The UltraSimple Diet

Here it is so simply that you don't even need a book: Eat stuff that grows and stuff that eats stuff that grows.

Only berries? That was the weird part for me, but ok.

You lost me with no caffeine. ;-P

Well really, other than my java, I'm already there! Woo Hoo!

YAAAAAAAAAWWWWNNN!!!! Same old, same old.

Why are people so obssessed with "detoxing"? We should all eliminate
processed and refined carbohydrates and sugar; HFCS; trans-fats; processed, packaged, junk and fast foods, and cut back on (or eliminate) alcohol and caffeine.

People will "do" this diet for the seven magic days, congratulate themselves on their detox, then go back to the eating style that made them fat and tired in the first place.

I've got a simple two-step diet for you:

1. Eat less crap (i.e. eat more whole foods).

2. Exercise regularly.

These detox books, IMO, are a rip-off. Is there anyone who still believes fast food is good for you or that you can eat as much as you like of Food A as long as you eliminate Food B? I feel like there are hundreds of books outlining common sense concepts at $10 a pop.

The foods the author suggests people should eat during the program are the foods people should be eating all the time. Whole foods are good for you. Processed foods tend to be bad for you.

It's simple...and doesn't require a trip to Amazon.com.

I agree with Never Teh Bride. I've tried a lot of these diets and detox regimens. They never work as promised and the changes never lost. What finally worked for me was gradually changing my lifestyle to be healthier. I ate less, I ate healthier and I exercised more. Amazingly enough, I lost weight!

Gal

I, for one, am a fan of Dr. Hyman’s books, although I have not yet read this new one. In his previous books, he does present a clear case for minimizing toxins in our food in order to improve health and lose weight. His dietary approach will also lower calorie intake for most people and improve their insulin response to food, leading to weight loss.

Comments from some of your other readers suggest that this is a “no-brainer” diet. However, most of those I advise on weight loss are confused and need direction. Some still think the way to lose is to skip meals or live on processed diet foods. A whole foods diet is definitely the better way to go!

The ultra simple diet is: Eat healthy and less, and exercise more... Yo really don't need a book for that !

Susan Parsons MD said:
he does present a clear case for minimizing toxins in our food in order to improve health and lose weight[...]

Uh, hasn't this already been said by someone else? This is hardly anything new!

My home town in a village in Hainan Island of China.

In the old days most people eat sweet potato,vegetables as laking of rice;eat less meat such as pork,beef but easier to have fish as sea is not far away.
Air is clean and fresh.
Quite a number of people live long lives there, not difficult to find people with ages reaching 85,95 or so.

I bought the book and find the title misleading. The diet is not ultrasimple as you are supposed to create shakes with rice protein and crushed flaxseed, among other things. Personally, I don't have these things handy and have to go to a special store to get them. This would be ultrasimple if I could go to my local grocery store for the ingredients. (Also, this guy seems really obsessed with constipation.) I've had to simplify the "ultrasimple" diet in order for me to give it a try.

Oy, I ordered this book and forget it. You have to drink 3-4 cups a day of the "ultra-broth", you have to make "ultra-shakes" and take mega doses of vitamins and supplements. Seriously, if this is so good for you, why do you need so many supplements? It certainly seems very healthy, but utterly ridiculous...another one I'm getting rid of. Blech.

My friend bought this book and somehow roped me in to trying this diet. I only agreed because I know I am addicted to sugar and caffeine and need to break the addiction with a cleanse. We went to Trader Joe's and Hi-Health. Many of the ingredients were not in either location. Frankly, I don't know where we were supposed to go to get all those ingredients. Then the schedule of 20 minutes of yoga twice a day, 20 minutes of journaling twice a day and then 30 minutes of exercise, steam, AND an ultra bath....you've GOT to be kidding!! I am a single parent who works 40 plus hours a week and has two kids - so that's not happening. I'll be lucky to squeeze in the 30 min of exercise and maybe a bath. Then the ultra shakes are about as flavorful and have the consistency as wet cement. I will say drinking the flavorless broth is a lot more enjoyble than pouring the wet cement down your throat. I would not recomment this book. Like it says above. Just avoid processed foods. Drink lots of filtered water, exercise, and don't eat anything that comes in a box.

I'd recommend the Master Cleanse. Like most commenters have said, this seems like SSDD.

Fasts have been used for centuries by individuals all over the world. I saw very good results from my fast and allowed me to take the time away from food to build a new relationship with it. My body just cannot handle meats and dairy the same way, so I eat less of them. I can FEEL the difference in how my body processes different foods.

I've been mainly organic since the fast. I'd recommend the fast to people to use right before they make a eating style change - such as going vegetarian or raw food as well.

