Cascade fasting: a review of schemes and proprietary techniques

Edited by an expert:

Nadezhda Primochkina, nutritionist – 11/17/2020

One of the most controversial ways to cleanse the body and get rid of excess weight is cascade fasting. The technique received a detailed description in the books of Lavrova V.P. - Soviet writer, employee of the research institute. Also, the idea of ​​abstaining from food for medicinal purposes is supported by some doctors, in particular G.P. Malakhov, S.I. Filonov, D.A. Varlamov. In this article you will learn what rules you need to follow in order to lose weight using a new regime and not harm your health.

Kinds

Depending on the severity of the diet

Dry

Involves complete abstinence from food, drinks and water during periods of fasting. Some methods these days even prohibit water procedures.

Read more about the principles of dry fasting by following the link.

On the water

The ban on fasting days only applies to food and drinks. Any water is allowed in unlimited quantities. You can even add honey and lemon juice to it. This scheme is much easier to transfer. Beginners should start with it.

We also have a separate article about water fasting, which you can read here.

Depending on duration and output

Long gentle:

• 1 day of fasting / 1 day of moderate eating / 1 day of going out;
• 2 / 2 / 2;
• 3 / 3 / 3;
• 4 / 4 / 4;
• 5 / 5 / 5.

Long hard:

• 1 day of fasting / 1 day of moderate eating;
• 2 / 2;
• 3 / 3;
• 4 / 4;
• 5 / 5.

It is characterized by the absence of release days (like Lavrova’s) and is also called standard (classic).

Compressed gentle:

• 1 day of fasting / 2 days of moderate eating / 2 days of going out;
• 2 / 3 / 3;
• 3 / 4 / 4;
• 4 / 5 / 5;
• 5 / 6 / 6.

Compressed hard:

• 1 day of fasting / 2 days of moderate eating;
• 2 / 3;
• 3 / 4;
• 4 / 5;
• 5 / 6.

It is also characterized by the absence of an output and is called simplified.

There is also a free option when you choose the scheme yourself, varying the classic options among each other.

Additional Information

Basic rules of fasting, applicable to any type of fasting:
Moral attitude. You should not perceive fasting as hard labor or a test; it is important to maintain an even, positive mood. The body reads information through its emotional state. Therefore, even at the time of preparation, think more often about the result, do not count minutes or hours on days of “hunger”;

Think over the schedule. The days of “hunger” will seem long and empty, because time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snack time will be freed up. Sometimes people simply don’t notice how long a meal takes. If you don’t come up with interesting activities in advance, it will become more difficult to maintain the mood. select good, interesting books, write down the names of good films. Forget about horror or thrillers for now, no news. Only good, old movies or educational reading. Walks, lots of walks! In the park, along the embankment, in the yard. Cycling is possible, but without heavy training.

Only healthy people who do not need to constantly take something can fast. Even vitamins. After all, the days of fasting will pass without medication. You can’t even take Aspirin if you have a headache or activated charcoal if you have problems. Therefore, a medical examination is important. All troubles can be treated only with rest or walks, fresh air. Until the fasting period ends.

No enema. Usually, when reading the description of other methods, you noticed the point about an enema. They say you need to give an enema on the eve of the set start date. There is no. No home enemas or laxatives.

Calm, minimal stress. Some people try to spend periods of fasting like regular weekdays. They attend work and take care of their children. Ideally, of course, arrange everything on vacation, when you can reduce stress. Any hassle (there is always plenty of it at work) harms the fasting process. It’s not for nothing that they say that a hungry person is much more irritable than a well-fed one.

The start time (namely the time, not the date) must coincide with the end time. This will make the transition easier. It is better to write down the start time exactly, down to 5 minutes.

After fasting, it is important to stick to a special menu for some time. This way the result will be consolidated, at the same time the body will have time to return to its usual, daily food.

Author's methods

According to Lavrova

Valentina Lavrova is the founder of classic dry cascade fasting. It was she who, in her works, repeatedly proved the beneficial effect of this type of nutrition on the body. I recommended starting with one day, gradually getting used to it (this could take months), regularly increasing the duration of abstinence from food and water by 1 day each time, bringing the period to 5 days.

