Sandra Cabot | Sandra Dr. Cabot
1 Don't believe everything you read in books!
(Please note that this review pertains not only to this book, but to all of Sandra Cabot's books dealing with liver cleansing diet/syndrome X. I'm just too lazy to do more than one review!)
I have never before given a rating this low to a book, but I feel that this one deserves it, not because it's badly written, but because I found it dangerously written--using some actual medical fact to promote a heap of medical fiction.
I have read several of Sandra Cabot's books, and I've followed her diet plan. I followed it for five months. I'll admit, I was sick when I began it, but let me tell you, I was MUCH sicker when I ended it! My doctor couldn't believe how much sicker I was, but it was all there on my medical records. My blood test results were shocking. They were so far outside normal parameters, they almost made me look like I had lupus, or some other horrible disease. My liver and bowels had never felt worse, and my immune system was going haywire. Naturally, I discontinued the diet, and began to feel much better.
Yes, I did lose some weight on this diet, mostly because it was so restrictive. But I also lost health and quality of life, so the benefits were far outweighed.
Look, I have to say, the type of foods you put into your body are vitally important. I know that well. I've done an 'elimination diet' (which any allergist or nutritionist can put you on), so now I know for a medically proven fact exactly which foods are good for me and which are bad. And I have to tell you, that elimination diet revealed that the foods which were GOOD for me were the exact ones that Sandra Cabot's liver cleansing diet told me NOT to eat. Similarly, many of the foods that the diet said were good for me were really bad!
As far as I can see, the majority of this book is NOT based on medical science, or not any recent, credible medical science, anyway. Or if it is based on recent medical science, it uses it incorrectly to reach many wrong conclusions. The only credible science it uses is a fact that is obvious to all of us: that if you eat too much deep fried and processed food, you're going to get fat and sick and hurt your liver! Well, der! I didn't need a book to tell me that!
Furthermore, I actually realised something shocking recently when I was doing research for a novel I am writing set in medieval times. The 'science' used in medieval medicine is actually very similar to that used in the liver cleansing diet! Medieval medicine deals with balancing the 'humours' of the body, and lists the four different body types and associated attributes that go with them. There are special diets as well, and special treatments associated with each of these types, which are supposed to help 'harmonise' the body and its organs. Of course, medieval medicine was well known for being next to useless: it relied mostly on unsubstantiated 'cures' such as herbs, toxic substances, superstitious beliefs and bloodletting--treatments which were usually more lethal than effective! (There was a very good reason that medieval times were called 'The Dark Ages', and why life expectancy back then was no more than thirty years!) While the liver cleansing diet does not advocate any approaches as drastic as these, and focuses more on diet, the similarities are still patently obvious. And I would certainly not want to trust my health to any diet plan based on a science that advocated treatments like that!
If you want to give this book a try, then fine, go ahead. Some people claim that it has helped them, although I personally believe that this may have happened by accident--for instance, it may have helped them if they had an undiagnosed food allergy such as lactose intolerance, and the diet made them stop or reduce their lactose intake. Such a move WOULD help one's liver and health. The diet may have also helped them lose weight, and if weight loss was their only goal, then it fulfilled all their expectations. But based on my personal experience, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I don't think it will 'cleanse' your liver at all. In fact, it almost made mine bleed, and blood is NOT a cleanser!
If you want to help your liver, eat more vegies, drink less alcohol, cut out some junk food and in spite of what Sandra Cabot tells you, eat cheese! It's low in lactose (unlike milk) and high in protein and calcium, which you need. And don't just assume that soy is wonderful for you, like this book says it is. Remember, it's a bean, and one only has to recall that famous baked bean eating scene in 'Blazing Saddles' to know what an irritant effect beans can have on the bowels!
2 Liver Enzymes "Perfectly Normal"--My doctor says
Post surgery my liver enzymes were mildly elevated. I wanted them back to normal! This diet is easy to follow. Great recipes (I now use it as cookbook). I lost 8 pounds and found that the process really increased my energy.
Thanks Sandra.
3 The first step to a healthier body!
In a country where fast food and processed foods reign, and fad diets take us up and down the weight roller-coaster leaving us, in the end, right where we started, The Liver Cleansing Diet is a healthy, natural breath of fresh air! The Liver Cleansing Diet is excellent! My husband and I decided to try it because we were fast-food junkies looking to change our bad food habits. After the eight-week diet, I have lost 25 lbs. and am still losing, I am no longer addicted to soda and chocolate--in fact, the mere idea of drinking a Coke makes my stomach churn, my husband and I both have more energy, and feel healthier in every way. If you need to lose weight--this is a great way to retrain your body to crave healthy foods. If you don't need to lose weight, but know that you do not eat a well-balanced, healthy diet--this book is also great. I think everyone should do it.
