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Summary: I recommend this book to everybody...
Review: Dr. Cousens has done pioneering work in creating this precious, easy to read, wisdom-filled book. As a medical doctor, he represents the new breed of physician that will help our society and world achieve high level wellness. Unlike other limited conceptions of health, he keeps the highest goal of life in mind--communion with the Divine. I love him for sharing this message with us.--Eliot Jay Rosen, LISW, author of Experiencing the Soul
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Summary: The best book on vegetarian nutrition
Review: Everyone should know the facts in this book and then decide. Especially loved the recipes!
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Summary: Useful information
Review: Gabriel Cousens is a trained physician who operates the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona. I remember reading the first edition of "Conscious Eating" years ago. It was one of the first vegetarian books I read, and one that influenced me deeply. Gabriel explores food and its relation to health taking in consideration its effects on different levels: physical, mental, and spiritual, as well as each person's individuality. Gabriel Cousens tries to "Individualize the Diet" instead of saying that there is one diet ideal for everyone. I was more enthusiastic about these ideas when I first revised this book, but now I am not so impressed by all these theories anymore. Dr. Cousens has adapted the Indian health system of Ayurveda to vegan, raw food nutrition. The chapter on vitamin B-12 will be of great interest to all vegans and raw-foodists. Doubts about a vegetarian diets are dispelled. The part on Vegetarianism in world religions, and also the vegetarianism of Jesus are also fascinating chapters included in this part of the book. Part three is titled: "Transition to Vegetarianism," but is also about transition to living foods and the reasons behind such a diet. Gabriel outlines the best way to make this transition as easy as possible. The transition is in four stages, from a meat and dairy based diet to a vegan, raw food diet. The final stage of 95% living foods, a difficult step for most people that can be made easier understanding the psychology behind it. "Stage Four diet is more intense and more likely to be successful for those who are mature and balanced in all areas of their lives. For most people, it requires several years of experience and self-experimentation to become balanced and grounded with the full life-force power of this diet." Other chapters of interest in this part include information on pesticides in our food, and a list of the most sprayed fruits and vegetables. The book also contain many raw-food recipes.
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Summary: "Eat To Live, Don't Live To Eat."
Review: Gabriel is more than a nutritional expert he is a holistic Healer. If one were to read AND study this book seriously, one could revolutionize their life. Gabriel is in some ways the Grandfather of the Raw food movement and this is it's BIBLE. He provides a spiritual context that is all too often lacking in the Raw movement. There ara quite a few holier than thou, head in the clouds types roving around today. Gabe's spiritual perspective cuts through such nonsense. Unlike David wolfe (for all his energetic brilliance, gabriel brings years of experience as a hardcore spiritual practice (This guy is an amazing over achiever, he is an excellent psychiatrist and radical nutritional expert. Blah blah blah. This book is excellent, beyond excellent. With this book and david Wolfe's , you will have all the info you need for years to come.
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Summary: ALL life is sacred . . .
Review: Hmmm, don't eat anything with a face? The arrogance in that is astounding...so the way it works is, we gotta face, so since we're above EVERYTHING, anything that looks kinda like us must be worthy of life. Geeez. Aren't there beautiful ocean creatures that don't have a face...okay to eat them? I've noticed how plants will move toward the sun...I guess that's just a quirk, guess it doesn't really mean they have consciousness or have a strong desire to live... I s'pose whatever higher being planned all this was kinda off the mark 'cause he/she made the boo-boo of having animals eat animals. That couldn't possibly be "right." Um, yeah...
Native Americans knew...ALL life is sacred. They thanked those animal beings whose lives were sacrificed for their nourishment, for their survival. They respected ALL life. We are not above animals, we are part of the animal kingdom. We are part of this PERFECT system called Nature. It is twisted thinking like "eat nothing with a face" that reeks of a sense of superiority (and judgment) that is most unwarranted.
It isn't about not eating them, it's about respecting them, eating them (or not) as we personally intuit for our own health in a healthy way (not all day, everyday...) Not locking them in cages where they can't move, not torturing them in labs, not reveling in the "sport" of killing them, not poisoning them with drugs to make them fatter or whatever...allow them to live in peace and when we must take them for our nourishment, do it in a humane way...animals die, people die...such is the nature of this existence. Death is but a doorway for all life, and it's essential for the continuation of life on this planet.
Believe it or not, I've been both vegetarian and vegan, because I adore animals. But I could not have been more unhealthy on those types of diets, and I find it sad that the majority of vegetarians I've come across rarely look robust and healthy. They are generally pale and thin, even Linda McCartney died of breast cancer. I'm not saying it's because she didn't eat meat, but her diet certainly didn't save her from that vicious disease. Vegetarianism is definitely not for everyone, and my guess is that if it's healthy for anyone, they are in the minority.
