Jeremy..Re: starting a 14 day water fast

Jeremy,
some of what you have mentioned is true of course, in that the body needs nutrients to thrive (and survive), and that is why the body stores most all nutrients for such times as famine/sickness and injury.
All animals in the wild (and even domesticated ones) will fast on water only, as this is the most expedient way of healing and cleansing the body.

Water-only-fasting is as safe (if not more safe) than those not fasting, bearing in mind that the majority of people who have died, did so while they were in eating mode.

Consuming anything other than water is in fact dieting, and if this is restricted in terms of nutrients, the body will not conserve these as it would on water-only: this will ultimately lead to nutritional deficiencies of one kind or another and therefore be harmful to health.

To be clear about this: a juice-fast is actually a juice-feast, and you are still in "eating mode" and not fasting at all.
This is not to say that juice-feasting does not have health benefits, as of course it does, but not nearly as beneficial as a true fast where pure-water is consumed according to thirst, and thirst alone.

Chrisb1.