[.ca] Living Foods for Optimum Health: Your Complete Guide to ... (ISBN 0761514481)

From Amazon.com:
This book advocates a diet primarily of "fresh, organic, uncooked, unrefined foods that provide the body with everything it needs to stay strong, healthy, and vigorous." Switching to this diet of "living" foods can be a big step for the millions of fast-food addicts out there, but the long-term health benefits--cancer prevention, weight loss, increased longevity and energy--are more desirable than a measly paper bag of salty fries. Written in conjunction with the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida, which has been known to help cancer patients into remission through diet, this book takes a slightly scare-tactic approach, citing a few too many frightening health statistics ("1 in 3 Americans alive today will develop cancer"). However, its intentions are spot-on. To make the transition to the Institute's recommended diet (75 percent raw fruits and vegetables and 25 percent cooked foods--mainly grains and soups), it gives more than 100 recipes and a week's worth of sample menus, and even instructions on how to sprout your own seeds and nuts. For anyone truly dedicated to going beyond vegetarian to living the whole-foods way, this book is a solid, encouraging guide.

eating for abundant health:
This book may seem drastic at first if you are a regular McFood client, but actually, it allows for quite a bit of moderation. In Chapter 6, there is a six-month plan mapped out, with incremental changes, and says under "Personalizing the Program": "If you consistently make living foods at least 75 percent (by weight) of your daily intake, your dedication to achieving total body health will bring rewards that know no bounds". I'm at the 75 raw/25 cooked point myself, and at 58, I'm in better health than at any other time in my life. In Chapter 1, we read how we have exchanged, in the last century, a plant-based diet for a meat-based one, and how "the results have proven to be disastrous for our health and the environment". The regeneration of cells is a fascinating topic (it takes 7 years to complete a full regeneration), and Mr. Clement states that "It's not added years that cause the body to age into a diseased state. It's the cell starvation that results from years of ingesting processed and cooked foods" (pg.42). The causes and cures for many diseases are discussed, as well as depression and alcoholism, and the "Mind/Body Connection". There are numerous food lists, and show how to combine foods for the best nutritional results and ease of digestion. Under "Shopping for Recreational Foods", some cooked food is listed, so one can have a little "fun with food" from time to time. There's a chapter on sprouts, and how to germinate them, and the value of doing so, as well as over 50 pages of recipes. Page 235 has this simple one: "Avocado Cups 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 4 apples, cored and chopped 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 cup pure water Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into glass custard cups and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings" "You'll come to see that the Hippocrates diet isn't a trial by sacrifice, but rather a challenge of change. It's time to look in new directions for the food your body needs" (pg.114) If you want to maximize your health and increase your energy level, I highly recommend trying this raw food diet. If implemented gradually, there will be little in the way of withdrawal symptoms, and I'm amazed that I no longer crave either sugar or coffee...this coming from someone who has had an addiction to sugar since childhood.

Clear and informative, but not for newbies:
If you are omnivorous, you may not be ready for this book. Brian Clement, who took over the Hippocrate's Health Center from Ann Wigmore, truly believes that raw vegetarianism is the only way to go. The book is filled with useful information, but it may be hard to digest if it's the first time you read about how living food can change your health for the better, or even for the best. The introductory part is very open and may scare you and drive you off the whole subject. If you want a book that will give you a first "taste" on the subject of raw vegetarianism, pick "Be your own doctor" by Ann Wigmore. Other than that, this health book is realistic, and informative.

Not so good.:
No, cause it doesnt work good. Notice how most the people have just started . Well... Mom tried this diet. She was into health foods before. Lots of yoghert and the usual health store stuff. But she still wasnt in so good health. At first you feel better on live. You think it working. Then, after a year, you arnt better. The docter tested her allergies. Suddenly she has all new ones!! Allergic to all the raw stuff: avacados, sunflower seeds. So this diet doesnt work. Penny

A Great Beginning for New Raw Foodists:
A recent convert of raw foods vegetarianism, I saw this book in a health food store and bought it immediately. Within only a few hours over the span of two days, I had already read it completely and found myself re-reading chapters. Mr. Clement presents complete, factual studies to promote his theories on the proper human diet and so much more. Because it is a "new food fad," there are very few books on raw foods vegetarianism found in stores. Most are just recipe books, with little or no information on the benefits and challenges of the lifestyle. This makes finding proper advice a daunting task. "Living Foods" is one of the best books I've read that guides a person into becoming a raw foodist. Originally I found it intimidating, after discovering that the book is based on a dietary program in use at the Hippocrates Health Institute where Mr. Clement learns and teaches. As I read more, it seemed to me that the diet was rather restrained. For example, the author discourages the consumption of fruit due to its extreme influence on blood sugar levels. The diet is very concerned with regulating the pH balance of the blood. I was skeptical in the beginning, not knowing much about either subject and therefore not understaing the importance of each. But as I continued to read and ponder the material I found such information sensible and something to definitely consider. The book also includes a number of tasty recipes, some of which are simple and very welcoming. If I were to recommend a beginner's guide to eating raw foods, Living Foods for Optimum Health would be it.

Must-have for your library.:
Ok, I admit it. I'm a nutritionist, and a researcher. This book is worthy of an admission to my library. Intellegent discussion of the facts regarding living foods. You will go back to this book again and again.