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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2012
I bought this book based primarily on D. Steinlage's excellent review. While I still feel her review is excellent, now that I own the book I wanted to add my two cents.
D.Steinlage addresses criticism from people who expect a book on healthy food - which the standard American diet (SAD) emphatically is NOT - to make it possible for them to continue eating the unhealthy foods they're used to.
Accept the uncomfortable FACT, people: if you want to be healthy, you must CHANGE THE WAY YOU EAT. C-H-A-N-G-E. You cannot continue to eat easy-to-prepare processed nutrient-free foods and see any improvement. This book will help you make the transition IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE UNHEALTHY FOODS YOU NOW EAT.
It will not be easy, most processed foods are addictive. Intentionally so, to encourage you to buy more of them. You will need will power to give them up. This book will give you the incentive to do it and provide recipes to replace them. Ms Fallon acknowledges, "...how difficult it is to give up these foods in a society whose eating habits are based on them..."
To those people who think they can replace opening a can or package with a healthy meal and spend no more time cooking...GET REAL. You can't.
I have done enough of my own research to know what a truly healthy diet entails and was hoping to find a cookbook that supported my research -- no gluten; no sugar; only sprouted nuts, grains, and beans; only raw dairy; only pasture raised meat and poultry with soy-free supplemental feed; only wild fish and shellfish; lots of fermented foods, and both raw AND COOKED foods.
This book met me three-quarters of the way. Yes, Ms. Fallon does advocate these practices, and she explains why they're necessary, but she doesn't adhere to them totally in the book. She states that there is no chapter on "pasta" because it is inherently unhealthy but then presents a recipe for cobbler which contains 2 cups of wheat flour. Huh? Was there no way to use quinoa or nut flour instead? I would have preferred that the book contain ONLY healthy recipes and be a little smaller. Others may be glad there are some 'borderline' recipes.
If you buy this book, you will save yourself from having to do the many year's worth of research I did looking for the truth. The truth that's suppressed by the mainstream food industry. It's all here, in one easy to read place. Until now, the only books I had found which supported my research were raw food books and, while many foods are healthier raw, there is evidence that you must eat some cooked foods as well. Ms. Fallon addresses that need.
What I enjoy most about the book are the side bars. Every page has supplemental information on studies, reports and anecdotes which support her position and debunk the SAD. In that respect it really is my food 'bible'.
I am glad I bought the book and I'm sure it will help anyone who is truly WILLING to make changes to achieve optimal health.
D.Steinlage addresses criticism from people who expect a book on healthy food - which the standard American diet (SAD) emphatically is NOT - to make it possible for them to continue eating the unhealthy foods they're used to.
Accept the uncomfortable FACT, people: if you want to be healthy, you must CHANGE THE WAY YOU EAT. C-H-A-N-G-E. You cannot continue to eat easy-to-prepare processed nutrient-free foods and see any improvement. This book will help you make the transition IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE UNHEALTHY FOODS YOU NOW EAT.
It will not be easy, most processed foods are addictive. Intentionally so, to encourage you to buy more of them. You will need will power to give them up. This book will give you the incentive to do it and provide recipes to replace them. Ms Fallon acknowledges, "...how difficult it is to give up these foods in a society whose eating habits are based on them..."
To those people who think they can replace opening a can or package with a healthy meal and spend no more time cooking...GET REAL. You can't.
I have done enough of my own research to know what a truly healthy diet entails and was hoping to find a cookbook that supported my research -- no gluten; no sugar; only sprouted nuts, grains, and beans; only raw dairy; only pasture raised meat and poultry with soy-free supplemental feed; only wild fish and shellfish; lots of fermented foods, and both raw AND COOKED foods.
This book met me three-quarters of the way. Yes, Ms. Fallon does advocate these practices, and she explains why they're necessary, but she doesn't adhere to them totally in the book. She states that there is no chapter on "pasta" because it is inherently unhealthy but then presents a recipe for cobbler which contains 2 cups of wheat flour. Huh? Was there no way to use quinoa or nut flour instead? I would have preferred that the book contain ONLY healthy recipes and be a little smaller. Others may be glad there are some 'borderline' recipes.
If you buy this book, you will save yourself from having to do the many year's worth of research I did looking for the truth. The truth that's suppressed by the mainstream food industry. It's all here, in one easy to read place. Until now, the only books I had found which supported my research were raw food books and, while many foods are healthier raw, there is evidence that you must eat some cooked foods as well. Ms. Fallon addresses that need.
What I enjoy most about the book are the side bars. Every page has supplemental information on studies, reports and anecdotes which support her position and debunk the SAD. In that respect it really is my food 'bible'.
I am glad I bought the book and I'm sure it will help anyone who is truly WILLING to make changes to achieve optimal health.
