Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine

by Gabriel Cousens, Tree of Life Cafe Chefs, David Wolfe (Foreword)

Medical researchers have found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet, combined with environmental pollutants and stress, can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body collectively known as chronic degenerative disease. Here holistic physician Gabriel Cousens addresses the dangers of foods that have been genetically modified, treated with pesticides, microwaved, and irradiated—and presents an alternative diet of whole, natural, organic, and raw foods that can reverse chronic disease and restore vitality.

Both a guide to natural health and a cookbook, Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine features over 250 revolutionary vegan recipes from chefs at the Tree of Life Cafe, from Buttery Butternut Porridge to Raw-violis to Carob Coconut Cream Eclairs. Combining modern research on metabolism, ecological consciousness, and a rainbow of live foods, Dr. Cousens dishes up comprehensive, practical, and delectable solutions to the woes of the Western diet.

Genres: Cookbooks, Health, Food, Nutrition, Cooking, Reference

544 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2003

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the world of nutrition it seems there are about a million different voices saying what is good for you and and what is not. With that in mind I would have to say I have no idea if this guy is right or wrong or partially right or wrong. But it was interesting to read his theories on food.

The "Authentic Foods" chapter stuck in my mind the most where he presents studies that show the toxicity of non-organic foods. This chapter is scary enough to make you want to garden yourself and buy only organic foods. He presents how the chemicals thrown on our food can cause neurological problems...he goes into much more about all the things that happen to our traditional food supply and the problems these impurities cause. This chapter alone is worth reading if you don't read any other chapter or don't ascribe to his raw vegan lifestyle.

The mormon connection was interesting and makes me want to learn more about it. Unfortunately he doesn't site where it comes from. So I marked a book to read to see if it's in there. He states about the history of the live-food movement, "In the U.S., as early as the 1820s, there was a live-food awareness. The Mormons, including Joseph Smith and twenty-five of his core group, ate primarily live foods becasue they were aware that it enhanced spiritual sensitivity and development."

The main part of this book that I didn't care for was the history where he presented people that ate raw vegan food and lived to be very old. Unfortunately, upon further investigation by me, it appears a lot of his claims are unsubstantiated. It would be interesting it if were true though, then I would truly switch over, until then, I'll wait and see.

The main reason I purchased this book was for the recipes. I am what you would call a lover of food. I love all types of food, even junk food unfortunately. This book will add to my recipe books and will be much used. I love food! Especially fresh and authentic foods.

Thanks to Omar of Salt Lake's Omar's Living Cuisine Restaurant for recommending this book.

[julieta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ando desatada con leer libros sobre comida, todo tipo de dietas, nutrición, etc. Y lo divertido es descubrir que sea cual sea la teoría, todos los distintos nutricionistas te hablan con la misma convicción sobre sus dietas y recomendaciones. Cada uno contradice lo que acabo de leer en un libro anterior.
Sin querer llegué a este libro, que es el extremo opuesto de otros que he leído, básicamente habla sobre comida cruda, y por qué es la mejor opción. Es bastante irreal para mi pensar en seguir algo así, pero sí me deja con ganas de agregar más verduras crudas a mi dieta. Además de que probaré algunas de las recetas. Sí me reí bastante con todo eso de que la comida cocinada es mala para nosotros y que básicamente somos todos una enorme composta por nuestra manera de comer, ese tema de los hongos que traemos… bueno, mejor ni sigo. Pero me gusta pensar que siempre he buscado comer conscientemente, y por esa parte me puedo identificar. Lo que comemos también es energía, y en este mundo moderno muchos comemos muy mal, y creo que también es un reflejo de lo desconectados que estamos con nuestros cuerpos, y con nuestras necesidades más básicas.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cousens' recipes seem mostly simple and likely to be tasty, but I have a hard time swallowing his tripe about bacteria mutating into fungus. Hello, what happened to the Kingdoms? Heredity?

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

gabriel cousens is amazing and this book is one of my faves for it's info and recipes which are all raw and very yummy...

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Argumentative Structure The points raised in the text are supported by relevant examples and logical reasoning. The author builds a case step-by-step, leading the reader through a series of observations. Even if one does not agree with every point, the methodology is clear and easy to follow. Explore the supporting evidence for these arguments here. >>> https://script.google.com/macros/s/AK...

[Dray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a very good raw foods cookbook. It has an amazingly broad collection of raw recipes, or using a food dehydrator. I personally like cooked food mostly.