I made the ultra-broth and found it delicious. So did my family. It was quick to make; all the ingredients were available from a chain-grocery. Everything used was organic (don't know about the ginger root and seaweed).
The ultra-broth was a Japanese style broth without a fishy taste. With three of us sipping the broth, it was gone in a day. My vegetarian daugher helped herself to the turnips from the broth and was delighted.

Whole food, clean water, sunshine, and exercise are the key, plus some good ole commone sense.

Tried this diet for 5 days faithfully, no cravings but I was fatigued, nauseas, and day 3 I started itching!!! It is now 2 1/2 weeks later, I'm now under the care of a dr and just finishing 10 days of steroids. The itching has subsided some, but I've torn my skin up and I've never been so miserable. The dr thinks it was the Chlorophyll caps that the article recommend to prevent bad breath and body odor.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS DIET!!
PS: I only lost 2 lbs!

I love all of Dr. Hyman's books! Read them all and you will have more appreciation for this short one. Two weeks ago I finished a week of the packaged food I bought from his web site and it got me off sugar. I have been detoxed now twice from sugar - the first time with his book "The Detox Box" (see my review at amazon.com) and now with this program. I went with the food program to make simple simple- It is not so simple for most of us with busy lives- still I am very happy with the results - still eating the way I should - small qty of healthy foods and water exercise every other day.

Question: What is the difference between "The Detox Box" and the book "The Ultrasimple Diet Plan" If I want to commit to this diet, do I need both, or is one better than the other?

Thanks,

Amanda

Bought the book. Followed the diet to the tee. I lost 23 lbs. in 3 weeks but more importantly I feel better than I have in years. I truly believe in Dr. Hyman's theories and strongly suggest this book.

Last I recall ,Lemons are a citrus fruit...

Has anyone heard of the diet where you just eat egg whites and drink alot of water

Patty Harlow said:
Has anyone heard of the diet where you just eat egg whites and drink alot of water[...]

Rabbit Starvation Syndrome. That's when you get too much of the daily caloric value from protein consumption.

I found this excellent blog post while looking for information to share with you:
http://backacrosstheline.blogspot.com/2007/09/rabbit-starvation-syndrome.html

Conclusion: It would be better to eat the whole egg. Not only would you lose more weight, your body preferentially burning fat as a fuel, but you wouldn't die either!

My girlfriend turned me on to the book and diet. I did followed it for 9-10 days just prior to having blood work done for a physical. I lost 10 lbs, and my cholesterol, which was over 300 the last time I tested (over a year before), fell to 230 (I had not made any other health changes since the last test). I also felt much healthier afterward.

The only problem I had is that i was getting bored with the routine of brown rice and vegetables (add a source of protein at dinner).

Some friends said I'd gain the weight back once I started drinking beer again. I haven't, and I'm now down a total of 14 lbs. One of the claims is that it helps restore your metabolism; I believe it has. I also now have the shake 5-6 times/week (along with the recommended lemon juice with warm water). I add almond butter for additional flavor. While rice protein powder is hard to find, you can also use whey.

I like the broth too.

I just finished a 4-day "renewal." I periodically do this because that's how long the batches of broth and rice last. So one might consider that another criticism--having to make several batches over the week.

I suppose we all react different to things, but I'm sold on this, and it has changed my life for the better.

Foolishly I did not read the ingredients in the rice protein powder. As well as eatting nuts for snacks. Well, anybody who suffers with any form of the herpes should be aware that the rice protein has over 1400mg. of L-Argenine per serving and nut are very high in it also.L- Argenine feeds the herpes virus. Two days into the diet I had a massive outbreak, I stopped the protein powder and the nuts but they kept on comming. So be ware this diet is not for everyone. Before I started this diet I had not had an outbreak in over a year.

Cheers to Ted, the stiil, small voice amid the throng of noisy naysayers. Ted actually tried it. The armchair critics can be found anywhere -- but the bottom line is, they're all still fat and sick.

I personally haven't tried it yet, but based on all the REAL health studies done in recent years (the objective ones ... not the ones sponsored by the "cut-and-drug" medical establishment), Dr. Hyman's plan can't miss, if you're interested in improved health and permanent weight loss.

I think it's amazing how close this diet resembles Macrobiotics. Macrobiotics is the best diet to follow and yes you can eat meat also! Miso is the best broth for healing!

Can you eat eggs on the Detox Diet? If so, what do you recommend, I have looked and didn't see anything about eggs, or I missed it.