I read the book and I thought, this doesn't sound too bad, but I found myself miserable. I just was frustrated after a week....it was very regimented. I did benefit by eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute called soyffee (www.s o y c o f f e e .com) Its made from soybeans which is a godsend for those troubled with hot flashes like myself. Another book I bought was the South Beach Diet book. I read that book and found the plan to be made up of things I would eat and the items were normal grocery store items so no hunting at the health food stores or buying online.
4 Wonderful Book
It is an amazing little book with valuable info about the liver functions and how to take care of it. Although technical at times, is written in a very simple language. It remind us of the LIVER, the "main" organ of the body and its influence on general well-being as well as in particular conditions. The commom reader may find it enlightening. I recommend it to all my friends and it has changed my life.
5 Excellent diet plan
This is an excellent diet plan. It is a bit difficult to follow, as you really have to plan out your meals and make lots of trips to the produce section. But it is worth every minute of trouble. My liver enzymes were elevated last time I visited the doctor, and she told me to lose weight. I found this book and followed it religiously for 8 weeks. I have lost 45 pounds and feel great! I am continuing many of the rituals set forth in the book, as I feel this diet is a very healthy and common-sense way to lose weight and feel better.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who feels sluggish, bloated, and is overweight. It has been a real lifesaver for me.
6 free tip that is a lifesaver
A female tourist from Australia sitting next to our table, smilingly shouted at me: "you are a criminal feeding all that choclate cake to your baby".Luckily I was aware of that guilt inside me feeding my kid with what he fancies so that I can bribe my way to some peaceful evening.She said that the dark circles underneath his eyes and mine is because we have the so called sweet tooth thingy, gobbling up truckloads of choclates and we look like junkies with theose dark circles around our eyes.
she said you both have CANDIDA OVERGROWTH read this book to clean up the mess.Ihave taken my kid to several clincs, hospitals and doctors, none were able to give that correct diagnosis that all my family has been suffering. this book helped us recover our health and know better about our food and ourselves.
7 Delicious !
The Liver Cleansing Diet is a fabulous book. The philisophy is sound and the recipies are exceptionally delicious and easy.The diet is easy to follow and it works. Buy it and follow it and you will feel bettter!
8 Old hat advice
The good thing about this book is that it eventually groups all of that over the counter liver help advice in one place. However it does take eight chapters to get to it. On the bright side the book is an easy read and if you can stand the four to five chapters of her trying to sell the reader on the diet -yes Dr I get it a clean liver is a happy liver, JUST GET ON WITH IT- then you can sit with a note pad at the local book store and take notes. It is that easy.
9 Good basis, too much hocum
If you want a book which will give you good eating guidelines then this will be a good buy. However, I do object to the unproven hokum attached to this book. Sandra Cabot complains in the beginning of the book that people have denigrated her methods without trying it themselves. However, there is no reference to proper testing within her book to prove her claims. One other reviewer states you have to have a positive attitude to make this work - great, but don't use that mantra to accept any old hokum that comes your way. Healthy eating and drinking is a great thing and this tells you how to do it properly. Believe the other stuff if it helps.
10 If I can do it...You can too.
Two years ago I was feeling poorly and had put on an extra 20lbs. I went to the doctor and was told I had cysts in my liver, which were hindering my normal liver function. The doctor said she would put me on medication. I did not want to go that route, so she suggested The Liver Cleanse Diet. I thought for sure I would not be able to follow a specific diet with my hectic schedule, but decided to give it a try. What a difference it made in my energy level and the way I look at food. By the end of the eight weeks, I was 22lbs. lighter and getting compliments not only on my size but on how terrific my skin looked. Its now two years later, I slipped a little this year on eating way too much refined sugar and put back on about 8lbs. I am sooooo looking forward to getting back on the diet to cleanse my system again. I will probably make it a habit to do the full 8 week program once a year from now on.
11 The Liver Cleansing Diet
I hate diet books, I always used to say to people, this and that are only good or bad for you depending on which book you read. Well, after reading this book, I am totally reformed ! This book tells you WHY such foods are good or bad for you and it is so well explained and easy to understand. Also I actually managed to follow the diet, albeit only for two weeks, and wow, what a difference it made. If only I could stay on it for the whole eight weeks, I could be a super model !! I reccommend this book to anyone that is overweight or just not feeling right. I am certain you will notice a difference in your health.
