What are the benefits of a cleansing stay carried out under the supervision of specialists? It turns out that the key to success is not only the diet itself but above all thorough diagnostics – from body composition analysis to the detection of hidden cross allergies.
We talk with Agnieszka Augustyniak, a dietitian from Villa Park in Ciechocinek, about how the body regeneration process proceeds, the impact allergies have on sudden weight fluctuations, and how to effectively combine a cleansing treatment with relaxation in the wellness area.
What does the diagnostic process look like at the beginning of the stay?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: When a guest arrives, usually on the first day, I invite them for a joint consultation that lasts about half an hour. We start with a body composition analysis: checking fat tissue, muscle mass, hydration, and other key parameters. Then I conduct a detailed dietary and clinical interview. I ask about current health status, past illnesses, and also about medications and supplements taken. If the patient brought laboratory test results, I am very happy to analyze them.
A key point of the conversation is allergies – not only food allergies but also inhalant and contact allergies. This is extremely important when designing the diet. We need to prepare a menu that meets the body's needs but at the same time excludes products that could cause cross-reactions with the primary allergen.
This mechanism is due to the fact that plant and animal products (e.g., pork, eggs, milk) contain proteins structurally similar to main allergens such as tree, grass, mugwort pollens, or cat hair. After consuming such a product, the body may react similarly to the primary allergy or intensify its symptoms. That's why we discuss cross-allergen tables together so that the guest knows exactly what and why we eliminate from the plate.
Even during the autumn-winter period, when inhalant allergens are fewer (mainly dust mites), we often decide on an elimination diet. Why? Sometimes a symptom of allergy is sudden weight gain. Within just 2–3 days after contact with an allergen, body mass can increase by even 1 kg. This is not fat, of course, but water retained in the body as a reaction to inflammation. Such swelling can effectively hinder weight loss.
During the meeting, I also ask about gastrointestinal ailments and what a patient's typical dietary day at home looks like. Such an interview allows me to quickly assess which habits require change and on which aspects of education I should focus during the stay.
Guests, especially ladies, very willingly use the cleansing and slimming package. What does it consist of?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: The "Diet and Health" package lasts 6 days, from Sunday to Friday. An integral part of it is dietary workshops. That's why the first individual meeting is such a valuable source of information for me – thanks to it I know how to prepare for the classes, what may particularly interest a given guest, and which topics are worth discussing more extensively. On the day of departure, we meet for the third time: we repeat the body composition analysis, and I hand over educational materials and a menu with culinary recipes for use at home.
It is worth adding that I also conduct consultations for guests using other programs. We are one of the few centers offering a specialist package for men after prostate cancer surgery (post-prostatectomy). We combine physiotherapist sessions with a dedicated diet, thus supporting the body's regeneration process.
What is the specificity of nutrition in the “Diet and Health” package? How does the menu change over the following days?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: After the first meeting, I prepare information for the Head Chef. Of course, the package includes physical activity in the pool, in the training room, and relaxation in the evening. The meal plan includes 5 meals at fixed times. There is also time for individual activities.
Regarding the diet structure in the “Diet and Health” package, the first two days are for cleansing the body. That means a diet based on vegetables, fruits, and a large amount of fluids. We try to exclude cereal products, all types of animal protein, including dairy products. Depending on the weather and season, the diet relies on a larger amount of raw or cooked vegetables. Then the menu has more soups, baked dishes, and stews. Throughout the stay, access to different herbal teas and water is ensured. The next 3 days are sugar-free. So we exclude fruits, still no cereal or dairy products. The diet then consists of a large amount of vegetables, lean protein (eggs and various fish), healthy plant fats (nuts, avocado, olive oil, and vegetable oils), and a mixture of herbs.
A sudden change of habits is quite a challenge. How does the body react to such a revolution in the menu?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: The first two days are not the easiest – the structure and caloric content of meals changes. Sometimes guests also try to stop drinking coffee to better cleanse the body, which can be an additional challenge. However, in the following days, when the diet becomes low-carb, it is much easier.
It is worth adding that physical activity is strictly adapted to the stage of the treatment. There is no situation where we invite a guest on a vegetable-fruit diet and add heavy training load. The exercise intensity is always appropriate to the calorie content of the diet.
You mentioned regeneration. What role does the wellness zone and the location of the facility play in this process?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: In Ciechocinek, there is a specific microclimate and lower atmospheric pressure, which – especially at the beginning of the stay – can cause drowsiness in guests. For this reason, the daily schedule is arranged so that there is always time to rest in the room or by the graduation towers located inside the building.
Guests very willingly use the pool area. We maintain a high air temperature there, and the brine water is about 30 degrees Celsius, which provides not only warmth but also better buoyancy. We make sure to avoid thermal shock – the whole wet zone is warm, so there is no fear of cold when moving from the pool to the changing rooms.
This place is also ideal for families with children. I have a pleasant memory myself: when I took my six-month-old son to the pool for the first time, the warm water and its gentle current made him simply fall asleep in my arms, rocked by the water. This is the best proof of how relaxing it is, even for the little ones.
After the end of the stay, are guests able to stick to their new resolutions?
Agnieszka Augustyniak: Many guests admit at the end of the stay that they would gladly continue such a diet if only someone cooked so deliciously for them. At home, taking care of proper products, caloric content, and portion size is much harder. Here they can forget about that and simply relax.
We have many returning clients. Since we launched this package in 2015, many of them visit us at least once a year. We try to organize it once a month, and if there is significant interest – even twice. The packages for patients after prostatectomy are available continuously. The gentlemen are also fully cared for: they have consultations, a set menu, and receive complete materials for home.
In my recommendations, I always try to tailor nutritional suggestions to the daily lifestyle of patients. The regeneration process is also supported by dedicated SPA treatments and the hotel location. We are right next to the Spa Park and main graduation towers, so in nice weather, we encourage guests to take walks and breathe in the healing air. Bicycles are also available to guests.
Agnieszka Augustyniak – clinical dietitian and a certified diet coach. She combines clinical practice with educational activities, participating in health prevention programs and consulting patients in clinics. As an educator and author of texts, she actively promotes conscious nutrition among children and adults.
