Living Foods for Optimum Health : Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy World (Paperback)

~ Theresa Foy Digeronimo (Author), (Author) "What a century!..." (more)
Key Phrases: raw cayenne pepper, solid dehydrator tray, enough pure water, Braggs Aminos, Hippocrates Health Program, Hippocrates Program (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This book advocates a diet primarily of "fresh, organic, uncooked, unrefined foods that provide the body with everything it needs to stay strong, healthy, and vigorous." Switching to this diet of "living" foods can be a big step for the millions of fast-food addicts out there, but the long-term health benefits--cancer prevention, weight loss, increased longevity and energy--are more desirable than a measly paper bag of salty fries.

Written in conjunction with the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida, which has been known to help cancer patients into remission through diet, this book takes a slightly scare-tactic approach, citing a few too many frightening health statistics ("1 in 3 Americans alive today will develop cancer"). However, its intentions are spot-on. To make the transition to the Institute's recommended diet (75 percent raw fruits and vegetables and 25 percent cooked foods--mainly grains and soups), it gives more than 100 recipes and a week's worth of sample menus, and even instructions on how to sprout your own seeds and nuts. For anyone truly dedicated to going beyond vegetarian to living the whole-foods way, this book is a solid, encouraging guide.

Review

Your Complete Guide to the Healing Power of Raw Foods -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (August 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761514481
• ISBN-13: 978-0761514480
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,257 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eating for abundant health, November 20, 2002

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This book may seem drastic at first if you are a regular McFood client, but actually, it allows for quite a bit of moderation. In Chapter 6, there is a six-month plan mapped out, with incremental changes, and says under "Personalizing the Program": "If you consistently make living foods at least 75 percent (by weight) of your daily intake, your dedication to achieving total body health will bring rewards that know no bounds".
I'm at the 75 raw/25 cooked point myself, and at 58, I'm in better health than at any other time in my life.

In Chapter 1, we read how we have exchanged, in the last century, a plant-based diet for a meat-based one, and how "the results have proven to be disastrous for our health and the environment".
The regeneration of cells is a fascinating topic (it takes 7 years to complete a full regeneration), and Mr. Clement states that "It's not added years that cause the body to age into a diseased state. It's the cell starvation that results from years of ingesting processed and cooked foods" (pg.42).

The causes and cures for many diseases are discussed, as well as depression and alcoholism, and the "Mind/Body Connection".
There are numerous food lists, and show how to combine foods for the best nutritional results and ease of digestion.
Under "Shopping for Recreational Foods", some cooked food is listed, so one can have a little "fun with food" from time to time.
There's a chapter on sprouts, and how to germinate them, and the value of doing so, as well as over 50 pages of recipes. Page 235 has this simple one:
"Avocado Cups
1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
4 apples, cored and chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup pure water
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into glass custard cups and serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings"

"You'll come to see that the Hippocrates diet isn't a trial by sacrifice, but rather a challenge of change. It's time to look in new directions for the food your body needs" (pg.114)
If you want to maximize your health and increase your energy level, I highly recommend trying this raw food diet. If implemented gradually, there will be little in the way of withdrawal symptoms, and I'm amazed that I no longer crave either sugar or coffee...this coming from someone who has had an addiction to sugar since childhood.

82 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound scientific basis - Friendly advice, March 27, 2000

By	A. Perkins (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike some other books I've read on the topic of raw-foodism, this one manages to present a sound scientific basis for following the raw-food diet, *without* sounding preachy and condemning. As a student with more background than most in biology and chemistry, I recognize the truth of the author's arguments in terms of hard science (although he doesn't use much technical language.) However, the best part of this book isn't the recipes or even the inspirational stories culled from the author's tenure at the Hippocrates instutute. What was the most helpful to me was the author's friendly, non-judgmental introduction to raw-foodism and its many benefits. I'm already a raw-foodist, and the "yelling" in some other books really put me off--which I'm sure would be much worse to someone who hasn't decided to go raw. But this book really is different, and I think it would be ideal for gently inspiring someone new to the subject. It would even be great for continued inspiration for those who have already adopted the raw lifestyle! Overall, a great read--and a page-turner, too!

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear and informative, but not for newbies, August 4, 2001

By	Elisa "HipMom" (NY) - See all my reviews

If you are omnivorous, you may not be ready for this book. Brian Clement, who took over the Hippocrate's Health Center from Ann Wigmore, truly believes that raw vegetarianism is the only way to go. The book is filled with useful information, but it may be hard to digest if it's the first time you read about how living food can change your health for the better, or even for the best. The introductory part is very open and may scare you and drive you off the whole subject. If you want a book that will give you a first "taste" on the subject of raw vegetarianism, pick "Be your own doctor" by Ann Wigmore.

Other than that, this health book is realistic, and informative.