T H E 4  W E E K U L T I M A T E B O D Y D E T O X P L A N This page intentionally left blank ffffiirrss..iinndddd vvii 22//22//0088 66::1100::5500 PPMM T H E 4  W E E K U L T I M A T E B O D Y D E T O X P L A N Michelle Schoff ro Cook Copyright © 2004 Michelle Schoff ro Cook All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopy- ing, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to Th e Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free 1-800-893-5777. Care has been taken to trace ownership of copyright material contained in this book. Th e publisher will gladly receive any information that will enable them to rectify any reference or credit line in subsequent editions. Th is publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author(s) and is designed to pro- vide useful advice in regard to the subject matter covered. Th e author(s) and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, therapeutic, or other services in this publication. Th is publication is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. Th e author(s) and publisher ex- pressly disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Schoff ro Cook, Michelle, Th e 4-week ultimate body detox plan / Michelle Schoff ro Cook. ISBN 0-470-83509-5 1. Detoxifi cation (Health) I. Title. II. Title: Four week ultimate body detox plan. RA784.5.C66 2004 613 C2004-905295-0 Production Credits: Cover design: Sharon Foster Design Interior text design and illustrations: Mike Chan Front cover photo: Getty Images Printer: Transcontinental Printed in Canada 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 DEDICATION I am so blessed with wonderful supportive people in my life. I dedicate this book to Curtis, little Juniper, Mom and Dad, Bob, and Father Ron. To my beautiful husband and soulmate, Curtis. I celebrate the day you walked through the doorway into my life and every day since then. You are the best thing that ever happened to me and will always be my best friend, confi dante, partner, love, and soulmate. I am blessed to share my life with you. Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same. To the memory of Juniper. You touched my heart and soul. I will always carry you with me and will never forget you. To my wonderful and supportive parents, Michael and Deborah Schoff ro. Your recognition and nurturing of the writer within me since I was a few years old has immensely helped me in my life. From the early days of writing down my stories for me as I dictated them and listening to my poetry as a child, your love and support have helped me evolve and grow as a person and a writer. To my sister, for your friendship and fabulous healthy recipes. Your vibrant energy and contribution to my life and this book are greatly appreciated. To the memory of Monseigneur Ron Synnott. You were always like a father to me, inspiring, motivating, and helping me through some of the most diffi cult times in my life. Many people do not have one loving father in their life; I was blessed with two. Th ank you. You will always have a special place in my heart. You still inspire me. v This page intentionally left blank ffffiirrss..iinndddd vvii 22//22//0088 66::1100::5500 PPMM CONTENTS Acknowledgements x 1: How Toxic Are You? 1 2: You Are What You Eat and Drink 19 3: You Are What You Breathe, Th ink, and Do 45 4: Th e Gentle Detox Solution 81 5: Th e 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan 113 6: Power-Packed Detoxifi cation 143 7: Emotional Detox Strategies 157 8: Targeting the Kidneys and Intestines 179 9: Targeting the Lymphatic System (and Cellulite) 207 10: Targeting the Liver and Gallbladder 221 11: Targeting the Blood, Lungs, and Skin 249 12: Complementary Detox Th erapies 269 13: Th e Ultimate Body Detox Plan Recipes 285 14: Th e 4-Ultimate Body Detox Plan Lifestyle 311 Resources 314 Bibliography 319 Index 321 vii FOREWORD In all of recorded history, humanity has never been engaged in a battle as signifi cant as the one we face today. Never has our future been threatened as severely as it is now. Th e enemy is not a terrorist organization or a rogue nation seeking global domination; it is the environment we have created —the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. We have taken the gifts of life presented to us and poisoned them. Over the last two centuries, the human race has radically altered this planet and in so doing has radically reduced its own capacity to deal with toxic expo- sure. Th e human body possesses an incomprehensible wisdom that we have yet to fully grasp, a wisdom that enables us to heal from a multitude of injuries, illnesses, and traumas. However, our bodies were not designed to manage the magnitude of toxicity we expose them to every day. Th e result is an epidemic of cancer, respiratory and heart disease, diabetes, allergies, and a multitude of other environmental and physical illnesses. Detoxifi cation, on both a global and a personal level, has become a necessity in our modern world. My introduction to detoxifi cation grew out of necessity. I was ex- posed to Agent Orange—considered the most toxic human-made toxin ever produced—on numerous occasions during the Vietnam War. As a result of this exposure, I developed a nerve disease known as peripheral neuropathy that aff ects much of my body, causing me to limp and limiting the use of my arms and hands. I found no solutions in our conventional medical system and eventually began what has now become my pioneer- ing research and writing in the natural health movement. I learned that my lymphatic system was essential for dealing with toxins in the body and how, by naturally cleansing the lymph and other systems, I could not only eliminate these toxins but also lose weight and alleviate other health conditions at the same time. I am, as far as I know, the longest survivor of Agent Orange–induced peripheral neuropathy. My understanding of toxins and how to overcome them through nutrition and lifestyle choices has saved my life. I have shared this information with millions of people around the world in my Fit for Life books. Michelle shares her compelling story of healing with wisdom and compassion as she gently guides you through this exceptional book. She, too, has lived with the debilitating eff ects of toxic overload and, through her research and persistence, has created a program that helped her re- claim her life. Michelle’s detoxifi cation plan is thorough, covering the intestines, liver, gall bladder, kidneys and urinary tract, lymphatic system, respiratory tract, skin, and blood, while helping to break down fat stores and cellulite—common storage areas for toxins. Th e Four-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan she presents is comprehensive, but it is not complex. It integrates holistic solutions from both Eastern and Western medicine and reintroduces the reader to all the best things this world has to off er: nutri- tious food, clean water, living with integrity, and balancing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our lives. I am quite familiar on a personal level with the toxic world we live in. So is Michelle Schoff ro Cook. Read her book carefully and put into practice her simple, straightforward, common sense principles, and you will be glad you did for the rest of your long and healthy life. Harvey Diamond ix