Customer Reviews

Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!!

The first book I read by Dr. Cousens was There Is A Cure For Diabetes.
Then I realized, in order to obtain a lot of his recipes,
I needed to buy Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine.
The book is about a lot more than recipes.
I particularly appreciated learning about the composting button,
what it takes to turn addictive patterns around
and what it takes to turn the composting button off.
(I think I have since learned that the composting button
is related not only to Gastaon Naessens' work
and the work of Enderlain, but the huge amount of research
that is reported at Bryon Richards, M.D.'s site
on the pathways and relationships with leptin.
I never knew about the term 'authentic food'
and much appreciated the explanations and criteria provided.
Even though I don't have children and I don't fly,
I appreciated the additional information.

I have used the recipes for 63 days and this has enormously helped
my husband and I.
My husband has lost 57 pounds as a result
and feels much better.
He is hardly taking any insulin now and he has stopped
a few of his medications.
He has a long ways to go, but he is very motivated.
I wish that the recipes were all written
in terms of 2 - 4 servings, or in terms of how many
dehydrator trays are required, some sort of consistency
throughout the section,
but I am, for the most part, able to sort it all out.
It would have been nice if a Shopping List had been provided in the book.
The recipes require time in the kitchen
and require the purchasing of 3 or 4 useful items in the kitchen.
But I am seeing results of the efforts quickly,
and I feel that over time meal preparation will become much faster.
(The few things that are lacking in the recipes section
are a few green drink examples and a few more soups,
there are a lot of variations on tomatoe soup which are good,
but these recipes are supplemented in the other Cousens' book.)

I would suggest that this book be read in conjunction
with There Is A Cure For Diabetes
(which is for anyone, it isn't just about diabetes).

I would strongly recommend this book, these two books,
for anyone seriously wanting to make better choices for their health.
Thank you. S. J. Gray

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.

I found this book to be extremely helpful as a guide in the transition and opening up to raw/live food cuisine. Because the author is a doctor who has studied this subject for many years, he brings up many scientific points which make understanding the subject a lot more tangible in that way. Besides the science there are other topics covered that add to the discovery of a new way of being. It's a lifestyle change not just a diet.

My husband and I are transitioning to raw foods. We have ordered several books, only to find the unlimate source for raw food receipes in this book. Unbelievably tasty and ranging from easy to prepare to somewhat complicated, this book is our new cookbook staple in the kitchen. Not only does Dr. Cousens explain his reasoning carefully and in depth, but he goes on to suggest ways besides food to create the best life you can have. He isn't just promoting his own work, either, but incorporates the latest work of Dr. Young and others who came before, like Bechamp. If you want the BEST recipes, tasty, wholesome and satisfying, do not miss out on Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine.

This book takes a lot of the complexity, days of foresight, and ingredients most kitchens don't have out of the confusion of a delicious raw food kitchen. I worked for a week at the tree of life and used this book as the guide to all our recipes. I found it a simple lay out to a delicious raw food daily eating regime. It has excellent recipes using more simple means and ingredients then I found in most raw cook books (and I own them all). This is the one to have if you want the simplicity in eating, along with a good meal, rather then another plain and simple salad. We often alter the ingredients if we did not have something on hand and always did a wonderful job. An easy to use, exceptional cookbook.

I bought this book thinking that I might get some solid nutritional advice of the "you should eat more fiber and discontinue junk food" variety. What I got was something that held me spellbound from the start. I cannot believe that I did not know most of the facts contained in this book but now that I do I believe it would be difficult to go back to the way I used to eat. This is the type of thinking that could change your life!

I've been eating raw for over a month now, only using this book and still haven't managed to eat all the recipes. I find my-self asking constantly: Is this REALLY a raw food dish? You'd never believe you were eating living cuisine.

Most praise this book for it's simlicity. I personally don't find it exactly simple but then again I have never used any other raw uncook book before. I'm dissapointed to some degree though and sometimes feel chained to my kitchen. At times like that I simple look for a quick recipe and just throw something together and guess what...it still tastes amazing.

I love the first part of the book as well. It's wonderful to see how complete his research is and to be encouraged to make raw cuisine personal to your body, mind and spiritual needs. Most people don't eat raw the right way because they don't know there's a better way. Cousens does and he's not afraid to share it!

Buy this book, change your life.

I went from vegetarian to raw vegan with this book two months ago, and with these recipes, it's been an absolute pleasure! The recipes are easy to follow, the ingredients are easy to find, and the results are absolutely delicious. Even my carnivorous boyfriend loves them.

I lost five pounds the first month I ate from this book, and I ate a LOT. My energy soared. No more three o'clock blahs!

I first tried eating raw with the intention that it would be temporary, but I am looking forward to reaping the long-term rewards of eating raw. This book will be by my side on that journey.