Effects of Fasting

Dementia & Fasting

Dementia and Fasting (Full & Partial Fasting)

Two guests walking together on a forest trail near the retreat

Many people feel real anxiety about dementia. Yet the human body holds considerable potential to both improve and prevent it. Medical research has recently shown that brain cells can continue to grow throughout life — a research team at Columbia University confirmed new brain cell growth even at age 79, offering real hope for dementia recovery.

Can Dementia Be Improved?

It has long been understood that fasting, combined with a proper diet, can sharpen the mind — and the same principles offer real promise for improving dementia.

The underlying approach is simple: fasting and a carefully designed recovery diet clear accumulated waste (such as amyloid-beta) from the body and deliver purified blood to the brain's cells. Fasting here does not mean eating nothing at all — rather, it involves small amounts of natural, whole foods (brown rice and vegetables) alongside regular periods of walking.

The body has an innate ability to renew its own cells, and this natural dietary approach — grounded in the effects of fasting — combined with exercise, helps draw out that ability. The more advanced the condition, the longer the process may take, but repeated cycles over time can bring meaningful improvement.

Why Fasting Works

Fasting purifies the blood and improves circulation to brain cells. It also promotes autophagy — the body's own cellular cleansing process — helping to clear waste from the brain.

Recommended Length of Stay

A longer stay is most effective for addressing dementia. Our 3-to-4-month program aims for a complete renewal of the blood. We recommend starting with a consultation for a stay of at least 21 nights.

Weight Loss & Fasting

Weight Loss Through Fasting (Full & Partial Fasting)

A guest stretching on a riverside rock in the forest

Fasting is not simply about losing weight — it is a fundamental approach to change from within. The goal is lasting transformation with minimal rebound, reshaping your constitution rather than chasing short-term results.

What Makes Fasting Different

Unlike conventional dieting, fasting burns fat while simultaneously restoring balance to the gut. Paired with a brown rice and vegetable recovery diet, it allows you to rethink your eating habits and improve your constitution at the same time.

Our gentle, low-stress approach to fasting helps build a body that resists rebound weight gain after your stay. About 80 percent of our returning guests come back specifically to reset their eating habits on a regular basis.

Expected Benefits

Elimination of waste and built-up impurities (detoxification)
Normalization of gut bacteria and improved gut health
Purification of the blood and improved circulation
Accelerated fat burning, particularly visceral fat
Clearer, healthier-looking skin
Relief from poor circulation and swelling
Reduced risk of rebound weight gain through enzyme fasting

Short-term (7–9 nights)

A first step toward resting the digestive system and feeling lighter. The focus here is detoxification and resetting your constitution, rather than the number on the scale.

Extended Stay (30+ Nights)

Ideal for those aiming to lose 10 kg or more. The final 10 days are spent on a structured recovery diet to help sustain the results as long as possible.

Constitutional Health & Fasting

Fasting (Full & Partial) and Constitutional Health

A guest walking a quiet forest path near the retreat

Fasting has the power to change your constitution at a fundamental level. The body holds many built-in systems for slowing aging and renewing itself, and much of how well they function is closely tied to diet.

Whole-Body Renewal, Starting in the Gut

It is said that roughly 70 to 80 percent of our immune function originates in the gut. Fasting can transform the gut environment quickly, and this whole-body renewal that begins in the gut is one of fasting's greatest strengths.

Longer fasting programs, particularly those of 14 days or more, are said to roughly double immune function on average, offering real promise for chronic conditions as well.

Conditions That May Improve

High blood pressure, early-stage diabetes, and lipid disorders
Persistent skin conditions such as eczema
Migraines and chronic fatigue
Mild allergy symptoms
Poor circulation, insomnia, and low mood
Frequent urination and hernias
Dietary support for chronic conditions, including cancer

※Results vary by individual. For certain conditions, please consult your physician.

10–14 Nights

This allows for 7 to 10 days of actual fasting — enough time for mild chronic symptoms to begin improving as the blood undergoes purification.

3–4 Month Program

A comprehensive program aimed at a complete renewal of the blood. Many guests in their 60s and 70s choose this option.

Exercise During Fasting

Exercise During Fasting (Full & Partial)

A guest walking a mossy forest trail during her stay

Exercise during fasting significantly enhances its benefits — though moderation is essential. Gentle movement suited to how you feel is the key to effective detoxification and lasting change.

Walking Is Most Effective

Walking is the foundation of exercise during a fast. Our retreat sits within Aichi Kogen Quasi-National Park, and walking amid its negative-ion-rich natural surroundings significantly enhances the effects of fasting. On clear days, we strongly recommend a walk of one to two hours.

The benefits of walking include relief from lower back and knee pain, weight loss through aerobic activity, improved circulation, and a more balanced autonomic nervous system. For those who rarely walk in daily life, this is a wonderful opportunity to build the habit.

On-Site Training Facilities

A small training room on-site is equipped with a stationary bike and stretching mats. Our relaxation room offers a core-training rider machine, a premium massage chair, and a foot bath. Please use these facilities at whatever pace feels comfortable.

Recommended Activities

Walking (1–2 hours), stationary cycling, and light stretching — always at a pace that feels comfortable.

Activities to Avoid

Strenuous exercise during a fast can intensify hunger and fatigue. We recommend avoiding strength training and high-intensity cardio.