Rating: 
Summary: Practical and realistic explanation of fasting
Review: As a newbie to fasting (I have done limited fasts in the past, but without knowing the physiological effects and optimum procedures) I found this book a very good introduction to it.There are many websites and books on fasting, but I trusted the opinion of the author, since he is a medical doctor, and frequently gives evidence for his assertions. His medical explanations help clarify not only what is helpful and dangerous in a fast, but why. This, in my opinion, separates a credible expert from a crackpot in many fields and particularly for fasting. Some items which may be constued as negative: this is not a step by step guide to fasting (as the author strongly reccomends medical supervision for fasts), and the author spends considerable space on his agenda about the importance of vegan dieting(though dieting is essential to a healthy fast, before and after). This book is definitely worth the money for learning the principles of fasting.
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Summary: Motivation for a healthy lifestyle!
Review: Dr. Fuhrman's book is a sensible explanation of how our diet can palpably improve our health. I found the book highly credible and easy to read even as the author explained diseases and processes in a careful, technical tone. What I most appreciate from Furhman's book is the emphasis on "eating for health." His program is a bit more strict than Dr. Dean Ornish's: he proposes a new basic 4 food groups--fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Furhman's program eliminates all dairy and animal forms of protein. Finally, the tone of the book is optimistic and I found it highly motivating!
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Summary: An Excellent Contemporary Source For Fasting
Review: Dr. Fuhrman's book was just what I was looking for. I had already read Bragg, Shelton, and others, but wanted some more recent critique on water fasting (there are lots of 'washy' books on juice fasting). This is an excellent book for those who want more reassurance on the benefits and practice of water fasting.
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Summary: The Single Best Book To Date on the Science of Fasting.
Review: Fasting per say does nothing to the body. What a fast does is enable the human body to engage in "house-cleaning" in order to restore normality (to the best of the body's abilities). Viz the Medical Journals there are over 500 studies on fasting, though much more research is needed. Dr Fuhrman mentions several of these on his website DrFuhrman.com and in his book. If you undertake a fast for any period of time, I would talk to a doctor who is TRAINED in fasting, like Dr. Fuhrman, who has supervised 1000's of fasts. A physician who is not trained in fasting can be harmful since he is unable to differentiate between symptoms of a fast and symptoms of disease. An uneducated layman is even worse. If you are looking for a step by stop program, then you will need Dr. Fuhrman's upcoming book, as the present book primarily focuses on principles, and the spectacular results achievable in reversing diseases such as uterine fibroids, lupus, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes (type II), and many, many others. If you are skeptical I suggest you read this book and judge for yourself. You owe yourself that much. Let me end with a quote from Dr. Fuhrman's book: After hearing about a natural food diet and therapeutic fasting, individuals may enthusiastically give it a try and get well. It is also possible that they may become excited about the sensibility of this approach and the prospect of finally recovering their health, but then go home to their friends and family and become discouraged after being told that they would be crazy for attempting such an "outrageous" treatment. They might have even called a few doctors they know only to be told that fasting is risky, dangerous and stupid. It continually amazes me how "expert" opinions can be given on something with which someone has had no experience, knows nothing about, and has never read research on. I once had an occasion to speak to one such well meaning physician who was furiously against fasting. I told him I had read, and was thoroughly familiar with over 500 medical journal articles on therapeutic fasting, that I had spent years collecting. I inquired as to which ones he was familiar with, which helped him reach his opinion. His answer was that he had not read one of them. He actually had zero knowledge about the subject and began to ask me questions. He was consumed with the same vague fears and questions the typical layman would have. Though still having doubts, after our conversation he admitted he gave his opinion too hastily, and had much more to learn.
Rating:
Summary: The Single Best Book To Date on the Science of Fasting.
