From: [log in to unmask] (roberta) I think juice fasting is great for detoxing. But the risk I see with juice fasting or veggie & fruit only diets is (1) lack of amino acids or protein; and (2)lack of essential fatty acids. Both are required for life, and essential for good health and well being. EFAs are found in fish and raw nuts. Amino acids are found in beans and all flesh foods -With all due respect, Roberta, please recheck your source(s). If humans must get their protein (the building blocks of which are amino acids) from flesh foods, where do the animals which humans consume get their protein? Cows don't eat other cows (except those with Mad Cow Disease). And the strongest animals in the world (gorillas, hippos, elephants, etc.) eat plant- based diets. And according to "Fit For Life," author, Harvey Diamond, there's more "bio- available protein in a banana than there is in a steak." (Not that bananas are one's best source of protein, just that it is more readily available for assimilation by humans than that found in flesh foods). Another source, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., states: "It is a mistaken notion that we need to eat protein-concentrated foods in order to obtain the eight essential amino acids. A thorough review of the lilterature on human protein requirements and population studies shows that children and adults grow Vegetables that do not contain significant amounts of all eight essential amino acids tend to complement each other even if the amino acids are consumed in separate meals in the same day or as much as 16 hours apart." (Note: Later studies indicate the body contains a "pool" of fatty acids from which others can be "balanced" over even much longer periods of time.) Dr. Fuhrman, a former Olympic medalist and coach, recommends meals consist "entirely of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and raw nuts and seeds used judiciously." Your input is appreciated, Roberta. We learn much from each other. gc