Tracy T. (charliebear) -
This is a very general and useful introduction to many aspects of fasting (historical, biological, medical). Luckily, the good doctor doesn't get into the spiritual aspects, but sticks to what he knows and does a great job of it.
This book does not offer precise diets. The two diets offered are very simple one page suggestions geared to general situations. What the book really does is explain the ill-effects of the recommended American Heart Association's ideal diet for people with coronary disease. The doctor explains why a primarily vegetarian diet is what will put one on the road to self-healing and why, after a few months of a clearly vegetarian diet, one would be ready to go on a 7-21 day fast under medical supervision.
I've always been wary of "medical supervision needed" in books written by Western doctors. However, Fuhrman is talking about allowing the body to recover permanently from serious health issues such as type-2 diabetes (and in some cases type-1), cancers, high blood pressure, coronary diseases, and high cholesterol readings. He isn't promising cures, he's promising a program that will put you back into good health and, if you can stick to it, a vegetarian-type approach to eating that will keep you there. And, once you read this book, you'll know he has the data and experience to show why fasting works!
This is not a book for people who think a pill can cure them. This is not a book for people who are more concerned about eating what they want than getting healthy. This is not a book for people who think they can "go it alone" on a fast longer than 3 days. This is not a book for people who think "juice fasts" can accomplish the same thing as water fasts.
This is a book for severely ill people who want to get well and have the mental and physical discipline to truly try. It's also a book for healthy people who want to stay well and/or change their approach to food intake.
If you check out Dr. Fuhrman's current website, you'll see that his whole angle seems to have switched to the weight-loss market. But, that's okay because this early gem of a book tells you all you need to know to figure out where to find a fasting clinic and get started with a supervised fast.
This book does not offer precise diets. The two diets offered are very simple one page suggestions geared to general situations. What the book really does is explain the ill-effects of the recommended American Heart Association's ideal diet for people with coronary disease. The doctor explains why a primarily vegetarian diet is what will put one on the road to self-healing and why, after a few months of a clearly vegetarian diet, one would be ready to go on a 7-21 day fast under medical supervision.
I've always been wary of "medical supervision needed" in books written by Western doctors. However, Fuhrman is talking about allowing the body to recover permanently from serious health issues such as type-2 diabetes (and in some cases type-1), cancers, high blood pressure, coronary diseases, and high cholesterol readings. He isn't promising cures, he's promising a program that will put you back into good health and, if you can stick to it, a vegetarian-type approach to eating that will keep you there. And, once you read this book, you'll know he has the data and experience to show why fasting works!
This is not a book for people who think a pill can cure them. This is not a book for people who are more concerned about eating what they want than getting healthy. This is not a book for people who think they can "go it alone" on a fast longer than 3 days. This is not a book for people who think "juice fasts" can accomplish the same thing as water fasts.
This is a book for severely ill people who want to get well and have the mental and physical discipline to truly try. It's also a book for healthy people who want to stay well and/or change their approach to food intake.
If you check out Dr. Fuhrman's current website, you'll see that his whole angle seems to have switched to the weight-loss market. But, that's okay because this early gem of a book tells you all you need to know to figure out where to find a fasting clinic and get started with a supervised fast.
