The Mars and Venus Diet and Exercise Solution: Create the Brain Chemistry of Health, Happiness and Lasting Romance [Paperback]

"Without a nutritious diet, we don't have the fuel to make more endophins." ~ pg. 102

If any book can be frustrating and enlightening at the same time it is "The Mars & Venus Diet and Exercise Solution." This book is filled to the brim with interesting information on dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and endorphins. You will learn about the top forty serotonin-producing foods and how to get endorphins to release into your body. There is also a good amount of information on how to make your relationships work. There seems to be a biological basis for everything John Gray has been teaching for years. He explains why women are obsessed with giving too much and how to get men to give more. It is logical and makes complete sense. He also gives some of the real reasons marriages fail. I thought some of the information was very interesting, especially about why men may become workaholics:

"By increasing mental stress by taking on too much work (deadlines and long hours), men in particular stimulate the production of endorphins to reduce mental distress and anxieties temporarily." ~ pg. 103

While this is very helpful and intellectually exciting, I think the actual diet can be confusing. In the section on following the Mars & Venus diet I came across many frustrating things. Each morning you are supposed to drink a glass of water enriched with lemon juice, honey, trace minerals and aloe vera juice. This drink is also taken after you exercise in the morning. That means you are taking minerals twice. The problem I see with this is that you are also taking trace minerals with your morning health shake. (This drink is also recommended for fasting - should you take that many minerals in a day?)

My main question really is: "Is it necessary to take so many trace minerals?" The morning shake is made with a number of ingredients that can also be found in the Mars & Venus Superfoods Shake. In fact, you can skip mixing up the shake from scratch and just purchase the shake online. My problem with the shake is that it contains blanched almond meal and I'm allergic to nuts in general.

I looked up the Isagenix products and read the lists of ingredients. There are three products you could buy even though John Gray also says you can find other brands (he doesn't mention which ones so I'll give you that information).

The products you can buy (at the Isagenix website) include the Mars & Venus Superfoods Shake ($45), the Super Cleanse ($30) and the Super Minerals (also contains lithium - $30). So you can get the entire program for under $105.

Some options for the same types of products (Total is $131 with the optional cleanse) include "Nature's Plus Spiru-tein Tangerine Dream (Nature's Plus - Tangerine Dream Spirutein Shake 1Lb - $18)" which I've taken for years (compare ingredients to the Mars & Venus Superfoods shake) and the addition of Omega 3 Fatty Acid capsules (Nordic Naturals - Complete Omega/Lemon, 1000 mg, 60 softgels - $17). If you want to add in Yucca try Solaray - Yucca - 100 Capsule - 490 mg - $6.

This is easier than making the shake and adding in flax seeds, protein powder, yucca, enzymes etc. If price is a factor then you can see the difference in price. However, I read the ingredients on the Mars & Venus Super Cleanse and found it is not as good a product as Dr. Natura's Cleansing Product Colonix - Internal Cleansing Program (Liver, Kidney, Colon, And Parasite Cleanse) - FREE UPGRADE TO EXPEDITED SHIPPING - $90). The thing to note about the Dr. Natura program is that the "Paranil" product has wormwood. This is not good to take for an extended period of time. The "Colonix" is a good cleanse on its own.

Once you read the book you can then use these ideas to your advantage. The ingredients recommended will optimize brain chemistry and this will make you feel better. I've been taking a shake with amino acids for years now and it does make you feel more healthy. The Nature's Plus Spiru-tein Tangerine Dream (or other flavors) is an excellent product that contains most of the ingredients (just take Yucca and Omega 3 capsules as well) in the Mars & Venus Shake.

To finish the book, John Gray also briefly discusses the benefits of aromatherapy. He also talks about spirituality and how dietary changes can even cause cancer to go into remission.

Overall I think this book is very enlightening. The frustrating part can be easily solved by buying the shakes in powder form. There just doesn't seem to be enough information to make the program work when mixing up the drink at home. I found that section to be very frustrating because no exact measurements were given.

~The Rebecca Review

I read the book, thought "why not try one more that will fail," and tried it. The first week I just did the cleansing drink and morning shake and my lifetime of depression was "gone" and my energy was great! This was enough motivation to start the diet. I have lost 20 lbs in 40 days, I am not hungry or feeling deprived, and not working out to exhaustion. The last time I was able to lose weight was 6 years ago through starving and working out 3 hours a day--I knew at 54, I was NOT going to do that again. But, I have a lot of questions (which as he assures you in his book he is available to answer) that aren't being answered (could be a new book, John!). Also, a cookbook of recipes with the right amounts of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats would be GREAT! Ingredient amounts for Venus and alt. amounts for Mars for dishes : ) This book has FINALLLLY given me answers! Thank you!

Not really desiring to lose weight, I was interested in John Gray's book The Mars and Venus Diet and Exercise Solution for its cleansing properties and was not disappointed. I tried John's method in the book for 9 days. Nothing much seemed to happen until just about two weeks after I began the course of treatment. I have always had a sweet tooth, but as I get older realize it is a sugar addiction. I found that I wasn't craving sweets (a common occurrence for 40 years after every meal and often between them) and I wasn't really trying. I wanted things like celery and peanut butter or carrots for a snack instead of cookies. And coming from the world's greatest candy fan, this is saying a lot!! I also found myself naturally drinking more water and feeling lighter and fresher. My skin has a great tone and after several weeks, as I look for signs of diminishing effects, I am pleased that I am still resting in a place of healthful balance. I also have lost several pounds even without trying. I will refresh my liver and remind myself of my wholeness every so often with his recommended treatment as I feel a calling to do so, but for now I feel great.

The other thing I really related to in this book was his presentation of the different chemistries of men and women and what, how and when they are activated. It was a missing piece in understanding my very male husband. Very insightful and clearly intended for more than just a fix-it diet, this book The Mars and Venus Diet & Exercise Solution offers ways to achieve and maintain balance and health within the self and also within a relationship.

Julie Hutslar
Author of Relationships:Gifts of the Spirit