[Sandeep Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life. Exploration of mycotoxins in food and low glycemic organic live food diet as a way forward. Starting eating and preparing food differently from the day I read it.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a lot of people, I am gradually coming to the realization that what I put into my body affects the way my mind and body are able to function. Not all food is created equal and counting calories or carbs does very little good if I’m not giving my body the nutrition it needs. Slowly, I am learning that my body, mind, and spirit prefer whole foods to fast food and empty calories.

Rainbow Green Live- Food Cuisine introduces the concept of live-food. This plan is strictly vegan and promotes the usage of fresh raw foods whenever possible. For most people, these recipes will be a radical change from what they eat at present. Nonetheless, they will provide a place to start.

I had a few personal challenges while trying these recipes. A large portion of the foods contained coconut, which I am allergic to, so I had to make some adjustments. Moreover, many of the dishes contained ingredients that were unavailable in my area, so I again had to make substitutions.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After eating a mostly raw diet for over a year I still felt really out of control with my eating. Sugar was the main culprit for my binges and after reading a lot about why, I discovered that candida needs sugar to survive and my cravings were my candida talking.

I decided to get serious and do something about it and I'm now just 4 days in to eating in Phase 1 (very restrictive, no fruits except for lemons and limes).

The recipes have all been really amazing so even if you don't decide to follow his program, the recipes make this book worth checking out. The recipes do make a lot, so hopefully you'll have someone to share them with.

The science-y part of the book was kind of over my head, to be honest, but I figured that every body reacts differently to different ways of eating and the only way to find out if its right for me is to try it. So far so good - very satisfying way to eat.

[Belann · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Cousens makes some interesting and somewhat valid comments on the toxicity of stored grains, as he promotes his live-food cuisine and its healing benefits, I still am not convinced that they need to be avoided. There are way too many cultures where the basis of the diet is grains. To feed a lot of people, you have to store the grains. It is my belief that a diet with grains, even if they are stored grains, is more beneficial to long-term health than a diet where they are avoided. I do like his attempt to tie in the Ayurveda philosophy with his recipes, however.

There are several recipes I think I will add to my repertoire, since I do think raw food is healing, but I'm not convinced it is a long-term lifestyle.

[Karina]

So, I cracked open this book to begin reading, and as I read the first page or two I realized this was a more indebth book than I was really wanting to read. So I skimmed the pages and didn't find anything I was really interested in. So then I went to the back to check out the recipes, and reading through them I think I've decided I'm done trying live/raw foods. I believe there's lots of health benefits, but I guess I'm just too addicted to "cooked" foods, I can't give it up. There's lots of other healthy options without going completely raw. So I'm not going to rate this, since I didn't actually read it, but I'm still marking it as read.

[Olisia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible resource and guide. I have used its insights on eating for health as well as the recipes. Being interested in raw food while not having major health concerns has led to me away from fully immersing in his recommended phases. Instead, I select recipes of particular interest and ease.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not intended for a singles-type lifestyle. All of the recipes produce huge quatities of food and take more time to prepare than french onion soup.

If you have the time though, a raw food lifestyle is wonderful and the health benefits are extraordinary.

[Dejana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Cousens is one of the leading experts in raw food, nutrition and healthy living. In this book he has designed a nutritional plan primarily to heal candida and weak immunity system, but in overall it is a way to eat healthy for life.

[Fed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like everything, it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but this book definitely reinforced for me the belief that the more fruit and vegetables I can grow on my property - with organic seeds - the better I am off with my health.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cook book but so much more! 100 or 200 pages about mycosis. I would recommend it.

[Bruce Michael Hubbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was priveledged to aid in the production of this Raw Bible of longevity.

If you want to live long - this is a must read

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cousens is held up as a raw food guru, and tries to make his system sound fun. but I found this book depressing. An uber-restrictive ethos.

[Haines Borough Public Library]

View in catalog here: http://haines.evergreencatalog.com/op...

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is chock full of great recipes. If you want to embrace the raw food life I recommend this book. It is not heavy on photographs; its value is in the recipes.

[HadiDee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure that I subscribe to his theories but interesting to read anyway

[Beth Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think my body is rotting based on eating cashews... But I do agree with oxidation and avoiding sugars. Great book to take healthy eating a step further.

[Gerry Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably the way to go

[Nick Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great companion to his other books. I can vouch for this diet. It works! I really hesitate to call it a diet, because it is a total lifestyle change.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something worth committing to