All subjects fasted according to the guidelines of the Buchinger fasting therapy [31 (link)] under daily supervision of nurses and specialized physicians. On the day before the beginning of the fast, the participants were given a 600 kcal vegetarian diet divided into 3 meals of either rice and vegetables or fruits, according to individual preference. To initiate the fasting period, the intestinal tract was emptied through the intake of a laxative (20–40 g NaSO4 in 500 ml water). During fasting all subjects were asked to drink 3 L of water or non-caloric herbal teas daily with an optional portion of 20 g honey. Additionally, an organic freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice (250 ml) was served at noon and a vegetable soup (250 ml) in the evening, leading to an average total calorie intake of 200–250 kcal and 25–35 g of carbohydrates per day. At the beginning of the fasting period the subjects entered a program of light physical exercise alternating with rest and individual mild non-physical treatments like hydrotherapy or physiotherapy. The exercise program consisted of light to moderate intensity outdoor walks and group gymnastics. The whole program was led by certified trainers. During the fasting period an enema or, if preferred by the patient, a mild laxative was applied every second day in order to remove intestinal remnants and desquamated mucosal cells. On the last day of fasting, food was stepwise reintroduced during an average of 4 days, with an ovo-lacto-vegetarian organic diet progressively increasing from 800 to 1600 kcal/day.
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