Customer Reviews

The Raw Food Lifestyle: The Philosophy and Nutrition Behind Raw and Live Foods

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been "experimenting" with raw foods for over a year; and, I've read several books on the subject. This by far is the best, most comprehensive book I have read. The book is divided into three parts. The first, "The Basics", introduces the reader to raw and living foods in general. This section includes the reasons for raw and living foods, short biographies of the main raw food leaders, and provides the reader with exercises to determine her/his own nutritional goals. The second section, "The Food", looks at the debate around chocolate, sweeteners, pH levels, supplements and preparations. The last section, "The Lifestyle", moves beyond just food to exploring the overall lifestyle which includes fitness and spiritual health. Further, this last section moves to what needs to be done beyond the individual (national, social and economic factors of raw food). Russo provides a ton of resources throughout the book and a useful glossary.

I appreciate her tone. The book reads more like a welcome into the rawfood lifestyle than a didactic list of dos and don'ts and fear-inducing cries about toxins. This book is a well-balanced introduction to the lifestyle. While reading it I could imagine it being used in any nutrition class as a textbook on raw food. Very well done.

I have read quite a few books on the topic of Raw Foods, and this one is definitely not the most in depth. Yes, Ruthann Russo is credible, and she vaguely explains how raw foods have helped her daughter overcome epilepsy--but I wish she'd said more.

Any scientific information is a bit watered down; one example is that she says that onions and garlic are commonly avoided by raw foodists, however instead of explaining that these contain enzymes (e.g. alliinase) that may interfere with digestive enzymes, no more is said. Russo is a good writer, but I wish this book was more in depth.

For readers new to raw foods, I would recommend reading "Becoming Raw," by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina or any book by Victoria Boutenko. The authors might be more opinionated than Ruthann Russo, but I do find them to be more in depth.

A great starting point for understanding the raw food lifestyle, Ruthann's book provides a comprehensive, balanced, well-researched overview written in an easy-to-digest style. Divided into three key sections (The Basics, The Food, The Lifestyle), the book covers the essentials of the raw food way of life, and encourages you to use this information in the way that works best for you. Ruthann certainly accomplishes her mission for the book which is: "to provide you with good, solid, reliable introductory information to every aspect of the raw and living food philosophy. You can research the parts you find more interesting, and most importantly, decide for yourself which of the concepts, if any, you want to incorporate into your own life."

Most impressive is how Ruthann is able to objectively present all sides of various aspects of the raw lifestyle, while also directly describing what has worked best for her. A nice combination of the facts and the real-life incorporation of them, _The Raw Food Lifestyle_ stands out amongst the books on the increasingly expanding raw food shelf.

Like the raw food lifestyle itself, Ruthann's book is real, satisfying, and worthwhile.

I was overwhelmed and not sure where to start. Well, this book covers everything I needed to know to start. Now I'm off and running!

I bought this book at my local Whole Foods store after watching some introductory information on Raw Food living on youtube. This book is facinating because it outlines the history of Raw Food consciousness and makes an excellent case for the Raw Food lifestyle as a way to optimize health and fight sickness. This book was comprehensive as an introduction to Raw Food living. I was glued to this book, as I read nearly all of it the first day that I purchased it.

I enjoyed how the author introduces us to the raw food leaders, history, research and wholistic nutritional viewpoint of what raw food encompasses. I would recommend this book to anyone who is beginning their exploration of raw food living.

This is a good buck to learn about how good raw food is for you. Highly recommend.



ROGER CANNON