Thank you Dr Sandra Cabot.
12 Worked for me and I am putting myself on it again!
After coming back from holidays 3kg heavier than my NORMAL 92kg (206lbs) (which is over 15kgs more than my recommended body weight to my height of 5'8") I put myself onto Dr Cabot's Liver-Cleansing Diet on a days notice. Why did I choose the LCD? I didn't have to sign up on anything or go to groups or meetings etc. I had a list of what I could eat and what I couldn't eat and I stuck to it like a zealot. In the course of the eight weeks I lost 13kg's (29lbs) getting myself down from 95kgs to 82kgs (183lbs)!
This proved to me that not only was I well and truly overweight but that my eating habits were absolutely shocking and needed a change. AND I did not starve myself either. I did try to modify the amount of food I ate because not only was the problem what I was eating, but how much, but I never starved myself or went hungry. If I felt like something to eat out of normal meals I would just blend up a banana & soya milk smoothie with frozen bananas and a dollop of natural honey (try it!).
I have two recommendations for people doing this diet.
1: Stick to it religiously, if you allow yourself butter here and there or some greasy chips at a party you will find it too easy to stray from the diet. Dr Cabot says in the book you are allowed the odd indiscretion, but I found for me personally it had to be all or nothing.
2: If you have a partner (wife/husband/etc) then they really should do it as well because the temptation is great to have the food they get to eat. I know this now because I am on the diet for a second time to try and get my weight to around 77kg (172lbs) but my wife is not joining me AS MUCH as the first time round because she doesn't need too (55kg). Seeing that bottle of coke when you are reaching for that soy milk, or that block of cheese sitting next to that block of tofu makes for some mighty effort in willpower but I am sticking to my guns!
Good luck!
13 My gallbladder's still in me
In February of 1999 I was diagnosed as having "A" stone, and a thickened gallbladder. I did other things to get the stone(s) out, but not with a good understanding of the liver's need for essential fatty acids. This caused me some other serious problems, like elevated liver enzymes showing me as having a liver being damaged. I feel that the application of the information I obtained in this book has been instrumental in my recovery, and my not having had another gallbladder, or liver attack, in over two and half years.
I continue to be a strong advocate of the use of Dr. Cabot's books because of the simplicity and clarity with which she presents the information. I feel like she's a friend because of the way in which she has presented this information and consider the information as invaluable regarding what the liver needs to function and why. I use her book as a reference for basic information regarding the liver's function when writing regarding the liver and gallbladder and what I've done to get mine as healthy as it is today.
Armed with an understanding of what is needed for good liver health one can live by the principles of a diet very low or nil of saturated animal fats and hydrogenated (damaged by heat) vegetable fats. I'm very grateful to Dr Cabot for providing such an informative book that clearly lets me see what I needed to do for gaining the best in my over all health.
Since April of 2000 I have been writing on the Yahoo gallstone news group regarding the liver, gallbladder, and gallstones but still point people to her book as an immediate source for information in dealing with gallbladder and liver problems.
Sandra, GREAT JOB! It's been almost three years now and I continue to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, because I still haven't had a gallbladder or liver attack since applying the principles of a liver cleansing diet of which I learned in November of 1999 after reading your book. Not to mention, I also don't have my old sumo gut either, and most of my liver spots have also disappeared from the back of my hands and my forehead. This too I attribute to my adhering to principles of eating the right foods, which I learned from reading your book "The Liver Cleansing Diet".
14 Liver Cleansing Diet
This book and diet was great. It made us realize how much processed foods we eat that are loaded with preservatives, additives and injected with hormones (meats and eggs). My husband lost 22lbs. This weight came off at the end of the diet. We found it hard to revert back to eating like did before the diet. We still continue to eat healthy. We feel so much more energetic. This book has given us healthy way of eating and most likely increasing years to our lives. Anyone can benefit from this book even if you do not follow the diet 100%. Anyone can try the diet at least 50 - 70% and see and feel results.
15 the liver cleansing diet
except two coments that i have on that book, it is simply the best book on liver cleansig diet, and i do believe that this doctor and naturopath saved many people from liver-transplant, and even from maybe death. this is a program that is not live you hungry, and or malnurished,and in the same time cleansing your liver, and in the same time the all body as well. i treating my patients almost the same way, but i believe that the amount of vitamin c should be in a much higher dose,(preferably in the powder-form,and acidic).i dont think that brewer-yeast should be fed by people with detoxification needs, but generaly (including the way, the concepts, and the program, and explanation) are a lot more then any other book that i have seen on liver cleansing, and you can take it from me, i also treat liver diseases.
