My girlfriend and I both felt the need to do some cleansing and heard about this book through Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About. We started it on a Saturday so we could do the water fast on the weekend - very good idea. I was amazed how I had not problem with hunger and even though I have to watch my blood sugar level there was no problem. We felt so great when we were done. This is something I think we will do at least once a year.

I tried this program as a way to let my body recover from the not-so-healthy things I ate and drank over the holidays. I started with the two day fast during which I felt crappy. But that was to be expected, according to the book. I could not have fasted on two work days - I felt that awful and groggy. After that I followed the 'diet' to the letter, including the supplements recommended. I didn't experience any caffiene withdrawal headaches which I was expecting. I didn't have any food cravings. So in those regards it wasn't bad after the two day fast was over. Did I feel better? Of course - don't eat junk food for a week and I guarantee you'll feel better too! I really can't claim that I felt 'detoxed' or saw any amazing differences like clearer skin, etc. I did as the book suggested and gradually added foods back into my diet. I have been going easy on the processed foods since then so it was a good way to make that switch.
I actually enjoyed the recipes but I would have liked more detail in their preparation (exact measurements, better cooking instructions, etc.) Also, in one place the book states that honey is a food to avoid, then later it is listed as an allowed sweetener. I liked the rice sesame casserole so much that I plan to make it in the future, detox or not.
One more thing to note - most of us won't have many of the ingredients needed for these recipes in our pantries. I had to find a whole foods grocery for some of the items. I also own a juicer - that made this program easier as well.

The assumptions in this book come from alternative medicine--naturapathy, homeopathy, accupuncture. Nonetheless, the 5-10 pages of advice that most readers will be interested in may well be of benefit--certainly nothing here to harm, except possibly the pocketbook. The authors should know full well that most readers' physicians will not be keen on doing the hair analysis, parasite analysis, etc. that are the authors' "recommendations" for "functional" disorders. It just so happens that one of the authors offers these services via mail order, and the other offers consultations, vitamins, and directed detox regimens to readers who might have difficulty without the extra bit of help. Aside from these extras, the book costs too much as it is.

When I finally admitted to myself recently (at age 44) that I had allowed my body to get 'out of hand'; the first step taken was to get a hold of an authoritative source on Detoxification. Whereas most folks would look for the Quick Weight Loss type of diet, what I was after was a more permanent change in everlasting health.

I was looking for an end to chronic headaches, sore joints, and looking forward to seeing my toes again and being able to simpy bend over and touch them. These were not severe problems...most people would not say I was unhealthy, over even very much overweight. But I was doing it for myself - and my future.

Peter Bennett and Stephen Barrie's book on Detoxification came to me at the right place and at the right time. In this book you get not one, but three no-nonsense and practical approaches to creating a healthy lifestyle.

The scientific explanations are there, but if you don't need or care for reading through the medical jargon - you can skip straight ahead to the layman's explanations.

This is the 'Pep Talk' and motivation that will prevent you from chickening out either due to your own weakness or the pressure of others. Finally, there are tried and true recipes and shopping lists, and even a sample Journal of one woman as she was experiencing the effects of the Detox Programme.

I would like to add my own reflections here so you can sense what its like. The advice from the book is represented in my daily routine. It is flexible enough to be adapted under different conditions.

Here is my Journal Entry:

Me? I'm still on the Juice Fast. Have extended beyond Day 7 because haven't lost enough fat. This is the morning of Day 9.

Today I did my special version of a Non-sauna sweatbath. This is done every morning upon arising.

1. Extreme HOT water on the back for 5 min.

2. Extreme COLD water on the back for 1 min.

Repeat (1) and (2) two more times.

Roll myself up in a thick blanket and sweat heavily for 30 minutes.
Take a final COLD shower with soap to rinse it all off.

-----------------------------

Proceed with daily routine:

Drink HERBAL Tea for breakfast.

Fill up (TWO) 1.5 litre bottles of pure mineral water with the FRESH JUICE of 1 LEMON in each.

