A series of debilitating health problems in her 30s led Cherie Calbom to address her less than perfect diet and learn about the energising and restorative powers of fresh vegetable and fruit juices. She was so impressed by the positive results that she went on to study for a master's degree in nutrition. Cherie is a clinical nutritionist who has become known as the 'Juice Lady' and appeared widely on television and radio. She has given many lectures and seminars throughout the United States and Canada. In this book Cherie introduces us to the nutritional benefits of fresh juices, offering a selection of juice recipes for our general wellbeing and for the treatment of a range of common health problems.

When I decided to buy a juicer a few years ago, this was the first book I bought on the subject. When I first received the book it seemed a little intimidating as it was 375 pages long and consisted of text only, without pictures (apart from a few uninspiring black and white shots of fruits here and there.) I usually prefer books like this to have plenty of colourful photographic illustrations. I did wonder if the book was going to be a bit too heavy. However, I took to Cherie Calbom's writing style straightaway. She combines her own personal experience with well-researched scientific findings. Cherie presents a vast amount of information in a clear, easy to follow format. She does not assume that everyone already has a juicer or even that everyone knows what a juicer is. Cherie begins the book by answering some of the most commonly asked questions, such as whether fresh juice is healthier than commercially processed juice, and whether it is better to eat whole fruits and vegetables than merely drink their juice. As a beginner, I found this insightful. Cherie's tips on choosing the right juicer and how to get the best out of your juicer were helpful too. I hadn't really understood the difference between a juicer and a blender at this stage, but the book soon clarified that. There is also a handy list of the fruits and vegetables that don't juice well. (I only wish I had read this section before trying to juice an avocado!)

After a comprehensive introduction to why fresh juices are good for your general health, Cherie moves on to examine the role that can be played by juices in healing and alleviating the symptoms of particular medical conditions. This is responsibly presented, referring to the body's capacity to heal itself when supported by appropriate and adequate nutrients, but stressing the importance of always talking to your health care provider before making drastic dietary changes. Juicing is not presented as some kind of miracle cure for all but is put forward as something that can complement more conventional treatments. An A-Z list of common health problems is then set out and, in addition to suggesting the most beneficial juice combinations for each specific condition, Cherie also provides dietary recommendations, nutrient and supplement suggestions and useful lifestyle tips. For example in the section on insomnia, Cherie stresses the importance of following a high complex carbohydrate, low fat diet, because studies have shown that this leads to a significant increase in REM sleep, the most rejuvenating type of sleep. Nutritional supplements and herb recommendations are discussed and then Cherie provides six juice recipes, including the delightful sounding 'Sweet Dreams Night Cap' (containing lettuce, which apparently has a natural sedative effect.)

When I was struck down with a bad cold, I did turn to this book to get some assistance. I was already aware of some of the advice offered, such as the importance of drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration of my respiratory tract membrane, but I had not realised that it was advisable to avoid sugar during a cold. (Apparently glucose competes with vitamin C for transport into the white blood cells, so too much sugar can weaken the immune system and delay recovery.) I had intended to try some of Cherie's juice recipes but I confess I was just not brave enough to sample the 'Antiviral Cocktail' which contained, amongst other things, a large clove of garlic. I was more impressed by 'The Ginger Hopper', however, which is a blend of orange, carrots and fresh ginger root. That really helped my sore throat.

The names of the juice recipes are interesting, to say the least. Some of them sound wonderful - 'Pink Passion Potion', 'The Morning Energizer', 'Grape Expectations' and 'Tangerine Squeeze.' Others sound a bit scary - 'Turnip Time', 'Pure Green Sprout Drink' and 'Popeye's Power.'

This is a great resource book, something I know I can turn to if anyone in my family is unwell, in the hope of trying to help them. Although, it isn't going to make anyone feel instantly better, there are gems of useful information, which can be taken on board and might just take the edge off the symptoms. Although I didn't make many of the recipes in the book, I did find it inspiring and it's possible to improvise if you don't like the look of a particular recipe. For instance, I could have made the Antiviral Cocktail without the garlic. When I first bought my juicer, I could only ever imagine juicing the obvious things, such as oranges, apples and carrots, so it was intriguing for me to learn that spinach, beets and Jerusalem artichokes were also potential candidates. Because of the way Cherie clearly lists the most beneficial juice ingredients for treating a particular condition, you can mix and match those ingredients and create a juice recipe of your own. Once this book gave me an understanding of the powers of different juices, I experimented and found blends that I liked.

In the final section of the book, the Juice Lady sets out her Health and Healing Diet with its focus on raw food, fresh juice and whole foods. There are sample menus and a selection of cleansing programs for detoxifying the body. I was less interested in this section because I've always been somewhat sceptical about the value of a detox, always believing that the body is quite capable of doing it without assistance and suspecting that this is another expensive bit of hype from the lucrative health & nutrition business. However, many people swear by such things and they would find a wealth of information here on how to proceed safely.

Is it worth reading?

Yes. It's full of useful information and you don't have to be a 'health freak' to get something out of this book. It's very helpful to have so much nutritional advice in one book and sometimes it's reassuring to know that there are 'home remedies' you can try when you or someone close to you is feeling unwell. Being ill can make you feel out of control, so if trying out a few juice recipes gives you back a little bit of control, that is surely a positive thing. It may not be the prettiest looking juice book, with its absence of glossy photographs (buy the Innocent Smoothie Recipe Book if that's what you're after) but it's a valuable resource for any home. If you own or are thinking about buying a juicer, this book will certainly help you to use it to its full potential. This book can be bought used from Amazon sellers for £0.01.