The book begins with Chef AJ’s story from childhood, when the food was good and wholesome, thru how it changed to the more Standard American Diet when she left the fold (and the sad times that followed), up thru making the choice to eat healthier and more simply (and the happiness that brought her).

Chef AJ cites her influences as, among others, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Dean Ornish, and, of course, The China Study by T.Colin Campbell, PhD.

Reading the works of these well-known vegan authors and advocates cemented her understanding of the hazards of added oils, sugar, and salt. The result was a clean and vibrant diet which she explains with ease and confidence in the first part of the book and which shines through in the remaining two-thirds comprising a collection of recipes, both her own and others’.

To my mind, this is a great first book to send a friend or family member as it’s filled with encouragement and guidance that is sure to have them at least taking their first inquisitive steps along the journey to health and well-being. The recipes are right up my alley too, with no added oils, sugar, or salt (though a few use low-sodium tamari, which is actually still rather high in it).

There are lots of dessert and snack recipes and soups and meals that feel ripe for entertaining guests. I’ll try to present a couple with pictures in future posts. In the meantime, when Chef AJ was asked over on Vegan Done Light’s Facebook page to name some of her favorites, she responded, “My favorite entree recipes are the white bean and kale lasagna and the sweet potato nachos.” -Chef AJ

This is one of the easiest cleanses I’ve ever been on, and I’ve done quite a few. No worries about always being by the bathroom, no drinking olive oil or strange shakes all day and no fasting (just the logical recommendations to cut back on or eliminate alcohol, coffee, and fatty or sugary foods). Oh, and no enemas.

Ingredients include… Psyllium Husk, Flax Seed, Fennel Seed, Licorice Root, Papaya Fruit, Grapefruit Pectin, Slippery Elm Bark, Althea Root, Rhubarb Root, Guar Gum, Alfalfa, Peppermint Leaf, Uva Ursi Leaf, Aloe Vera, Stevia Extract, and Natural Banana Flavor.

The tastes is that of the licorice and fennel more so than the banana flavoring, but still much more palatable than straight psyllium or worse, some of the bentonite clay I’ve had on other programs.

The licorice root concerned me, since it can cause high blood pressure in some people, and considering my salt-sensitivity, I’ve been monitoring it throughout. Also, when, after the first week, the daily serving was increased, I kept it the same and just added plain psyllium to make up the difference. I’d be interested to know if they’ve had the glycyrrhizin removed. Or maybe they could offer a version sans licorice?

As you can see on this label, if you are pregnant or nursing, or are not an adult, this cleanse is not for you. For example, senna leaf has been known to cause premature contractions, and the safety of pau d’arco in general is still debatable. I encourage you to click around the links above and learn more about the ingredients and be sure to consult with your physician if you have any preexisting medical conditions.

Lastly, if you’re looking for poop stories and TMI pictures, they have those too; check out the testimonials and pictures linked at the top of their site. For me, it’s been pretty mild, probably because I get a lot of fiber in my diet anyway.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention, while you’re doing this cleanse, you should drink plenty of water, but not too much. Don’t worry, they give guidelines in the accompanying instructions. They also recommend taking a probiotic supplement. (They sell one, if you don’t have a favorite. I just ate plenty of vegan soy yogurt.)