Lavrova’s technique is unusual in that it offers absolute dry fasting, which excludes any contact with water on days of abstinence. It is not only forbidden to drink it - you cannot wash your face, brush your teeth, swim, wash dishes with your bare hands, or even get caught in the rain.

During breaks between hunger strikes and when leaving the cascade, this absolute prohibition is lifted.

Lavrova noted that fasting cannot be started immediately according to the 5 through 5, 4/4, or even 2/2 scheme. It is necessary to accustom the body to each of the stages for the maximum amount of time. By exit, she meant a complete transition to regular nutrition, excluding it from the system. Here is her diagram:

First stage:

• 1 day of fasting / 1 day of moderate nutrition - up to a month of such repetitions and even more.

Second stage:

• 2 days of fasting / 2 days of moderate eating - up to 1 month or more.

Third stage:

• 3 days of fasting / 3 days of moderate eating - no more than 1 month.

Fourth stage:

• 4 days of fasting / 4 days of moderate eating - no more than 2 weeks.

Fifth stage:

• 5 days of fasting / 5 days of moderate eating - one-time cycle, no repetitions.

Lavrova warned: until you master one level, you cannot move to another. Signs of complete mastery of each cycle: no side effects, minimal bouts of hunger, good health.

According to Voitovich

Georgy Aleksandrovich Voitovich - Candidate of Medical Sciences. Author of the book “Heal Yourself.” He proposed cascade (cyclic, fractional) fasting according to the following scheme:

• 3 weeks fasting / 4 weeks moderate eating;
• 3 weeks fasting / 5 weeks moderate eating;
• fasting until acidotic crisis (about 3 more weeks) / 3 weeks of moderate nutrition.

This cycle must be repeated three times without any breaks. Indications: urolithiasis, inflammatory processes, bronchial asthma, tumors of any origin, problems with the reproductive system, obesity. At the preparation stage, enemas and laxatives are required to preliminary cleanse the intestines.

According to Goltis

Goltis is a pseudonym, the real name of the healer is Vladimir Ivanovich Vuksta. He is an extreme sportsman, a traveler and the author of a technique called “Healing Impulse”. He proposes the following cascade fasting scheme:

• every other day during the week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hungry);
• for three days (from Wednesday to Friday inclusive) once a month;
• 7 to 7 - once every 3 months.

A distinctive feature of the Goltis method is a strong recommendation to do long-term fasting only under the supervision of qualified specialists.

What a beginner needs to know before starting cascade fasting

Fasting for 3 days

It is important to know !

Before beginning the cascade fasting process, a beginner must know a few rules to follow. If the body is left without water, then it tries to take everything from within. The entire ecology, all habits that do not characterize us from a positive side, negatively affect human life as a whole. Most often, the main problem is the accumulation of toxins inside the body, which should be periodically gotten rid of.

Toxins are found in the following foods:

• alcoholic drinks;
• any cigarettes containing a tobacco mixture;
• products of animal origin - meat, butter, etc.;
• even in some medications.

Toxins have quite a harmful effect on the body, so it is worth getting rid of them. The liver is most affected by toxins. If you do dry fasting, the first thing your body will begin to consume is toxins. They enter the bloodstream and the body becomes completely unprotected. Therefore, if you approach cascade fasting incorrectly, you can harm the body and there will be no benefit from it.

During fasting, toxins are eliminated

Effect on the body

Like any therapeutic fasting, cascade fasting provides healing, cleansing and rejuvenation of the body:

• removal of toxins, waste;
• cholesterol reduction;
• obtaining the necessary energy;
• skin renewal;
• getting rid of aggression, fatigue, irritation;
• increased performance;
• launching internal restoration processes (therapy of the most serious and chronic diseases) - with a 5-day option;
• strengthening the immune system.

Cascade fasting is often used for weight loss because:

• cleanses the body;
• requires a reduction in portions and daily calorie intake;
• excludes harmful products;
• is a kind of diet.