16 A sensible plan for eating
Once people understand the principles of eating well (healthily) then it is a very easy 'diet' to stick to. You DO feel better, you DO have more energy, and you DEFINITELY look better. I had to go on this diet for my health, and not because of my liver, but I had two heamatoma (blood clots) on my brain and after reading about my problem it was obvious that certain foods would aid in my recovery whilst others would not. The liver cleansing diet was exactly it. It hepled being home from work for three months, but once in the routine, it is easy. The bloodclots disappeared and I lost 8 kgs. (17.6 pounds) Yes, I needed to lose weight but I was not obese. And I wasn't even sticking to the diet to the 'T'. But certainly improved my eating habits. If you are like me and feel sick after ingesting foods that are not balanced then this is something to read. I actually ate about four times as much as I normally do, and still lost all that weight, my skin looks fresh, and my eyes have a healthy glow. As far as literature goes, this is not great, however it makes you understand why your body functions in certain ways, and exactly why you can improve your health/lose weight by eating correctly. This is a great help. I gave it five stars as it acheives what is is meant to. By understanding the functions of the liver and how this relate to general health is really important.
17 some good informations
Good informations about the liver. The twelve vital principles are long term eating habits. I think the eight week plan is too strict, and having lemon juice and water upon rising is too acidity. There is natural remedies that help repair the liver; psyllium, taurine, and milk thistle are some of them. recommendation reading: caffeine blues-stephen cherniske
18 The Unifying Theory of Medicine
This is the best diet/medical book that I have ever read. She explains why a low fat diet works for heart disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, gout, candidasis, and almost every other medical condition. Other physicians know that low fat diets are helpful, but they don't know WHY they help. She does, and she explains WHY in a very easy to read text. Highly recommended. I used the liver cleanse in THE CURE FOR ALL DISEASES by Hulda Regehr Clark in conjunction with this diet for faster results. Remarkable!
19 Excellent, Doctors should read it!
I have battled with elevated liver enzymes for over 10 years and doctors didn't have a clue. I became an herbalist after researching on my own to find out what the problem was, and did quite well but I knew there had to be more that could be done nutritionally, well this is exactly what I was looking for. Just one week into the diet I felt like a new person. I found all the proof in her book I needed that I was on the right track, hormone replacement had caused my problems and 8 different doctors said that could not be it.
Had my liver enzymes checked 1 month into the diet and they had dropped over a 150 points. I have always done the milk thistle and dandelion and lecithin and it helped drop it but not like when I added the diet.
I loan the book to my clients and they always end up buying it, they get such good results for various problems, and it only cements the advice I give them on Herbs and supplements.
I say bravo to Sandra! keep up the good work.
20 Comprehensive, easy to read/implement with results.
"Resetting your immune system and your liver's major functions", while reducing the chemcial, fat and toxic load our systmes have to deal with after long abuse makes PERFECT sense. The program, in my mind, is not really a diet. It is the core solution to dealing with excess fat and toxic stores in our bodies, and allows our immune system and liver cleaning fuctions to get back to what they were created to. I believe that the real solution to depleted energy, life extension, reducing allergic responces, mental retenion can be directly linked to diet.
The menu's can be easily configured, and allow for exteme creativity. I am finding that there are many resturants that are eager to be accommodate and serve "corrective" menus from this plan. I think that most people just do not ask for assistance from the chief/owner. With a little creativity, I have found that even 4-star resturants are very flexible & cooperative in pleasing their patrons in these regards. I found this program through a friend and have referred it to others.
21 My Migraine Cure
After suffering from increasingly frequent and severe migraines and desperate to try anything - I read this book and went on the diet for 4 weeks. Within 4 weeks my migraine symptoms had completely disappeared, I had lost weight and was feeling like a new person with loads more energy!
I never completed all 8 weeks of the diet because it is fairly difficult to maintain and the recipes are time consuming to make - although very tasty! However, I am now more aware of what I eat and have adopted a number of the ideas suggested in the book.
I have not had a migraine in more than 2 years!!
22 A fantastic and empowering book with delicious recipes
This book is amazing because one can approach it from many levels - from following the principles of liver cleansing to the strict 8 week diet. It has changed my approach to food and nutrition because it is as strict as you want it to be.
When the author publishes her next liver cleansing cookbook, i would be keen to buy it.
