The 4--Week Ultimate Body Detox: A Program for Greater Energy, Health and Vitality [Paperback]

I have to admit that I was extremely skeptical when I picked up this book, but I was getting desperate. I'm 33 and disabled by lower back problems and fibromyalgia, and none of the many doctors, physical therapists, or holistic practitioners I've seen have been able to help me feel any better. So this book was a long shot, but it actually helped!

The detox plan outlined in this book was designed to flush chemical toxins out of your body system by system, from the inside out. Each week of the plan concentrates on a different area (i.e. liver, lymph, skin, etc.). The basic tenets are as follows: No meat, alcohol, wheat, dairy, refined sugar, preservatives, or processed foods for a month. Each week you will take a different batch of supplements and herbal teas that help to strengthen certain bodily systems. Do your best to avoid household chemicals, and eat organic whenever possible.

Sound tricky? It is, at first anyway. I couldn't imagine what I'd eat, but one visit to the health food store was very reassuring. There are so many healthy substitutes for wheat, dairy and sugar these days, what with so many people developing allergies to these foods. I admit that I was tired of salad by week 3, but that was probably due to a lack of creativity on my part. With a little ingenuity, you can make it through, and be healthier by the end. A Word of Warning: buying organic foods and household products from health food stores is VERY expensive. Be prepared to spend a lot more on these products than you usually do. You may want to set aside $500 to $1000 for this endevor, if you want to do it right.

As with any detox program (or so I've read), you may feel terrible for a day or two here and there, as the toxins leave your body. My husband and I experienced headaches and some achiness at first, but they didn't last long. Stick with the program, and they'll disappear.

This book is full of ideas on how to eat for health, even after your 4 weeks is up. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that the author doesn't always back up her claims with medical or scientific evidence. This was a bit unnerving, but I took her word on most things, and I don't regret it. Although my back problems will probably never go away, my fibromyalgia is more in control than ever before, and I've learned how to eat to avoid flare-ups.

I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering from chronic systemic problems - it could ease your pain significantly. Give it a shot before you give up!

I'm actually beginning the detox in a few days. But I'm one of those people who likes to know exactly what they're in for. So I read the whole book at one go. The bit that baffled me is there was no clear section that said DO THIS during week 1 and THIS during week 2. Instead, there was a small section here that said DO THIS during week 1 and then a few pages later in a seemingly unrelated segment, more DO THIS during week 1. I would like to see any subsequent reprints of this book to group together all the phase detox DO THIS activities all together... As it is, I've had to create my own Word file that pulls pieces from multiple chapters to make sure I don't miss something Cook recommends during each phase of the detoxing. I spent enough on the book to feel like I shouldn't have to spend additional time on my own creating a template to follow to adhere to the plan. Additionally, weekly shopping lists would be helpful -- as would a a set of descriptors on various choices at the health food store (like do I buy apple pectin -- which I ultimately chose -- or grapefruit pectin for week 1 -- and why??)
All that said, the narrative makes sense and is easy to read. I agree with a previous reviewer about the lack of citing existing research to back up claims -- but then, we all know there is a shortage of research into the field of detox and even less into how natural foods and herbs heal. To me, this lack is not such an issue. While others may appreciate the organization efforts, it made no sense to me.

Although I am already a vegetarian and use non toxic environmentally friendly cleaning products I found this a challenging detox program. I sought to clear up an unpleasant skin condition. I found the program challenging enough that I couldn't just jump right in and follow it 100%. Instead I gave up diet pop a month and a half before, I gave up OTC makeup two weeks before and I gave up coffee the first day. It's been a struggle to learn new habits. I even upgraded on Amazon and bought the online version so I could refresh my memory during my lunch at work. There is a lot to do. I, obviously, took it seriously. There wasn't a day that went by that I followed it perfectly. For instance, I would forget and eat wheat or have a small portion of cheese. Even so, by the second week I started to notice the plan working. It has definitely toned and tightened my entire body. I've noticed quite an improvement in my skin condition. The four weeks isn't enough for me, I plan on cycling back to week one and recleansing my organs and body. Like the author says, the damage we've done to our bodies didn't occur overnight, it takes awhile to clear them up. This diet plan has been tremendously beneficial to me.