Customer Reviews

Eating for Beauty

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Eating for Beauty was written with raw food enthusiasts in mind. The raw food diet is most certainly about beauty: the beauty of nature, the beauty of health, and the beauty of body, mind and soul. David Wolfe, the author of Eating for Beauty, is a shining example of beauty and health in the raw food movement. He has been a leading authority and educator on raw foods for years. In this book, he reveals how to shine with the beauty that is already present within you.

When I first heard that David Wolfe had written a book titled Eating for Beauty, I was a bit put off. I thought it was going to be shallow, just focusing on how to be more physically attractive. But as I read this book from cover to cover, I was quite impressed. He makes a very logical point that by the eating certain foods, we are in fact creating a certain person. We are made from the food we eat, in a very literal sense. The more life force we eat, the more life force we will have in our bodies. The body uses vitamins and minerals to nourish our organs, such as the skin, hair and eyes. Clear, glowing skin, strong nails and bright eyes are all signs of a healthy, well nourished body, and they're all benefits of a raw food diet.

David Wolfe goes into great detail about some of the most beautifying foods on the planet. He dedicates a section to each of the following: aloe vera, arugula, burdock, coconuts, cucumbers, durian, figs, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, nettles, olives, onions, papaya, pumpkin seeds, radishes, turmeric, and watercress. These foods contain high amounts of "beauty minerals," like silicon and sulfur. They are also very cleansing and energizing. Papaya is especially high in natural enzymes, and durian contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps elevate seretonin levels in the brain. Coconut contains a very unique substance called lauric acid, which is incredibly antifungal and antiviral. The fats found in coconut, hemp seeds, and macadamia nuts are extremely nourishing. When included in a balanced raw diet, these foods have the power to transform your body and mind.

Besides listing specific foods, he also talks generally about which foods are best and which foods should be avoided. For instance, when choosing what to eat, go for foods that most closely resemble foods found in the wild. These foods will contain more minerals and stronger life energy. Many fruits and vegetables today are hybrids and have been genetically modified to be low in nutrition and high in sugar. This book does a great job in educating its reader about which foods are TRULY health foods, and which are not. You may be surprised!

Mental diet - feeding the mind through thought - is also an important element of beauty. A positive outlook and an enthusiastic demeanor will give you a glow and attract others with similar vibrations. A smile is by far the best, and cheapest, accessory you can wear to become more beautiful.

Yoga also creates a beautiful body by strengthening muscles and creating symmetry through balance and grace. Yoga enables muscles to release stagnant energy and increase the flow of life force throughout the body. This is very important when trying to cultivate a beautiful glow. Exercise provides the cells with oxygen, while stretching helps the organs and muscles to release toxins and rejuvenate.

I especially loved the Kirlian photography pictures throughout the book. Kirlian photography is a way of actually measuring the energy and life in a certain food. The pictures of raw organic food shine with light as if electricity were circulating through the veins of the plant, where as the cooked food looks dull and lifeless. People speak of the "life force" in raw foods, calling the raw diet a "living foods diet." Through Kirlian photography it's easy to see just how blatantly real this concept is. The photographs are so beautiful, especially the picture of the starfruit, which has an amazingly symmetrical energy field. I would love to have one of these photographs magnified and made into a poster for my room!

Near the end of the book there are some amazing testimonials to the raw food beauty diet. You will see through these testimonials that others have overcome many serious health problems and regained their health and vibrancy through raw foods. Reading their stories, their insights, and their wisdom will inspire you to incorporate Eating for Beauty into your own life and being.

While Eating for Beauty does indeed focus on physical beauty, it focuses on that beauty which is already present, that natural beauty which all human beings posses, if we would only let the light shine through. Raw foods, yoga, proper sleep and a positive outlook with a heart full of love will without a doubt overwhelm you with your ever-existing beauty. If becoming more of who you are (more beautiful) is something that you're interested in, than this book was written for you! Thank you David Wolfe for sharing with us, through Eating for Beauty, your incredible wealth of knowledge and insight. Eat for life, love and happiness, and you will be Eating for Beauty! --reviewed by Anna Hays

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book that I was embarrassed to order because of the title, I had to share my experience. David Wolfe has clarified, using hard science, so many nutritional questions for me -- about the acid-alkaline balance; the body's need for (and appropriate sources of) protein, fat, and carbohydrates; the chemical effects of heat on food; and food combining.

I've been reading about nutrition for over five years in pursuit of answers to a health problem. I had no intention of "going raw" when ordering this book, but since reading it I've tried living by its principles and can't tell you what a difference it is making in my life. After only five days, I'm feeling lighter in spirit, leaner in physique, and yes, maybe even beautiful in middle age.

There are some remarkable insights in the book, e.g., the effects of drugs on an acidic system versus a balanced pH system. Those with a blood pH that is slightly alkaline (this is the ideal) actually do not experience a high from coffee or even illicit drugs, and are thus far less likely to become addicted. Another insight was that there is sufficient protein in green, leafy vegetables and other raw foods to completely supply our needs. Most people who fail on vegetarian diets because of protein deficiency likely did not eat enough greens.