Sip the LEMON WATER throughout the day.

I allow myself one meal per day;

1. Steamed BROWN THAI JASMINE RICE with steamed BROCCOLI and CARROTs, 1 raw ONION, and sliced FIRM TOFU. The DRESSING is pure unfiltered APPLE CIDER VINEGAR.

2. Other drinks include a WARM BROTH of powdered SOYBEAN & powdered BROWN RICE, with shredded coconut.

3. Take suppliments twice daily: Daily Multi-Vitamin and Antioxident tablets.

--------------------------

Have NOT had any of the following foods for the past 9 days:

1. No chocolate

2. No coffee, coca-cola, black tea (caffeine)

3. No white sugar

4. No oil

5. No meat

6. No wheat (bread)

This is notable because I have been a notorious 'junk food junkie', snacking out and bindging (I called it 'rewarding myself', HAH!) on fast foods.

Benefits:

1. No headaches. Usually had at least one bad headache per week.

2. Lost weight. How much? Unknown, because I don't weigh myself. But am able to watch the clothes get looser.

3. Joints not as sore; ankles, knees, kneck. More limber. I should be swimming daily but instead my exercise consists of a 20 minute walk to and from the supermarket. On the way back am carrying heavy bags including mineral water. This in essence earns me my meals.

4. Less Appetite. In fact, have not even CRAVED any of the 'bad' foods above.

5. Deeper sleep with more dreams.

6. Less stress, shorter temper

End of Day 9

The bottom line is, when you become TRULY SERIOUS about taking responsibility for your health and begin to live the maxim 'You are what you eat', a book like this will take you down the road to recovery.

This guide for a purifying fast and follow up detox diet may seem rather complicated if you do EVERYTHING, but there are some passages that let you know the key supplements to take and although this may seem hard to accept now, following this plan for about a week or so is not impossible. One also needs to be patient with oneself about how perfectly the diet's many recommendations are followed.

I lost four pounds in one week the first time I tried the diet, and found that soon after, when I went back to "regular food" my craving for certain foods was all but gone, and for others, greatlyl reduced. I still maintain some of the supplements but have reduced my intake to once a day to save money (I was faithful about the twice a day requirement on many of them during the initial week).

I have had a series of back and knee injuries and had taken muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories with some regularity for years. I now think these substances had built up in my body, because within about two to three weeks of my weeklong detox (followed up by a less rigid diet that was nonetheless much improved over my usual diet), I felt a real difference, as if something had just gone out of me, not sure how else to express it. It's even helped my mood and energy.

I sympathize with those reviewers who felt that there was just no way for them to work this out because other family members could not support it. It IS an added burden to cook different meals, do special shopping, and yes the food can be boring if one lacks time to make the jazzier versions of the organic veggie meals. Fortunately, I have a flexible spouse and have taken a number of things out of my diet over the years--caffiene, alcohol, esp.

I guess I'd recommend that you ease up to giving up some of these things if you drink coffee, liquor, etc. It might be easier than dealing with a complicated diet and caffeine withdrawal all at once, for example. The supplements really can help you, however, clean out any toxins that come into your system while you are on the diet. Your body will start to try to get rid of the toxins, releasing them into the blood, and it may feel worse before it feels better. If you hang in there, take your supplements--I found NAC, Milk Thistle, and, of all things, Charcoal, especially useful--the discomforts may be somewhat reduced, as they were for me.

Still I highly recommend this and will continue to use it from time to time. The first time through, I found it hard to follow up in terms of adding foods, bit by bit, to detect allergies. But I did figure out I was very sensitive to white sugar, and cut back, with good results. Same a bit with wheat and things like corn chips. I've continued to lose weight (three more pounds in the following month, without any effort) and have fewer cravings, so I think it really works.

I've also done the diet for just six days another time because of family commitments, but still found it very useful and cleansing.

Give it a try at a workable time--but if you are ill, do it sooner, not later.