’ protocol after curing his own seemingly incurable ill health with a lengthy water fast in the 19th century. Realising that this was too extreme for most of his patients, he established a simpler fasting regime based around eating 250 kcals a day, with herb teas, honey and organic vegetable broths combined with enemas or other forms of colon cleansing, plus plenty of fresh air, outdoor walks and creative therapies such as painting and poetry reading.
Today, his legacy thrives under the dedicated guidance of his heirs, the third generation now caring for guests at two impressive wellness clinics, in Lake Constance, southern Germany and Marbella, southern Spain. I visited the original German clinic, about an hour’s drive from Zurich airport.
Fasting lies at the heart and soul of Buchinger’s method and is taken very seriously. Guests are only allowed to fast if they stay for a minimum of ten days. This allows both proper preparation time and the all-important ‘re-feeding’ days that follow. Most guests come for two weeks (I stayed 11 nights) and fast for five full days. Some guests stay far longer, especially those with severe obesity or other metabolic conditions. The clinic also attracts those looking to rest and recharge, and those seeking relief from hard-to-treat disorders such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and migraine, to name a few.
Checking in
At an initial consultation with both a doctor and nurse, my family history is noted, medications recorded, blood and urine samples taken as well as blood pressure checked. My weight and waist measurements are also recorded – they say women should have a waist measurement of 80cms or less (certainly no more than 88cms) to be in good health (97cms for a man). I settle into the evening with a light meal of fresh herb salad, tasty hot beetroot on quinoa and a snack of an apple and some cashew nuts in my room – a simple but stylishly furnished space that has more of a clinic vibe, with a nurse’s call bell, than a luxury spa.
DAY 1 Pre-fasting
I was excited to be offered a cup of coffee at breakfast – only to discover it was a blend of roasted cereals. Tasty though, and came with real milk (other options are available). This was followed by a large bowl of oat porridge with apple purée, fresh figs and cinnamon. Delicious. I’d chosen oats as my ingredient of choic