This is a wonderful book. The kirlian photography is great. The flow of the words is simple and direct. I was inspired to eat some of the food that he goes into detail about such as burdock root, turmeric, and arugula, which were foods I have never tried before. Beauty is more than the food we eat. It is in the thoughts we think and the actions we take. Great book! "The Sunfood Diet Success System" written by David Wolfe is also an outstanding book on the topic of health.

This book helped me relize that their is this such notion of "Fountain of Youth", but it belongs not in plastic surgery, speacial creams, but in the food we eat.

This book literally saved my life, in 3 days I went from an cooked food, meat-eater to a raw, vegitarian. I thought it was going to be difficult. But it was not, the recipes were do good. And Wolfe is so informative, and backed by solid resaerch. He is not just pulling info from thin air.

After two weeks of adjusting my diet to his recommnedations, my skin glowed and was smooth like glass. I can't wait until my entire body is slim and beautiful!

My review is based on the 2003 edition of the book (different cover).

I was looking for a book on raw foods; I was on the fence about making the switch from 30% to 70% raw from eating salads at lunch and fruit for snacks to eating raw at breakfast and dinner too. I couldn't see any good reason to make such a strong commitment, yet I sensed I was missing "the point" about eating raw. This book with its Kirlian photography of the live energy in raw food compared to cooked food, and it's practical, upbeat stories settled my confusion almost instantly. I also bought The Raw Gourmet cook book by Nomi Shannon. I was so inspired by both authors' sense of the artistic and beautifulness of food and how it directly affects our inner energy and outer appearance. Now I have dozens of ideas for items to put into appealing, mouthwatering meals. I understood how the raw food would help me retain my glow and my youthfulness into my elder years. Immediately, I experienced the 'lightness' of eating raw. I realized I would lose weight naturally. I have to say that I look at cooked food differently now, although I still eat it 25-30% of the time if that's all there is available. I found when eating raw, its much easier to know when I'm full. With cooked food, I tend to over eat. Now I pack colorful, appetizing raw meals that are anything but mundane. I buy a certain amount of precut food to keep it simple and fast. There's lots of information in this book. I'm very greatful to David Wolfe for his creativity and sense of style. He got me to take a joyful leap!

This book was interesting to read, and David Wolfe is a charismatic person, which comes across even on paper. But his charisma doesn't make this book recommendable. I noticed several times in the book that Wolfe provided information that was factually inaccurate. I got the feeling that a lot of what was written, was just his opinion and what has been passed down to him by other raw-foodies, and not based on fact or research of the human body and science of food. Which on a certain level is fine; But if you are looking for a credible, balanced, objective, and well-researched book describing holistic health and diets, this is NOT the book for you. I would describe this book more as raw food propaganda that's riding the wave of the raw food fad.

If you are looking for a more compelling inquiry into raw foods and human diet, try Gabriel Cousens' Conscious Eating. For more of a middle path, try the very-excellent Paul Pitchford's Healing With Whole Foods, or Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, among many others. Happy healing!

I loved this book, it was very informative and answered a lot of questions I had relating to health. The Kirlian images were awesome and really showed how living food differs from cooked. The few recipes were great and the before and after photos of the people who had "converted" were living proof we really are what we eat!

I, quite happily, received this book as a Christmas gift in 2006. After reading it, I had learned a lot about nutrition and the benefits of a Raw food diet but was also a little skeptical about some aspects of the book.

Concerning other reviews of the book, Kirlian photography is a type of electrography, or photograph produced by running electric current through an object. I'm not entirely sure how that translates into showing the nutritional values of food, but I am certain that the level of conduction would change depending on the substance you were using. Hence, the photographs would change based on which nutrients were or were not present in the food being photographed.

Over all, I rate the book fairly high. The concept of raw foods providing more nutrients is fairly logical. The most useful information included in the book was provided on the importance of specific nutrients and how a balanced diet can enhance both your inner and outer beauty. The beauty that the book speaks of does have to do with physical aspects like skin and hair, but more importantly has to do with health, mood, and energy levels.

If you are looking for a book that will teach you about balancing your diet and the value of specific nutrients and foods, you will thoroughly enjoy this Eating For Beauty.

My wife and I have readextensively about natural health and have as a consequence experimented with various ways of eating. We've tried vegetarian, to vegan to vegan raw food. Vegan raw food is definetely the way to go and David Wolfe's work is a great educational tool to show you why & how. Eating for Beauty is a very well researched book, full of images that useful info. I would also recommend the latest dvd that david has come out with called Raw for Life.

The main thing is that if you are looking at improving your health and/or curing some illness and are surfing amazon for the right book always check out the author and ask yourself does he/she look healthy? Everyone I know that has gone into the raw food lifestyle is very healthy. My wife and I have three small kids and they are growing up on raw vegan food and they're doing great. Best thing you can do for yourself is get some education and experiment for 30 days, you'll be amazed!One book you must get is David Wolfe's on raw chocolate, great tasty recipes there too!

I recomemmend this book to anyone I know. Sometimes we have to see things to believe it. This book is exactly about this. It is highly informative, easy to read and at the same time the Kirlian images are illustrating the point. Some people in my yoga class got very curious about raw life style just by looking through the book.