Review: Fasting per say does nothing to the body. What a fast does is enable the human body to engage in "house-cleaning" in order to restore normality (to the best of the body's abilities). Viz the Medical Journals there are over 500 studies on fasting, though much more research is needed. Dr Fuhrman mentions several of these on his website DrFuhrman.com and in his book. If you undertake a fast for any period of time, I would talk to a doctor who is TRAINED in fasting, like Dr. Fuhrman, who has supervised 1000's of fasts. A physician who is not trained in fasting can be harmful since he is unable to differentiate between symptoms of a fast and symptoms of disease. An uneducated layman is even worse. If you are looking for a step by stop program, then you will need Dr. Fuhrman's upcoming book, as the present book primarily focuses on principles, and the spectacular results achievable in reversing diseases such as uterine fibroids, lupus, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes (type II), and many, many others. If you are skeptical I suggest you read this book and judge for yourself. You owe yourself that much. Let me end with a quote from Dr. Fuhrman's book: After hearing about a natural food diet and therapeutic fasting, individuals may enthusiastically give it a try and get well. It is also possible that they may become excited about the sensibility of this approach and the prospect of finally recovering their health, but then go home to their friends and family and become discouraged after being told that they would be crazy for attempting such an "outrageous" treatment. They might have even called a few doctors they know only to be told that fasting is risky, dangerous and stupid. It continually amazes me how "expert" opinions can be given on something with which someone has had no experience, knows nothing about, and has never read research on. I once had an occasion to speak to one such well meaning physician who was furiously against fasting. I told him I had read, and was thoroughly familiar with over 500 medical journal articles on therapeutic fasting, that I had spent years collecting. I inquired as to which ones he was familiar with, which helped him reach his opinion. His answer was that he had not read one of them. He actually had zero knowledge about the subject and began to ask me questions. He was consumed with the same vague fears and questions the typical layman would have. Though still having doubts, after our conversation he admitted he gave his opinion too hastily, and had much more to learn.
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Summary: problem
Review: Hi, I'm an MD from Holland (age 25) and really liked the book. However, I tried complete fasting to remedy my recurrent depressions and tinnitus, but after 5 days I felt very weak and breathless. When I had my blood tested I had low red bloodcells (4.17 milj), low Hemoglobin (13 Gm/DL) low White blood cells (2.8 *1000)and High bilirubin total (2.5 MG/DL). Does any reader (doctor perhaps) know how to explain this? Was I breaking down cells in order to have enough energy supply? The doctor in Las Angeles that I visited couldn't explain it. He tested my liver enzymes but they were normal. So,I quit the fasting. Who can explain my problem? E-mail me at daantimmer@hotmail.com Greetings, Daan Timmer
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Summary: THE RIGHT STUFF!!!
Review: I am Dr. Steven Acocella and I have been in private practice for 15 years. In addition to my training as a doctor I completed post-graduate studies in Human Nutrition at the University of Bridgeport and a residency program in clinical nutrition directly under Dr. Fuhrman. My knowledge and experience allows me to comment on his work with a depth of understanding shared by only a few. That said, I am writing this because I felt the strong need to comment having viewed some of the weird, self-serving posts and 'reviews' in recent weeks. Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live is the most comprehensive research-supported and scientifically credible diet book, offering significant health improvement, longevity and sustained weight control, simultaneously. Dr. Fuhrman has successfully treated thousands of over-weight patients (with a variety of related medical problems) many of which were referred to him by other physicians because of his impressive results. (see physicians comments on drfuhrman.com).
But, there are crazy people and those who feel threatened by Fuhrman's ideas who will work feverishly to attack and discredit him. His powerful message poses a resounding danger to the profits of the food, drug and weight loss industry; industries that have billions of dollars to spend on advertising. Dr. Fuhrman's rise in popularity will unquestionably cost these industries untold millions in lost sales. They will wisely make large investments to discourage the ever-increasing popularity of Eat to Live and plan appropriate counter-attacks against him.