Many people are interested in how much weight they can lose. The results depend on the chosen regimen and the duration of its adherence. On average, for every hungry day there is minus 0.5 kg. Over time, this figure gradually decreases.

General information

There are many ways to get rid of excess weight and make your diet healthier and more nutritious.
One of them is the so-called cascade fasting, which is carried out in cycles of alternating fasting days and eating plant foods. The periods of such alternation may vary. Adhering to a free fasting scheme, this method can be practiced both by those who have already fasted in their time and by beginner adherents of healthy eating. Cascade fasting is considered to be one of the most effective ways to cleanse the body. By practicing this method, you can gradually develop the habit of eating right and reducing body weight. However, it is easier to sustain such nutrition if you properly prepare for this practice. How to act to get the maximum effect and what constitutes cascade fasting will be discussed in this article.

Recommendations

How to organize the entrance during normal meals?

The preparatory stage is organized 2 weeks before fasting. In the first week you need:

• give up prohibited products and switch to permitted ones (see lists below);
• increase the amount of water you drink per day;
• limit the size of portions to reduce the size of the stomach to reduce hunger pangs;
• undergo an examination and obtain a doctor’s permission;
• to refuse from bad habits.

In the second week of entry you need:

• increase the percentage of plant foods in the diet;
• accordingly, reduce the consumption of dairy, fish and meat products;
• abandon frying as a cooking method;
• stop taking medications;
• draw up a detailed fasting plan and menu for the next week for well-fed days;
• warn family;
• The last thing you should consume on the day before your fast is a glass of clean water with lemon juice or 1 tsp. honey.

It is important to prepare yourself mentally during the preparation period. To do this, you need to clearly know the goals you are pursuing and visually represent the result (absence of diseases, good health, slim figure, etc.).

What to eat on non-fasting days?

Allowed foods for days of moderate nutrition, which alternate with fasting:

• cereals (soaked in water, sprouted);
• fruits;
• fresh vegetables and herbs;
• berries;
• nuts (which ones are better, calorie content - more on that in the article);
• green legumes;
• herbal tea, water.

Preferably everything is fresh, without heat treatment.

Permitted products for entry and exit:

• dairy products;
• seaweed;
• fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, berries, legumes, nuts;
• honey, stevia (a plant-based sugar substitute for those losing weight, allowed even if you are obese - more about it on this page);
• cereals;
• fish;
• chicken, turkey;
• eggs;
• herbal tea (recipes), filtered, distilled or mineral water.

It’s worth making a reservation right away about the list of permitted products. If the purpose of fasting is the overall health of the body, it can be left unchanged. If you need to get rid of toxins and waste with its help, it is better to remove cereals, mushrooms and legumes, and consume vegetables mainly fresh, not boiled. It will have to undergo even greater adjustment if the goal is weight loss. You can eat only low-fat fish, poultry and dairy products, unsweetened fruits, and vegetables without starch.

Prohibited products:

• salt, sugar;
• refined products;
• sweets, bakery products;
• alcohol, caffeinated drinks;
• meat (except poultry);
• fast food, snacks, instant products;
• pasta.

What should be the way out of long-term fasting according to the Lavrova method?

If you have tried long-term dry cascade fasting according to Laurel, the exit should be as careful and gradual as possible.

If entry was recorded at 19.00, exit should be at the same time. Lavrova’s technique is considered one of the most stringent, and for good reason. On this issue she does not allow for a minute of disagreement.

Recommendations for the first day of release:

• immediately drink chilled boiled water (any volume), adding lemon juice to it;
• after you quench your thirst, you can only drink 50 ml of water every half hour;
• if a gag reflex occurs, it is recommended to hold the lemon water in your mouth for a few seconds before taking a sip;
• immediately after this, proceed to water procedures: brush your teeth, take a shower (first with water at room temperature, then with warm water), and a little later - a bath with herbs;
• Each water procedure takes no more than 8 minutes;
• all manipulations with water must be completed by 8 pm;
• at 20.00 you need to eat some yogurt or homemade cottage cheese;
• at 22.00 small portions of warm unsalted broth (fish or chicken), or boiled vegetables, or rye bread are allowed.

