Review: Exercise Your Right to Read This Book
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 20, 2012
A few years ago, the late exercise guru Jack Lalanne was featured in a thirty-minute infomercial that extolled the wonders of juicing. From apples to carrots to beets and grapefruit, it didn't matter---what emerged from this $175 contraption was a sixteen-ounce glass of what was purported to be one of the healthiest treats the public could give to their collective bodies.All this was very well and good; except I'm not a fan of infomercials, and if I want juice, I'm satisfied traipsing off to the local supermarket and purchasing a carton of my favorite blueberry-banana-pomegranate concoction.Granted, I'm shelling out about four dollars, but I figure that since it's my money and I'm perfectly capable of reasonable, sound choices, then Lalanne's P.T. Barnum-esque banter shouldn't matter one iota.Which it didn't.Still, there's something to be said for making your own fresh juice. No artificial colors or sweeteners apply. The entire pear or tomato can be used. The fiber content is fairly high. Buying fruits and veggies in bulk quantities is a cheaper approach to spending money wisely.I admit, watching Lalanne effortlessly shove bananas and chunks of pineapple through a squat cylinder, flipping a switch, and watching the delicious yellow nectar surge forth into a waiting glass was mesmerizing. Even though I knew I wasn't about to make just four easy payments of $43.75, I did get a vicarious thrill of witnessing the relative ease that Lalanne's machine made its holy liquid.It must have been the middle-class aspirant within myself that connected with Lalanne on a deeper emotional level. Why couldn't I have been blessed with a huckster's guile and charm? What did a gullible public see in guys like Lalanne and Ron Popeil?Why couldn't I have their money?Because that's what it boils down to: moving a product as efficiently as possible at the lowest cost for the best price. Guns and butter charts. High school economics. The U.S. of A. Old Glory.Before I start getting nostalgic here, I would add that juicing does have health benefits. My mother, a retired nurse and health afficionado, has extolled the importance of eating the actual fruit or vegetable itself, rather than adhering entirely to just juice. I would tend to agree; however, for those who are diabetic or lack the choppers needed for chewing and swallowing, then juicing would seem a viable alternative.Additionally, juicing has other health benefits. Health-conscious consumers can supplement their fruit and veggie intake with whole grains and plenty of water, as well as complex carbohydrates and legumes that provide plenty of protein and vitamins. By focusing upon maintaining as healthy a diet as possible and avoiding refined sugars and processed foods, the body will be able to detoxify itself and allow time to internally heal and rebuild.Stephen Williams's book "Detox: Get Rid Of the Bad in Your Body" is a timely work that joins an ever-expanding genre of health and fitness titles presently on the market. He encourages the reader to be cognizant of what they consume for their daily meals and to take steps to eliminate poor eating habits while making positive culinary choices that promote wise, healthy eating. As the body is deprived of foods that allow free radicals to form within our cells, the body starts to metabolize excess fat that has collected in problem areas such as the stomach, hips, upper thighs, upper arms, and backside. Thyroid problems become easier to manage as chelation slowly takes place and gradually leads to weight loss and improved metabolism.Of course, Williams is not a doctor, and common sense would tell you to check with a health care professional, e.g. doctor, dietician or nutritionist, before attempting any change in overall diet."Detox" reads well, but doesn't seem to offer viable alternatives for those who seek other ways to stay just as healthy. There are those who simply lack the wherewithal to maintain a healthy regimen, for whatever reason. Maintaining a fruit and veggie diet is important, but having a solid support system to help deal with such a lifestyle change is just as, if not more, important. As a result, the book ends up similar to being a one-trick pony.Williams adds to his repertoire of good topical discussions with "Detox," and while much of the information presented is fairly obvious to even the most casual exerciser (or couch potato), in addition to the occasional grammatical error, "Detox" reads quickly and demonstrates the author's sincere desire to see people succeed in all facets of life, in addition to prompting people to recognize the importance of maintaining good health and well-being for the duration of their lives.