One such group is called the "Center for Consumer Freedom" established with a grant from Philip Morris (its funding now largely derived from the liquor and fast-food industry). They have previously been hostile to Mothers Against Drunk Driving and have also stood in opposition to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, The Center for Disease Control, numerous animal protection groups and The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. In reality, the group seeks to impair consumer choice. They achieve this by disrupting the discussion and dissemination of information by anyone's message that details the dangers of certain (unhealthy) foods and substances. Their approach is simple: "If you can't argue with the message, shoot the messenger." Rather than intelligently discussing health issues, CCF attacks health advocates, like Fuhrman. The attacks against Dr. Fuhrman are directly proportional to his book sales. They're both on the rise! But these phony, unsupported attacks are easy to spot. Be particularly skeptical of vicious attacks with a similar style with rotating names and city locations that instantaneously pop-up again as soon as Amazon decides an old posting was too unbelievable and inappropriate to leave on their system. These 'objective reviewers' also typically claim they are a doctor. Or they claim to have spoken to a doctor who invariably indicts Dr. Fuhrman's book as dangerous. Physicians and the scientific community don't make critiques or advise in this method. Dr. Fuhrman always evaluates another author's diet book by looking at scientific research studies that point to its value or dangers. This is clear in his discussion of high protein diets or diets rich in trans-fats or refined foods. I am very interested in watching what will happen as the opposition gets more creative and uses more of their big budgets to protect their profit and loss statements. I hope Dr. Fuhrman has a bullet proof vest. For me, having already seen many, many lighter, healthier and happier people successfully embrace Eat to Live I know which side I'm on! Read the book and decide for yourself.
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Summary: Thoroughly researched scientific overview of fasting
Review: I am interested in learning more about fasting, and have read several non-medical books on the subject. By the time I got this book, I was looking for a book on fasting that could back up its claims as well as making them freely. I bought this book looking for a well researched overview of fasting with case studies, and I got what I paid for, in spades! Not only did Dr. Fuhrman present his conclusions in easy-to-read language, he footnoted every conclusion he presented with the study (many times, multiple studies) he used to form those conclusions. The studies are primarily current and from major medical publications (JAMA, NEJM, etc) with little reliance on anecdotal or dated information. I was highly impressed, and that's pretty hard to do. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, the one charge that *cannot* be reasonably levelled at this book is a lack of fact, citations, or research. The studies he cites are definitely out there and available for anyone who wants the raw data and is willing to do the further research. I did find the book a little light on dietary recommendations; in other words, a healthy diet is stressed and some general guidelines are given, but he doesn't lay out specific do's and don'ts, perhaps thinking that is best left up to the reader. I would have liked to see more of that, but since that's not why I bought the book I didn't miss it much. One thing I did like very much was that he consistently and squarely lays the responsibility for one's own health at one's own feet. After having personally dealt with too many doctors who are threatened by patients who think, this was incredibly refreshing. Dr. Fuhrman makes it clear that he is not the healer; the patients are. The patients do the work and the patients heal themselves -- he presents his role as that of a facilitator. In my opinion, that is the only healthy view of medicine there is, so he's definitely made a fan of me! One last word: anyone who doubts the validity of fasting as a healing modality is likely someone who never fatsted. It's not just Dr. Fuhrman; this is centuries old and richly documented. Unless you've got a clear medical reason not to fast, it's definitely worth trying. I have, and my limited experience is that Dr. Fuhrman is right on the money with his recommendations and observations. Excellent book! Thank you, Doc!
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Summary: The definitive word on fasting
Review: I believe this book to be the proper guide for anyone considering fasting of any duration. Dr. Fuhrman is a qualified person to teach the rights and wrongs of fasting because he has lived it himself and deals with fasting everyday as a prefessional medical practioner. If one reads this book, it will become evident that his ideas are sensible, believable, and practical. He references well and cautions prudently. He is not trying to sell a magic product or is flamboyant in his ideas and presentation. He offers just straightforward and sound advice based on his knowledge and experience. Buy or borrow this book and read it for your own well-being. And you won't be wasting your time sifting through the endless pit of questionable diet and health books and products out there.
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Summary: A down to earth and practical guide to better health
Review: I found this book to be one of the better sources of information regarding fasting. It takes a subject that is somewhat taboo and breaks it down into simple and understandable terms. I think it's worth reading even if you don't want to practice what is being discussed. It never hurts to understand what is going on even if you don't want to do it. I will tell you this, I have followed this book and a few others and have made tremendous gains. Not in weight but in my health. One of the benefits that can't be touted enough is the true feeling of being in control of your own body. Once you get that feeling you lose this sense of helplessness and understand that your health is your own responsibility.
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