Creating Healthy Children [Paperback]

Karen Ranzi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2010

Creating Healthy Children presents many values nature has given us to restore our children's health through solid nutritional principles. In this informative transformational book, Karen Ranzi will guide you on the path to creating happier and healthier children, confident of their disease- free future. She will share the importance of understanding children's biological and emotional needs. Rather than medicate a child's asthma, ear infections, chronic allergies, learning, attention and hyperactivity disorders, and other illnesses, Karen's approach simply eliminates the causes of disease through the healthful raw food lifestyle. You will learn the importance of obtaining the best possible nourishment for your family, and how to implement healthy choices successfully. Creating Healthy Children reveals terrific tips for children of all ages in how to improve their diet and lifestyle. Parents, future parents, pregnant mothers, teachers, social workers, psychologists, and anyone else who works with or has children needs to read this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: SHC Publishing; First Edition edition (2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615331505
• ISBN-13: 978-0615331508
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #648,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and well researched October 31, 2010

By Magic and Mayhem

Format:Paperback

Karen Ranzi's new book, "Creating Healthy Children Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods," is one of those books that seems to take an eternity to finish -- not because it is not interesting, but because it is so full of information.

I was not sure what to expect when I first started the book. I am a firm believer in Attachment Parenting, but I could never be called a raw food enthusiast. I lean towards a vegetarian (often vegan), organic, all natural diet, but it is generally cooked and I had no desire to change that.

That said, I found the book fascinating, informative and incredibly well researched, and have already made small changes in my food choices and my family's. I do not intend to switch to a completely raw food diet, but Ranzi makes it clear that I don't have to in order to still see some benefits of raw foods.

Subjects included in the nearly 500-page book include: The health of the parents before conception, home birth, circumcision, diet during pregnancy, the B12 question, breastfeeding, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, co-sleeping, feeding baby uncooked foods, teaching children how to eat, personal care products for children, children's exercise and ventilation, transitioning children to raw foods, kid-tested recipes, Essential Fatty Acids, vitamins and minerals, eliminating causes of illnesses, water needs, genetic engineering, homeschooling, nonviolent communication with children, vaccinations, dental health, vision health, the importance of the sun, questions from parents, stories of raw families and their journeys and more.

When I first began reading, I have to admit to feeling rather overwhelmed and depressed. Ranzi lists so many health risks that adopting her lifestyle may seem impossible to some (and this is coming from someone who already makes a concerted effort to live a healthy lifestyle). From the chlorine in your shower water to the toxic molds in peanut butter, it can seem that nothing is safe.

By the time I finished the book, however, I had put those elements in perspective. I now feel more educated and empowered, and see that information as simply knowledge and perspectives to use as I see fit.

As parents, we tend to accumulate vast amounts of information on our journeys. We research, we ask questions, we learn from our own mistakes and we eventually emerge with so much wisdom to pass on. With this book, I feel that Karen Ranzi has gathered all the knowledge of her own parenting and health journeys in one place for those beginning their own.

The book is incredibly well researched and Ranzi quotes her sources extensively. In the chapter about B12, for instance, she tells all perspectives and lists so many studies that I felt as if I could pass a test by the time I finished it. The chapter about circumcision is twelve pages long and includes a personal story of a mother who became an anti-circumcision activist and two full pages of books, websites, videos, organizations and other resources on the subject.

Karen Ranzi shares her knowledge and beliefs without concern for whether people see her as a radical or disagree. The book is not watered down in an attempt to please every reader or avoid ruffling feathers. Ranzi quite simply shares what she believes is best for children, from breastfeeding to avoiding vaccination to choosing organic foods, and why.

Ranzi also talks about common pitfalls of raw food diets, such as relying too heavily on dried fruits (which harm the teeth) and nuts (which are high in fat and not necessary in large quantities).

Since I began reading this book, my twelve year-old daughter decided to begin eating raw. In the past, I might have worried about her protein intake, vitamin needs and other issues. Armed with Creating Healthy Children, I feel completely comfortable with her decision and have been able to help her choose good foods and prepare simple recipes (Ranzi's recipes do tend to be very simple indeed since she advocates consuming whole fresh foods most of the time).

I highly recommend this book and plan to keep it in my personal collection. I am still not ready to switch to an all-raw diet, but I have been serving more salads, smoothies and fresh fruits for snacks and meals. Who knows what the future may hold.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Creating Healthy children May 19, 2011

By MARIE BELL

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Teh book is a wonderful reference tool if you are thinking about having a baby and what to do to get your body in a place it should be to conceive in a healthy environment. I was looking for more of a after you had children and want to get them on a healthy way of life through raw foods. Mayube with some transitional recipes. So the book hasn't fit me needs but would be great for someone pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and then just given birth.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing collection of information June 22, 2010

By Natpacker

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is amazing. It contains all the questions that I have wanted answers to since I started eating raw following the 80/10/10 diet. It contains information on a wide range of topics that cover raising healthy children, enough to wet your appetite to read much more about them, and she includes other sources of information so you know where to look for further information. This book has completely changed my view of raising children, and I'm so glad I read this book before having children as I know think I'll enjoy them so much more, and look on my future children as such a blessing and not something that gets in the way of my life. It was such an informative read I think I'll read it again from the start and make notes. This book is great for everyone if people trully want to know how they can help their children to be healthy they can find all the answers here.