The Fasting Path

Father Tuguinay is one of the many patients that have eliminated multiple diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, arrhythmias, high blood pressure/cholesterol & arthritis due to the Therapeutic Fasting Program in place at St. Theodore’s Hospital, Sagada, Philippines. Padi, as he is affectionately called here, was 30 days into his fasting when I arrived.  I was fortunate to play a part in his post-treatment and am honored to still have the opportunity of seeing him often.

Name:Moreno Lindawan Tuguinay
Age: 67 years old
Occupation: Retired Clergyman of the Episcopalian Church in the Philippines (Anglican). Presently connected with St. Theodore’s Hospital as Chaplain.
Treatment Method: Juice Fasting
Days of Fasting: 40 days
Treatment Period: September 7, 2008 to October 16, 2008.
Post Treatment Period: Presently in the post treatment diet.
Weight Loss:11 lbs.
Diseases Healed: Arrhythmia, Diabetes, Hypertension,Increase Cholesterol Level and Arthritis.
Treatment Supervisors:Dr. Clare Lalwet, Dr. Penny Domogo, Tom Coghil and Patrick O’Connor
Location:Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines
Treatment Location: St. Theodore’s Hospital (www.sagadahospital.com)

Medical History

I had been a sickly person for the past several years which I believe was due to the abuses I did to my body, soul and spirit. I don’t admit it was due to ignorance but because of my negligence and stubbornness. I had been a person who loved so much to eat fatty, salty and junk foods. I also smoked a lot until 1982. As a result, I had been having uncontrolled high blood pressure and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. In addition to that, I had kidney stones, arthritis and a heart attack resulting in my having to undergo multiple heart bypass surgery in 1996. After the terrible heart bypass, I felt better and so I went back to my indiscriminate eating and drinking believing that my health was back to normal though I had to take several maintenance medications. Again, in August 2005, I had another heart attack necessitating an expensive Angioplasty. After the ordeal of those heart attacks, I decided to take control of my health but the temptation to go on eating and drinking anything was so strong. I succumbed to the same habit reasoning out that, anyway, I am taking my medicines religiously. However, despite my daily medications, my blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels remained elevated and worse, I had been having irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and chest pains such that I had to be put on oxygen.

St. Theodore’s Hospital, thru the initiative of our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Clare A. Lalwet and the support of the staff, started a Health and Wellness Program with a plan of establishing a WELLNESS AND HEALING CENTER. By God’s grace, a fasting enthusiast, Mr. Tom Coghill of www.fasting.ws, who had undergone a health crisis before, came to Sagada looking for a place to put up a detox center. Again, by Divine plan, Dr. Clare met him and since both have similar vision, they agreed to include fasting and detoxification in the Wellness and Holistic Healing Program based at St. Theodore’s Hospital.

One day, Dr. Clare shared me two books written by Tom on diet and juice fasting. I started reading them and was fascinated, so I went on reading until I finished the two books. Believing that the proposed Wellness and Healing Center is a noble program and that it has to start somewhere, I decided to fully participate in the venture and try it.

Progress Report

DAY 1: September 7, 2008, I started my fast drinking only vegetable and fruit juices.

Day 2:I checked my blood pressure and blood glucose and they were low so I did not take my medications and observed for a while. A week before the launching of the program, I shared my experiences with Dr. Clare and Tom and they were so encouraging and supportive so I went on with the juice fasting and tried my best to monitor my blood pressure and blood sugar even without medicines since I decided to forgo taking them. Surprisingly, my blood pressure and blood glucose stayed normal. Dr. Clare asked me to share my experience during the launching of the program which I did.

The first few days were like hell especially when I see and smell food on the table. I prayed hard for guidance and strength to resist the temptation. It dawned on me that this is a severe struggle between the mind and body. I experienced hunger, dizziness, acidic taste in the mouth, irregular heart beats, and numbness on my right hand, stomach pain, and sleeplessness. Choosing between health or hell, I chose health and so I continued the fast. I am very happy that my wife and children are very supportive of my struggle to regain my health. As the days went on my wife and children tried to participate by taking juice and small amount of solid food. My wife said, “it is so encouraging when the head of the family starts something good for health.”

DAY 25: My blood pressure and blood glucose remain normal even without my taking medicines. I experience mild arrhythmia and slight chest pain only once in a while unlike before which was everyday and more intense. I lost weight so I feel lighter and move more freely. Even when fasting, I could walk back and forth from my house to the hospital (10 kilometers total distance) without feeling faint. With all the benefits I have experienced, I decided to go on with my juice fasting until I completed thirty days which culminated on October 5, 2008.

After my successful fast, I resumed eating food but in moderation, and as much as possible avoid fatty, salty, sweet foods and drinks. I will eat more raw foods also. I HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON and realized the meaning of what the bible said that THE BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Day 30: During and after fast, Fr. Tuguinays claims to be strong, no body weakness or malaise felt. He claims to maintain high energy level. He also reports that his blood sugar levels are in normal range.

