Customer Reviews

Living Beyond Organic: nutritional knowledge redefined!

5 star:		(11)
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2 star:		(1)
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If you are serious about restoring your energy and ultimately your health, this book is an easy to understand guide to nutrional enlightenment. I have been following the program for almost 2 years. I have experienced (with medical proof) how "peak" foods boost the bodies ability to restore it's proper function. Following the suggestions in this book in combination with a knowledgable herbalist has successfully resolved conditions that left untreated would have lead to potentially very serious health conditions. If garbage in, garbage out means anything to you...give this book serious consideration. The website and your local health food store will carry just about every ingredient in the recipes provided. Every recipe is unique & delicious!! Once you get the hang of it, you can begin creating your own peak recipes...delicious, nourishing food! All I can say is please provide more!!!!

THE BAD: While her complete lack of credentials (yes, I'm not counting mother and wife, as her bio states) shouldn't necessarily exclude her from writing what is essentially a nutrition book, this red flag only waved higher as I read what was a (hopefully) well intentioned but specious account on what constitutes the optimal healthful diet. I say hopefully well intentioned because the shilling of Absolute Vodka, Coors Light Beer (in a description that seemed written by a P.R. person) and the continuous reference to and use of RealSalt throughout the book and in the majority of recipes, made me suspect that this book is a prop for at least one of these products.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of bold claims but not much reasoning, research, cited studies, or examination beyond personal experience to support many of the statements made. Perhaps the best example of this shaky ground is when she claims that all varieties of bell peppers are bad for you. Ok, I'm listening....and then gives the reason for this that she once had the worst case of food poisoning ever from a ham, cheese and roasted pepper sandwich. Um...? For all she or we know the culprit could have been the ham, or the cheese, or the spread, or whatever meal she ate before that. Roasted red peppers make me nauseous and so I avoid them, but I don't write a book based on my personal experience with them. Nor should anyone. The author tells us to eliminate a lot of foods, but sometimes the suggested replacements are worrisome. For example, she suggests Sucanant but not Agave syrup for sugar and apparently hasn't heard of Steel Cut Oats in place of oatmeal. Why doesn't she know about these? It made me wonder what else she doesn't know about.



THE GOOD: There are many statements made as fact, i.e.: black pepper is bad for you, only use loose tea because tea bags are bleached, oatmeal is bad for you, carrots are bad for you, and on and on. Absolutely no research is used to support these claims. An unintelligent reader would take these many claims as fact, but an intelligent reader could use them as springboards for research. For example, I looked into the packaged tea bags I buy and found that, as I assumed of the company that makes them, they use no bleach in the bags. I'm glad I know for sure now, but if I blindly followed her "facts" I would have simply stopped using this product.

Some of the recipes look enticing, although many of them use the same ingredients and spices repeatedly. And the overall message of increased health and attention to your food is one that is welcome in this country. It's probable that 80% of people are eating much worse than what she suggests, so following this book could only be an improvement. (However, this is a very narrow view of nutrition in terms of actual foods used an suggested, so support this reading with other books and research.)



BTW: The reviewer who inferred that the author is basically saying organic food is an unnecessary rip-off either did not read the book or is engaging in wishful thinking. Her recipes specifically call for organic products, and she clearly states that organic produce has superior nutrition. The author's point is that, just as someone can be still be vegan on an unhealthy diet of french fries, someone can also consider themselves "organic" but manage to select and prepare the crappiest food available at the grocery store. Think "beyond" organic, not "instead of" organic. Duh!

This book gives the reader an incredible amount of unknown information regarding the organic world. It also explains the rip-offs and products that you do not need to spend the extra money on just because it is labeled "organic'. A money saver!

I want to thank Christina for a wonderful book, that literally saved my life. I was diagnosed with CIDP and was slowly declining in health to the point of not being able to care for myself and barely breathe on my own. I was bedridden for 5 weeks. I prayed for a doctor who would know how to properly diagnose me and heal me. I met Dr. Nelsen and she right away put me on the high enzyme foods found on the list in Christina's book. Within 3 weeks, i began regaining muscle strength. I ordered the book and read it and four months later, i am 99.9% cured and healthier than i've ever been. Dr. Nelsen helped me appreciate, i needed a life style change as far as my eating habits. The information in the book has now become my way of life. The high enzyme foods have boosted my immune system and helped with repairing the myelin sheath of my nerves. My hands, arms, feet,toes, and legs were numb and i had no sensation in them. Today all sensation is restored and the numbness is gone. My nerves conducted at 23 when it should be 50 or over two months ago it was 34 and i cant wait to see what the next test will show, because of the rapid progress, i'm sure it's at 50 or very close based on the way i now feel. I would recommend this book to anyone hoping to live healthy and well. Many kudos to Dr. Nelsen for introducing me to the book and this way of life and to Christina for sharing her story and knowledge to us. You are both blessings to me and i Thank You very much.

We all want to eat and be healthier, but learning how without feeling deprived is difficult. This book simplifies this and explains how we can eat healthy delicious meals by knowing more about foods that digest naturally. This book brings new and refreshing nutritional information that make everyday sense.I have a new found understanding of how our food choices effect not only our physical health, but also our state of mind. Amazing information from an excellent writer, also many great recipes. Everyone should read this book.

If you are a junk food or anything goes eater, you need this book. Christina put it all in the book. All the do's & dont's are here. If you want to eat smart there is something in here for all. I commend her for the research and love she has put forth to share with all of us. Thank You Christina.........

When I first encountered Christina's book I was skeptical. My choice of food was such a personal subject and I had so many emotional/sentimental connections to the things I ate that I was apprehensive to give the LBO lifestyle a chance. But, after I took the 21-day challenge I thought, "How could I ever go back!" Incorporating super enzyme foods into my diet and practicing food alchemy of my own procured an ENORMOUS positive change in the way that I felt and lived my life everyday! The most bizarre and amazing part was that my body started REJECTING some of my old "favorite" foods that were actually terrible for me, and CRAVING peak frequency foods (even if I initially didn't take to them). I love that Living Beyond Organic has enriched not only my physical health, but my mental and spiritual wellness as well! Thanks Christina and the whole Avaness family for this gift!

Sure this book is not written by a doctor. It is written by someone who gains a whole lot less monetarily by sharing her experience and the knowledge she has gained that has saved her husband's life. This book is wonderful. It doesn't just say don't eat this. It says don't eat this, here's why and try this instead. This is what America needs. The recipes are delicious and the information is extremely interesting. I have made the switches myself and notice a huge difference in the way I feel. Thank you thank you thank you.

These days there are so many extreme diets out there, it's hard to find something that makes sense and can be easily adapted... but this is it!! I have adapted this lifestyle and not only do I feel better, but I have also dropped weight and feel healthier! A highly recommended book for anyone looking to put a little pep in their step and live a long healthy life! So grateful to have found this book, such a life changer ;)

This book is FULL of information that made a BIG difference in my health that I could feel within the first week! I will continue and I'm anxiously awaiting her second book!