Yes this is another detox diet, but I've noticed that no one has really mentioned the main reason for his book which is to get rid of food sensitivities as well as the toxisity of the food aditives in our processed diet. I did this diet and lost a bit of weight from it but the biggest benefit was how good I felt afterwards. Yes you feel like you were runover by a transport after about 5 days because when you have a food sensitivity you go through a form of withdrawl once you go off that food. Then within a couple of days you have so much energy that you don't know how you ever got out of bed before doing this program. I wanted to test it to see if it was really the program that was making me feel this good and have gone back to my old ways. I feel just as lousy as I did origionally. So I plan on going right back on it and staying on for the entire time and doint it properly. If you want to get rid of food sensitivities, you have to do this for about 4 months and then slowly reintroduce the different food categories that you may be sensitive too. Eventually you can eat most foods (without additives)because the food sensitivities will be gone. If you don't have food sensitivities though, you would likely be fine after the quick version of his plan because you will have gotten rid of the trans fats, chemicals and bad sweeteners from your system. It isn't really easy and is a bit mundane for the first while until you get more creative with your spices, vegetable choices, etc., but I definitely recomend this diet even just for how you feel after you do it.

Well,Dr. Hyman is right on but unnecessarily strict. I belong to a monastery up in Canada and go there once a year if possible. The food served there is fresh (as in no frozen or canned), no animal flesh or broths, tofu is the main protein (usually sauteed in olive oil, if not baked); eggs and cheese are offered, but no cows milk (only rice and soy milks); organic everything is served whenever possible. Caffeine is allowed; sugar is allowed, such as for your morning cereal or in coffee or tea, but none after 2:30 pm.(moderation encouraged for both). Mixed nuts and fruits are available all day for between meals, but no eating after 5:30 pm (you can have fruit if you really are hungry). You must walk everywhere on the campus unless you are physically unable. I estimated I walked around 1 to 2 miles per day just going back and forth to meals, and to classes (at least 6 hours per day of sitting). I stayed there just under a month on my last trip. Yes, it really does work; I did nothing but eat healthy foods and walk and viola! - I dropped a full 18 pounds without even trying! Go Figure. When I got home and jumped onto the scales, I about fell off as I have NEVER lost that much in that short of time on even the strictest of diets. And I was 59 years old at the time! Also, the foods are served buffet style; nothing is limited in any fashion except dessert, where they always had some sort of sweet at lunch ONLY, such as cookies or fruit pie, usually sweetened with natural maple syrup. You are encouraged to eat heartily, but not to stuff, for breakfast and lunch (when you are using most of your daily calories), and lightly but still satisfied at supper (which helps one sleep better). Food sensitivities are fully addressed to the best of their ability, preparing foods for you accordingly if at all possible. In this program the natural foods naturally cleanse your body. The first three days were rough; I was grumpy and tired and having sugar withdrawal. Then my energy level started increasing daily; within a week I felt great, and by the time I got home I felt like I had a whole new body & better than when I was in my 20's. I can't emphasize highly enough how absolutely FANTASTIC and STRONG I felt. I never knew it could feel so good to feel so good! :)

I forgot to add that butter (not margarine) is also offered with the meals, along with homemade 100% whole grain breads.

Lots of people griping about all the work involved. Sounds like more of the same excuses excuses excuses. If you dont feel you are worth the time it takes to make a smoothie, or some broth or to shop for ingredients then perhaps you'll always struggle with turning things around. I just started the USD and dont feel it is a diet at all. It is an eductaional program from which I hope I will learn its lessons and adapt to my every day life for the rest of my life.

I say, "Everything in moderation." *nods enthusiastically* ^_________________^

Mouse &hearts

The ultra simple diet is: Eat healthy and less, and exercise more... Yo really don't need a book for that !

Hi

all great to read your comments regards the ultras simple diet as i am thinking of giving it a go but whats all this broth? and can anyone give me an idea of the ingredients as i live in cyprus where very little alternatives are avilable for purchse.

regards Julie

I just want to mention what only ONE other person did and that is that the purpose of this book is not to lose weight. Its goal is to take away all common allergens so as to reduce INFLAMMATION in the body. Losing weight is only an aside. The goal is to stop fatigue and achy joints. Maybe you should have read the book before you jumped to conclusions.

Hey Guys,

I have actually read the book and followed the diet. As the saying goes there is nothing new under the sun but I was certainly in a bad way before trying this diet.

I have had Ulcerative Colitis for 13 years and was recovering from a rather serious bout of food poisoning. A friend insisted I try this diet and within a week I had stopped bleeding. That was after almost 3 years of continual bleeding even whilst on steroids!

Yes I have adjusted the diet to what my body needs and I have sought the advice of other professionals with tailoring certain aspects but now I find my body is so healthy I can eat whatever I like so long as I stick with the suppliments.

Its now 3 months since I have bled and I no longer take steroids...

Yes this is a difficult and time consuming diet to start but the rewards speak for themselves.

If you are in a bad way with allergies or immune related diseases keep your common sense about you but give it a go... even you can do it for a week and personally I will never look back.