333 of 339 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
These are the best recipes, April 5, 2004
This review is from: Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine (Paperback)
I normally don't write reviews at all, but this book certainly deserves one. The highlights:
* It doesn't consists of all these sweet recipes but has great tasting alternatives (I could never get into all that sweet stuff); there are no dates, bananas, etc., and there are some good explanations as to why
* The recipes don't require a lot of strange ingredients of which I never even heard before; ingredients are easily found
* You don't have to plan days ahead of time to just produce one dish; a lot of it can be put together quickly
* It does have its share of nuts, but for some reason I don't resent that here as I did in most of my other books; they don't seem to be everywhere
* There are NO wheat recipes (yeah!); I'm terribly allergic to that... Instead there are lots of recipes with flax seeds, and there is a very good explanation as to why wheat/grains are not used.
I ordered two other books at the same time I got this one and I already owned two raw food books, but this one is the only one I use. The recipes appeal to me much more than the ones in the other books. There still are tools that are necessary for the raw food kitchen, like a dehydrator, juicer, high-speed blender, etc., but there is a section in the beginning that outlines which ones they recommend.
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285 of 294 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most up-to-date and insightful live-food book available, September 16, 2003
This review is from: Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine (Paperback)
I received my copy hot off the press only a few days ago and already it is quite evident that Gabriel and the Tree of Life chefs have provided us with the best live-food book currently existing. The few recipes I have tried are outstanding, and I am having a difficult time deciding which to try next, since all of them appeal to me.
Perhaps the single best thing about this book are Gabriel's updates concerning live-food nutrition. Though he frequently cites Conscious Eating for a more thorough discussion of many topics, Gabriel also extends his previous theoretical insights with new, exciting evidence published for the first time. His extended discussion of mycosis and the concept of a "compost button" vis-a-vis body metabolism are particularly intriguing. For instance, Gabriel cites the brilliant work of Dr. Robert Young (cf the book, Sick and Tired?) as support for the fact that high-glycemic foods, including many of our favorite raw fruits (e.g. dates, mangoes, bananas, etc.), create biological conditions favorable for the proliferation in our blood of bacteria, yeasts, fungus, molds and other nasties whose primary function is to compost dead matter. So long as we continue eating foods that undermine the vibrancy of our internal biological terrain, our "compost button" remains switched "on" and organisms which compromise our health continue their nasty business. Gabriel provides vivid evidence of this process of degeneration by presenting a series of color photographs that clearly show, via darkfield microscopy, the breakdown of our red blood cells and the proliferation of bacteria, yeasts, fungus and molds. Only by switching our "compost button" to the "off" position, via rainbow green live-food cuisine can we transform our biological terrain and reverse the process of mycosis.
Gabriel outlines how rainbow green live-food cuisine in particular, and not mere raw foods and live-foods per se, facilitates the transition away from mycosis to a friendly biological terrain and optimal health. He identifies three phases, beginning with low-glycemic foods, that we can follow in this process. Most importantly, the authors designate each recipe according to which phase it supports, meaning that we know precisely which recipes we can follow contingent upon where we are in the process of transition. And, Gabriel discusses how he himself, and everyone at the Tree of Life, altered their live-food diets by beginning Phase I and transitioning through Phase I.5 to Phase II, which is the lifelong maintenance diet. In an through this process, Gabriel and his staff experienced even more energy and feelings of well-being than experienced on their previous live-food diets. In other words, rainbow green live-food cuisine is NOT mere "live-food" but a specific, unique approach to live-food preparation and eating.
Finally, of particular importance for the live-food movement is the presentation of burgeoning evidence in support of the fact that Excalibur dehydrators require higher temperature settings (e.g. 145 degrees) during the initial stages of dehydration and then need to be adjusted down to the usual temperatures (e.g. 95-115 degrees) live-food preparation previously utilized from start to finish. The authors note that more research concerning this issue is currently underway as part of the Master's program in Vegan Live-Food Nutrition (see the Tree of Life site for more info about this program). Nevertheless, the recipes in the book reflect this new research, so adherents to live-food preparation ought not to be confused by the recipe instructions calling for higher intial temperatures (in other words, read the intro chapters!).
In short, an awesome book that is accessible and highly informative, and a must have for both long-time live-foodists and those interested in the possibilities for using live-foods to improve their health and experience optimal well-being. Hurray for Gabriel and everyone who contributed to this beautiful, insightful book! Thanks!!!
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61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Definitive Book on the Raw Foods Diet, with Recipes!, April 11, 2005
This review is from: Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine (Paperback)
How to transform your life in record time with
the most delicious and energetic food on the
planet! This book is an essential addition to
the library of any serious student of health.
It is my favorite book on health and nutrition.
It also contains some of the best recipes I've made.
If you want to learn about health, you must study
those who have mastered the art of healthy living.
You must look to the world's best health and healing
retreats: "The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center" in
Arizona, and "Hippocrates Health Institute" in Florida.
Brian Clement is the director of Hippocrates and his
book, Living Foods for Optimum Health, is required
reading. Dr. Gabriel Cousens is the director of the
Tree of Life. Rainbow Green contains the diet used at
the Tree of Life for healing and rejuvenation.
I use the recipes in Rainbow Green daily. The cakes,
cookies, soups, salad dressings, nut milks, pates,
sauces, fermented foods, crackers, and other recipes
are easy and delicious. I also enjoy making the vegan
kefir drinks, KimChi, and essential oil delicacies.
Rainbow Green discusses how there are microscopic
organisms in the blood such as yeast, mold, fungus,
and bacteria. These organisms enter the blood through
various food and beverages and they contribute to poor
health. They they are fed by foods high in sugar, and
they thrive in an acidic body.
In Rainbow Green you'll discover how to alkalinize your
body to prevent the microorganisms from growing. You'll
discover which foods to eat and which to avoid for
optimal health. Rainbow Green foods are classified low-
glycemic, high-mineral, and high-vibrational foods.
I also enjoy the chapters on how to raise babies and
children on a raw foods diet. One chapter discusses
how to reduce jet stress, jet lag, and it gives various
yoga poses for the airplane. You'll discover how to
sprout, how to grow high mineral organic foods, why it
is essential to eat organic foods, effects of pesticides
on children, the many benefits of enzymes, How to
dramatically increase your life-span using the secrets
of a Calorie Restricted Diet, modern research on living
foods and superfoods, how to travel on a raw foods diet,
what kitchen appliances you'll need for your kitchen, and more.
Give this diet a try and I guarantee you'll experience the
greatest health of your life. Even if you don't do the diet
100%, you'll fall in love with these recipes.
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