Day 40: Weight loss of 11 lbs after 40 days of fasting.

Juice Mixtures

Pineapples, bananas, apples, persimmons, pechay, squash, water cress, sayote, camote and Dama de Noche shoots, etc. They have different tastes specially when mixed together but I experienced my taste buds made the necessary adjustments. My favorite juice is pineapple, carrots and pechay. I took 1 1/2 liters of juice a day and after 25 days of juice fasting, I lost 7 lbs. of my weight and what matters most is I am happy and healthy.

Post Diet

85 % of  raw fruits and vegetables, 30% of rice, 5% of wheat bread, 3 % sea fish and 2 % nuts.

Post Treatment Report

In a conversation with Patrick O’Connor of www.thefastingpath.com following his 40 fast, Father Tuguinay expressed his enthusiasm for the spiritual transformation he seemed to undergo as well.  He had read Patrick’s blogs and asked about his perspective on the spiritual side of fasting.  With bright eyes and a wide smile on his face, Father Tuguinay expressed that he felt closer to God and understood parts of the Bible better than ever before.  Not only did he feel he had a new lease on life, but also, a renewed sense of spirituality.

Julie Tuguinay (wife) says:

The effect of my husband’s deteriorating health conditions has been very disturbing, bothersome and very stressful especially when we moved to Bangaan, Sagada in May, 2000, away from the security and accessibility of  St. Luke’s Medical Center in Manila. True indeed, he had a lot of unexplained chest pains, high blood pressure, high sugar and cholesterol levels, back pains and susceptibility to cough and colds– all these led to emotional turmoil making me doubt the medicines he is taking, and even the latest angioplasty he had in 2005. All these we had to endure through the years.

On September 7, 2008, my husband came home with a bag of carrots and a bundle of leafy vegetables and asked me to juice them for his dinner.  While we were eating, he started talking about the book on juice fasting written by Tom Coghill and the Wellness Program that Dr. Lalwet has been contemplating. While he was sharing, deep inside me was a doubt that he will survive with only juices since we have never totally given up meat in our diet despite his health problems. He, himself, insisted on buying frozen chicken frequently despite our efforts to reduce our meat intake.
Days went by and I noticed he was really sincere about his intention to continue his fast. At times, he is beaming with gladness saying that he is surviving with only juice intake and yet maintains normal heart rate, blood pressure, level of blood sugar which he monitors every morning, and with minimized chest pains.
He momentarily put aside all his medicines while maintaining his fruit and vegetable juices. On the 10th day of his fast, we listed all the medicines he is taking and the costs. To our surprise, we saved P3,325.00 in 10 days!

Having gone through all these experiences myself, I have arrived at a more intelligent understanding of the purpose and meaning of my life: That I have a special role to play in the restoration of my husband’s health and preventive measures for the whole family. This fruit and vegetable fasting opened new hope which I have been searching in the past through my prayers. I have been fervently asking God to lead us the way to an alternative healing and here it is—FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE FASTING. Whatever are the principles behind, I strongly believe they cure, they heal, they restore one’s emotional, physical and psychological well being.

As I reflect through life with my husband as a heart patient survivor, I can clearly see the workings of the hand of the unseen director in the drama of life. I can see how God holds the destinies of faithful believers, how he plans for each life but at the same time permit us to exercise the POWER WITHIN US to make decisions for our health.

Rev. Tuguinay Acknowledgements

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank God, Dr. Clare, Tom, the STH staff, and my wife and family for their prayers, encouragement, support and care for my struggle to go on JUICE FASTING. Praise the Lord!

Medication Report

These medications were taken before fasting, since 1979 for Blood Pressure and 1996 Cardiovascular Disease. Amiodarone 400 mg, Simvastatin, Imdure, Solosa, Metformin, Aspilet, Candesartan, Metoprolol, Glymiperide, Elecoxib 200 mg, Vitamin E and Coenzyme.  After treatment, the patient is medication free.

Arrhythmia’s Report

I experienced arrhythmia’s 2 to 3 times a day before I started juice fasting. So during fasting, it decreased to 1 to 2 times for the first three days. On the 7th to 25th days of fasting, I experienced arrhythmia once in a while; and on the 30th to the 40th day, I did not experience any arrhythmia.

Diabetes Type II Report

In 1996, i was diagnosed of Diabetes. I am not sure whether insulin deficient or resistant.Some factors that leads to diabetes is unhealthy life styles and habits, thus meat and rice increases diabetes.

Blood Pressure Report

Before fasting, my blood pressure averages from 170/110mmHg, 120/80mmHg to 160/100mmHg while I am taking Candesartan to help lower down my blood pressure. During and after fasting, my blood pressure averages from 110/70mmHg to 120/80mmHg.

Blood Cholesterol Report

In 1996, before fasting,  I had an increase in blood cholesterol levels ranging from 80 - 290 mg/dl while taking my medicines. During and after fasting without medications, refer to the laboratory results below for September and October.