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Summary: Totally changed my perspective on food
Review: I bought this book because I wanted to become a better vegetarian/vegan and gain a healthier attitude toward self-nourishing (without giving up coffee and chocolate!). I found the analysis sections extremely eye-opening, and learned that the high-carb vegan diet I was having such trouble sticking to is not at all suited to my body/metabolism. I've made some real shifts in my diet based on this book, especially including both more protein and more raw foods, and have a lot more focus and energy now.I highly recommend this book, especially for people who want to move further toward or into vegetarianism. It will help a lot with that transition and guide you to finetuning what you eat to suit your metabolic needs. It will also change your perspective and understanding of food and how it affects mind, body, and spirit. Unfortunately, some of the information is a little confusing: I couldn't always figure out how to apply or use what I'd learned. And while I personally agree about the spiritual dimensions of diet, others may find that focus (especially in the beginning of the book) a little too strong. I think Dr. Cousens would have done better to shift that focus to the second half, so he could gradually build up to it.
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Summary: Author's Note To Readers Of "Conscious Eating"
Review: I found that I had to express what I was finding, because people needed the information. I write as a service. In my book Conscious Eating I try to answer all the questions related to vegetarianism, live foodsÑ all the subtleties on every level. So, my design for Conscious Eating was just that: let's be conscious, let's really understand what we're doing. It's an attempt to support people who are considering a transition to vegetarianism and for those who already are vegetarians. END
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Summary: Excellent Vegatarion Source
Review: I picked up this book because I wanted to eat better and the name Concious Eating seemed appealing...I didn't realize the book would completely change the way I view food and the way I would eat (it's a big eye opener). I have been a vegatarin since I read the book (1 1/2 yr) and am very grateful for the education this book has brought to me. Paavo Airola (referenced in this book) is also a great source if you're considering being a vegatarian.
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Summary: The raw food bible from A to Z
Review: I've been a vegan for about 4 months and a raw foodist for about 1 week. "Conscious Eating" answers any question you have or may have on this lifestyle. The book is a great education tool for the reader. I trust my intuition and I started the vegan lifestyle due to the way I felt after completing 3 weeks of bowel cleansing, liver detoxing and kidney detoxing. During that time I eliminated chicken and fish from my diet and cooked foods. I've always been sensitive to the reaction of anything I ingested. After the 3 week I felt so much better I decided to reframe from chicken & fish and continue with the vegan lifestyle. I continued to eat about 5% cooked and 95% raw. I noticed that previous aches,pains and joint inflamations were no longer there. My body feels alive. My skin had a vibrant glow and I started dropping a few pounds. The mental clarity and the inner connection is just amazing. When an acquaintance recommended the book and I started reading, I became clearer on what caused the changes and why I felt so good. This was my confirmation that one's intuition will lead you in the right direction if you allow it. I love the gourmet recipes in the back of the book as well as the 14 day menu plan. He also gives information on the resort in Arizona that I plan on visiting one day soon. If you live in Los Angeles, you must connect with Juliano's raw food dinner group, in Santa Monica. His gourmet meals prove that raw food is with out a doubt the best tasting food on the planet. He also has a book called "Raw - the uncooked." These books are sensational & amazing. Do yourself a favor and buy both of these books and start really living!
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Summary: The raw food bible from A to Z
Review: I've been a vegan for about 4 months and a raw foodist for about 1 week. "Conscious Eating" answers any question you have or may have on this lifestyle. The book is a great education tool for the reader. I trust my intuition and I started the vegan lifestyle due to the way I felt after completing 3 weeks of bowel cleansing, liver detoxing and kidney detoxing. During that time I eliminated chicken and fish from my diet and cooked foods. I've always been sensitive to the reaction of anything I ingested. After the 3 week I felt so much better I decided to reframe from chicken & fish and continue with the vegan lifestyle. I continued to eat about 5% cooked and 95% raw. I noticed that previous aches,pains and joint inflamations were no longer there. My body feels alive. My skin had a vibrant glow and I started dropping a few pounds. The mental clarity and the inner connection is just amazing. When an acquaintance recommended the book and I started reading, I became clearer on what caused the changes and why I felt so good. This was my confirmation that one's intuition will lead you in the right direction if you allow it. I love the gourmet recipes in the back of the book as well as the 14 day menu plan. He also gives information on the resort in Arizona that I plan on visiting one day soon. If you live in Los Angeles, you must connect with Juliano's raw food dinner group, in Santa Monica. His gourmet meals prove that raw food is with out a doubt the best tasting food on the planet. He also has a book called "Raw - the uncooked." These books are sensational & amazing. Do yourself a favor and buy both of these books and start really living!
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