Have any of you tried or heard of a brown rice detox / diet? It's supposedly a detox first, but because it rids your body of toxins and makes your system more efficient, you end up losing weight because of it. It is detailed in a book called 'You Are All Sanpaku'; look that up at Amazon.com and read the reviews. Sanpaku is a Japanese word that seems to sum up the general, low grade, ill health we are almost all in because of our sorry diets.


Here's a couple notes I copied from somewhere on it:
"
This particular *fast* is a modified version of the macrobiotic fast which
is often incorrectly referred to as the brown rice diet, or Diet Number 7.
The basic premise behind this form of fast is to provide only the basic
nutrients required for each body part/system to function, and to eliminate
all food products that are not *essential* to allow the body's acid/alkaline
balance (ph or homeostasis) to stay at a steady norm (7.4) which is that
of human blood. During the 10 days of this fast, any excess or residual waste
is eliminated, and the body/mind brought into harmony. Because whole grain
cereals (pref. organic) provide close to 100 percent of the body's nutriental
needs (unless the body is too weak to syntesize these nutrients) and have
the same ph (7.4) as the blood, it is the food of choice.


The modification part comes in to play because most Americans do not posess
the necessary enzymes to convert these whole foods into complete, assimilable
nutrients. This is due to a large consumption of meat, pollution, food
additives, out-of-season foods, and foods imported from outside one's
native environment (lessens adaptation ability). To compensate for this
inability to fully transmute the necessary food elements into body elements
a small amount of supplemental whole foods, close to the cereal ph have
been added: these are legumes, sea kelp, miso, sesame seed paste, corn
oil. When I say small amount, I'm talking no nore than 1-2 tablespoons
per day! The beverages used along with this fast are also limited to
either a neutral local bush herb (like blueberry or holly) or green tea,
kukicha, roasted rice or barley tea. Plain water and aromatic teas are
avoided. " (end quote)



I don't think I can do brown rice and absolutely nothing else, but I could try making brown rice the base of all my meals and just add a few other items for health and taste. For example, I would still consume lots of water and teas, and some lean meats and vegies. And my protein shake that has almost a whole days fruit servings in one blender. Here's a breakfast recipe I had this a.m. that was actually pretty good:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-aSE2YupU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-aSE2YupU)



1/2 c brown rice

T sliced almonds

T of raisins, cranberries, etc.

1/4 c soy milk or other milk

T maple syrup

Dash of vanilla extract

Cinnamon




I really love rice, and the ease and simplicity of this (I hate to be bothered with food! I only eat because I HAVE to!) is as appealing as the health benefits.

Anybody game to try this?

Please don't do this, your metabolism will be affected, not in a good way...Diets are never good for your body and nobody who's healthy needs to detox, our bodies are meant to get rid of toxins...JMO ;)

That said, brown rice is healthy and good for you so incorporating it to your meals is a good idea! :)

A humungous second to Kiki's advice. If you are eating a healthy diet of whole grains, vegetables and lean protein, there is no need to "detox", your body will take care of you.

I agree with the others. The "detox" is probably just from the increase in fiber. If people ate the way nature intended (i.e. no junk/processed foods, more fiber etc) there would be no need to detox.

That said, that brown rice recipe looks yummy. :) I have no probs with brown rice...but if it's the only thing to eat...it doesn't seem right. And I probably wouln't do it.

We actually discussed this in my Nutrition class the other day. Basically, a REALLY BAD IDEA. You might lose some weight (most likely water weight), but you will gain everything back when you eat normally again. Those "cleanses" make one lose weight for a very, very short amount of time. In the end, it's not worth it. Besides, they're lying and you are definitely NOT getting even the basic nutrient requirements. Basic nutrient requirements incorporate all the food groups (you're lacking protein), and your body needs at least 1200 calories-often more-to function.

We were just having a discussion about fasting/detoxing when I was with my three sisters a couple weeks ago. It was two against two...two for and two against, me being one of the against ones! I've never heard anyone say that fasting was a good thing and all of a sudden my sister that's usually very smart when it comes to nutrition just swears by detox/fasting. I'll have to research it some because I've always heard to NOT fast because it messes up your metabolism but she swears it necessary to get all the toxins out of your body. I cannot imagine how horrible I'd feel if I fasted! I'd probably die of the worst head ache ever known to mankind...HEEHEE! :D I don't want to ever screw up my metabolism because that's one thing I have going for me is that I have never ever crash dieted and I can eat a normal amount of food and never gain any weight! :)

I think we fast in different ways without knowing it. For instance, when you are sick your appetite goes. I suppose its to concentrate energy into fighting an illness. Then when you are well again your appetite is ravenous. I noted this after having the flu. Also the urge for liquids ie. soups when ill is just another way of fasting. You are giving the body a break as heavy meals divert energy that is needed for repair.

I only agree with a fast if its supervised properly and done with the right method. Its better than abusing laxatives or diuretics to lose weight.

One should never fast if ill, senior or have a pre-exsisting condition like cancer. There are also some illness that affect the appetite that you end up losing weight too.