A woman in Britain who suffered brain damage after following a "detox" diet has been awarded more than £800,000 in an 'out-of-court' settlement.
Dawn Page, a 52 year old mother of two who weighed 12st, went on the detox 'Amazing Hydration diet' in 2001 but began vomiting severely soon after starting the diet and had stomach cramps.
Mrs Page had been told by nutritionist Barbara Nash to drink four extra pints of water a day and drastically reduce her salt intake.
She was told by the dietician that these symptoms were just part of the detoxification process and was advised to increase the amount of water to six pints and consume even less salt.
Days later she suffered a massive epileptic fit and brain damage caused by severe sodium deficiency.
Page from Faringdon, in Oxfordshire has been left with epilepsy and a brain injury affecting her memory, concentration and ability to speak normally.
She has given up her job as conference organiser and her family says she will not work again as a 'cognitive deficit' now affects her memory, concentration and speech and she suffers frequent mood swings.
Nash, who calls herself a "nutritional therapist and life coach", denies any liability....she has a diploma from the College of Natural Nutrition, based in Tiverton, Devon.
Page's husband, Geoff, 54, has warned of the dangers of "fad-type" diets and says his wife was not obese but had just wanted to lose some weight and had previously tried Weight Watchers and calorie control diets.
He says her life has been seriously affected, and possibly ruined and says it is important people understand how dangerous such diets are.