The Fasting Diet

Fasting--going for short periods of time without certain types of foods--is gaining more attention for its ability to detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, promote healing, and lead to heightened emotional awareness and clarity. Presented by an expert in the field, The Fasting Diet is a medically sound and risk-free approach that will allow you to achieve all of the benefits of fasting without endangering health or drastically altering your lifestyle.

1) Water fasting MUST be medically supervized very closely; juice fasting is much less risky in terms of preventing potentially fatal electrolyte imbalance.

2) His "experience" is himself, alone (he also points out that he prepared for his extended water fast experience by using the juice fast...hmmm); Dr. Bailey has supervized thousands of fasters and has reversed many conditions believed to be incurable (sure, water fasting can potentially do the same, but why take greater risks...especially when a series of consecutive fasts are needed to produce the desired results).

3) fasting is NOT a good way to lose weight; you CAN lose weight, but it's not a substitute for rational lifestyle changes.

4) juice fasting is much better tolerated by the average person -I have my several-times-a-day aerobics and yoga instructor patients report that they have ample energy to continue their regular teaching routines; in fact, it's very common of people to claim they feel better and have MORE energy than they normally do while on the juice fast.

5) this list can go on and on.

I don't want to completely "knock" water fasting. It can be useful with the correct execution -i.e. preceeded by a juice fast AND medically supervised. I do not, however, believe that you should go buy a book by some self-proclaimed expert whom religiously swears that water fasts are the best; my experience, the experiences of my patients and the experiences of Dr. Baileys patients have proven otherwise.

Thaddeus Jacobs, ND, LAc
Co-founder, Santa Barbara Center for Natural Medicine


A fantastic book!   May 24, 2003
naturopathicnd (Oregon, USA)
11 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a great book!
I followed the fasting advice and found it easy yet highly effective. The author covers all aspects of fasting including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. This is one of the best books on fasting on the market.


The Fasting Diet by Steven Bailey ND worked for me!   June 2, 2007
Wendy Nankervis (Woodside, Californaia)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

If you are considering a healthy fasting program that is workable, safe, and brings great results, I thoroughly recommend Dr Steven Bailey's book, "The Fasting Diet". I did a lot of research on the net and read a number of books before I finally chose Dr Bailey's book to follow to a "T".

Although Dr Bailey focuses in his book on a 5 day Power Fast, I was doing so well I decided to extend mine to 10 days. I have just begun to reintroduce solid foods again, as he advises, ever so slowly. My goal was to lower my Blood Pressure and (bad) cholesterol.

I went in for a complete checkup today with my doctor and am happpy to report that I have lost 10 lbs in just 13 days, (inluding the 3 day prefast).

My Blood Pressure has normalized from 157/100 to 132/72 and my cholesterol reading has gone down from 220 to 137. I feel great, full of energy, and am amazed that I never felt any hunger, But Dr Bailey tells you exactly how to do that. There are terrific tips that make juice fasting go painlessly. You don't even have to do an enema if you don't wish to. There are other ways to cleanse the system in the book. This is a real how to manual with actual food choices and details on the daily activity for the entire fast. I leaned on this book like a bible. Because I started prepping my body for this adventure (my first fast) three weeks prior to starting, I have ended up losing 20 lbs in total.

It pays to wind down your intake of heavy carby foods, meat and coffee a short period before you start. Shrinking the stomach and slowing down the digestive process for 2-3 weeks will make the cleanse go easier. The whole point is to rid your body of all the built up toxins. This is what brings the body into balance. I'm off my medications and I'm ready for summer!

This book is a must have.


great information   July 30, 2010
Sandra L. Yukes
I am very interested in this subject. i have done a lot of fasting/cleansing and I always like to read about different ways. This is an interesting book. It was recommended to me by a dietitian.