23 The book promotes a new way of eating.I felt much healthier!
I found Sandra's book in Launceston while I was living in Tasmania, Australia. For the first 2-3 days on the diet and taking the recommended liver tonic, I felt a little run down. Then, after some wholesome and regular bowel movements I began to feel fantastic. I wasn't aiming to lose weight, but I did lose some and felt alot less 'bloated'. Then I was able to control gain & loss by increasing or reducing the amount of food I ate. I did not follow the diet to a "T" but followed its basic concept. After eating this new way for 4 weeks, I went back to my old way of eating (which included dairy products, deep fried foods, refined sweets, etc) and then began to excercise, walk and jog. However, I felt healthier, fitter and livelier and had a much improved complexion eating what is recommended in the Liver Clensing Diet. Now I am in the USA and am finding that disease prevention and curing diets are similar to Sandra Cabot's methods. I quess we just have to have a positive attitude towards things if we want a positive result. I recommend the "Liver Book" to anyone inspired to be healthier.
24 Great diet but not for whimps, the book is poorly written
First, I am a vegetarian though not vegan so the diet was easier for me than it would be for most people - that is an understatement. It is very difficult to eat out and make sure there is nothing in the food you eat that violates the diet. Being a vegetarian I often get food served to me that isn't exactly what I ordered. Even when I ask and ask the waiter/waitress to ask the cook and I still wind up with dead things in my food. So if you eat out be very sure of what you are eating.
This diet is 8 weeks consisting of fruits, grains, veggies egg whites (great!!!) and fish for the middle month, the first and last 2 weeks you can eat free range/organic chickens and eggs. During the whold thing you drink lemon or lime juice (2 large glasses) followed by the juice (fresh sqeezed) of carrot, parsley and celery - I added some beet, dandilion and wheat grass and froze it. This was done care of the local health food store. Sorry but making fresh juice every day and cleaning a juicer - every clean one? - is out of the question for me. Then for the most part I kept the early part of the day to fruits.
The book is great in concept but lousy in content, some specifics were great, others very vague. There are large parts of the book that are cut and paste with a few words changed, I mean chapters. I didn't like the recipies and found it impossible to follow and a couple of them either myself or someone I was doing the diet with made were really bad. There were instructions to eat this and that during a specific time but no reason I couldn't eat anything else (except of course fried, meat, chemicalized... foods - that was clear). Being a vegetarian and having a diet devoid of things like sugar, candy, chocolate, ice cream, cookies, added salt... yes I actually eat like that) I would not eat many of the items for weeks 1-2 and 7-8, the middle was easier for me. And being single, working, doing Yoga... I didn't have the time to prepare food - and if you go by the book you will have to prepare. I did make some of my own, went to the local salad bar and checked the recipies on the soup they made. You may be able to find Amys organic vegetarian frozen foods (don't get the meat loaf, ICK), some organic fruit/veggies at the local super market The book indicates that organic food should be used and is easily available... WRONG. Yes, I can get some but only a small percentage of my food wound up organic.
So for me I basically stayed on the middle month - the hard part for 2 months.
I am naturally slim, work out and had no intention of losing any weight, didn't want to, wanted more weight... I lost 8 lbs and just wasn't hungry. Sure I ate fruit all morning, snacked on some Health Valley fat free (and everything else free, I don't do sugar).
Improvement... I don't know for sure. I have a bit more energy and my dieting buddy has a weak liver and yellow eyes. After a month on the diet her eye color changed to white. So for all the books faults it is still worth it. Mine came free with the liver pills from the same author. I do however question the quality, or at least the mixing of the pills as the pills in the same bottle were of various shades, very unusual.
Good luck, you'll need it. I am pretty good at these things and very strict. No one else I know who was on it was able to stick to it the way I did and I didn't stick to it 100%. If you read it go with the concept, write down on a 1/2 page what you can eat and go to it.
25 it has finally helped me on my road to good health!
the Liver Cleansing diet is my "key" I have been looking for. I am using the techniques in the book and my cholestrol levels and blood pressure are back to normal, not to mention I have lost 25 pds and feel better then ever before. Dr. Cabot's book makes sense and she explains things in a way in which you understand. The recipes are great. If you have tired for a long time to lose weight and couldn't I highly recommend this book. thanks Dr. Cabot for helping me get my life back. This book has become like a "Bible" to me I read it daily! Thanks Darlene Thomas
26 This book makes sense and the diet works!!
I have followed the LCD for about a year and my health has improved over 90%. Some of the recipes are absolutely delicious!!The principles for a healthy liver make sense. I highly recommend this book to folks who are looking to improve their overall health.