Recommendations for the second day of release:

• raw vegetables and fruits, milk are not allowed;
• you can have porridge with water, rye bread, fish, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat broths, chicken fillet, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt and cheese;
• If nausea, swelling, a metallic taste, or the smell of rotten eggs appear after eating, Lavrova recommends drinking 2 glasses of curdled milk or water.

On the third day, you can gradually switch to your usual diet.

How to cope with transition

The most difficult thing is to take the first steps and adapt at the beginning of practice. The speed of addiction depends on many factors and characteristics of the body. Criteria such as weight, age, blood pressure, insulin resistance are very important. Much depends on willpower, motivation and the desire to achieve a positive result.

Some complain of a painful headache, most suffer from a debilitating and painful feeling of hunger. This indicates that the body has not yet adjusted to processing fat for energy, but uses sugar. Such a manifestation is a signal from the body that product reserves are running low and replenishment is necessary. This is why it is so important to survive hunger symptoms and not give in. An important psychological factor is a person’s habit of constantly eating and chewing something. A person eats out of boredom, out of grief, out of joy, out of excitement. There are many, many reasons, but the most important factor – hunger – is extremely rare.

The doctor's consultation

To suppress hunger, doctors recommend drinking more water. People often confuse the feeling of thirst with the feeling of hunger.

FAQ

How to withstand it?

Fill the whole day with different things, make a plan and follow it - then there will be no time to think about hunger. Avoid negative thoughts and unnecessary worries. Do mainly what you like: read, walk, communicate with loved ones. Minimize spending time in front of gadgets.

Should you exercise on fasting days?

Classic intensive training involves training in the gym every other day. It is advisable to have a day off on fasting days to restore the body. Otherwise, there simply won’t be enough energy for sports, which will lead to nervous and physical exhaustion, and then a breakdown.

However, it is also not recommended to completely abandon physical activity. Minimize strength training and running while constantly doing morning exercises and a simple set of exercises during the day. You can spend 10 minutes on a treadmill (recommendations on how to run correctly), if this does not cause dizziness and loss of strength. Long hikes, cycling and swimming are not advisable. But breathing practices, walking before bed and working in the garden are welcome.

Can I take medicine on fasting days?

No, even the most harmless ones, not to mention long-lasting and powerful drugs.

How long should it take to move from one stage to another?

The transition from one stage to another (from 1/1 to 2/2, for example) can be carried out immediately (if you have experience) or after the body gets used to it, using exit days (for beginners). The duration of such intervals is determined individually.

How long can you do cascade fasting?

The duration of the general course should not exceed 3 months. Rarely, under medical supervision - six months. The main thing to consider is that after the 5/5 scheme, the practice should be stopped and switched to a regular nutrition system.

How often can you use it?

No more than once a year.

During cascade fasting, you need to get enough sleep, minimize any worries and spend more time in the fresh air.

How to avoid gaining the same weight after cascade fasting

Proper nutrition

As a rule, after a person finishes a diet, he gains kilograms as quickly as possible. To prevent this from happening, you must:

• Healthy food;
• do not drink alcohol;
• engage in physical activity.

After the period of cascade fasting ends, it is necessary to periodically carry out fasting days. Thanks to them, the body will quickly return to normal and extra pounds will not appear.

In order for the fasting program to proceed without visible problems, a person must have experience in a similar direction. But the pounds lost during cascade fasting can come back. To avoid this, you should adhere to proper nutrition and do not neglect regular physical activity.

Contraindications and indications

Indications

V. Lavrova recommended using dry cascade fasting for the treatment of the following diseases:

• atherosclerosis, ischemia, hypertension;
• infertility;
• Besnier-Böck-Schaumann disease;
• bronchial asthma;
• depression, stress, neurosis, panic attacks, schizophrenia;
• dystonia;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• adenoma;
• overweight, obesity;
• osteochondrosis, osteoarthrosis, arthritis;
• pancreatitis;
• trophic ulcers, allergic rashes and other skin diseases.

