This book has influenced me in no small way, and since I first read it several years ago and made various changes to my diet, my family and I have reaped so many very real rewards.
I no longer shop in the "center" of the grocery store except when absolutely necessary. I choose fresh produce, dairy, and breads instead and I compose simple meals with the ingredients: brown rice, grains, vegetables, real butter, etc. They take even less time than various "instant" products I used to use.
My family has, and especially I have, experienced redoubled energy, concentration, psychological calm, weight loss, regularity, steady sleep habits and many more benefits leading to our happiness and well-being. Ms. Simontacci may not have all the research -- but she has noticed these benefits in her subjects and they cannot be denied. The science to back up all of her claims is out there and has been stated by nutritionists and backed by research and experience over and over again. Aspartame, for instance, has been found unsafe on many fronts, and not just by some extremist sect as one reviewer claims (see "Excitotoxins" for more info). Most importantly, this book raises questions like, "shouldn't we at least be examining what we put in our bodies and feed our children?" I refuse to one day tell my kids not to do drugs, but the next day feed them non-nutritive, "non-food." ALL chemicals affect our metabolism, and potentially our brain health -- not just certain chemicals. That's what food is designed to do. Otherwise, we wouldn't need it!
The suggestion that we begin eating real food again is not crazy, but common sense that our society overloooks every day. Whether we consciously know the reasons why nutritious food is helping us or not, the benefits are there, and our bodies will do the work. Anyone claiming this book is "junk science" is probably in the food industry, and a "Crazy Maker" himself.