Contraindications

Absolute:

• smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction;
• taking any medications - this makes cascading hunger strikes inaccessible to many categories of people: for example, diabetics, as well as women who take oral contraceptives;
• inflammatory processes;
• lactation, pregnancy;
• pathologies of the thyroid gland;
• diabetes;
• problems with blood clotting and other pathologies associated with blood circulation;
• open form of tuberculosis;
• advanced stages of oncology;
• any failure: heart, liver, kidney;
• liver cirrhosis, hepatitis;
• rehabilitation after a heart attack, tachycardia, arrhythmia;
• anorexia, dystrophy, vitamin deficiencies, exhaustion, underweight.

Relative (requiring prior consultation with a doctor):

• cholelithiasis and urolithiasis;
• ulcer;
• varicose veins;
• Iron-deficiency anemia;
• infections;
• age up to 14 and after 70 years;
• gout.

Exit

You should return to your normal diet gradually, otherwise you will quickly gain back the lost pounds. Neglecting the rules for logging out can lead to serious health problems. The body must gradually get used to regular food. Stages of exiting the food refusal system:

1. Immediately after finishing your fast, start drinking herbal teas. You should not eat food within 12 hours after the cascade system.
2. Be sure to take a warm bath. This is an important stage for activating the digestive system.
3. After 12 hours you can start eating. Start with liquid meals that are easy to digest without taxing your stomach. You can eat chicken broth, yogurt, or plant-based foods. Gradually introduce other foods into your diet.

Benefits and harms

Benefit:

• total cleansing of the body from toxins, waste, excess fluid, diseased cells, free radicals and even worms;
• cholesterol reduction;
• improved blood circulation;
• tissue regeneration;
• normalization of the gastrointestinal tract and many other body systems;
• getting rid of allergies;
• rejuvenation;
• acceleration of metabolism;
• destruction of tumors;
• strengthening the immune system.

Harm:

• exacerbation of diseases;
• development of new pathologies;
• state of stress during hungry cycles;
• decreased performance, lethargy;
• relaxation of the gastrointestinal tract, which finds it difficult to handle such “swings”;
• It doesn’t come down to burning fat: weight loss is ensured by cleansing the body and breaking down muscle and connective tissue.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• there is no need for additional methods of cleansing the body (no need to give enemas or drink laxatives);
• no need to take additional vitamin complexes;
• most side effects are mild and disappear quickly;
• possibility of easy training;
• hunger is relatively easy to bear, low probability of breakdowns;
• guaranteed and lasting weight loss: weight does not return after completion of the course (subject to proper nutrition in the future);
• healing: getting rid of chronic diseases;
• rejuvenation: appearance improves.

Flaws:

• presence of side effects: dizziness, headaches, weakness;
• inability to practice while taking medications at the same time;
• the need to go through certain stages, you cannot skip;
• difficult overcoming acidotic crises during dry cascade fasting;
• a ban on water procedures in some schemes;
• willpower required;
• a large list of contraindications;
• psychological barriers;
• The technique is not suitable for everyone.

Cascade fasting, although it is considered therapeutic, still differs from it in being safer for health. Stepped schemes that involve variability allow you to minimize risks and achieve good results both in terms of improving your well-being and losing weight. But a doctor's permission is necessary.

Why you shouldn't use it for weight loss

Girls are chasing a beautiful figure, constantly losing weight and going on diets. But the only thing that can help you lose weight is proper nutrition with a calorie deficit.

Cascade fasting is not a way to lose weight. If you use it without understanding the principles, just to lose weight, the results will be disastrous. You will quickly gain back the weight you lost, since such methods for the most part contribute to healing and cleansing the body, but not to losing weight.

If you want to lose weight, eliminate fatty, starchy and sweet foods from your diet. Eat fewer calories and exercise, but don't diet.

Cascade fasting is a method that can help cleanse the body of waste and toxins, solve problems with chronic diseases and improve the condition of the skin and hair. Along with positive results, it can lead to health problems. Whether or not to use such methods is your choice, so remember the responsibility that lies with you.