Eating in the Raw : A Beginner's Guide to Getting Slimmer, Feeling Healthier, and Looking Youngerthe Raw-Food Way

Rating:
Summary: Makes a Lot of Sense
Review:
This book makes sense. I also liked the recipes. What I particulary like about it is the fact that Carol Alt does not try to convert anyone to become a "raw only" person, or a vegetarian. So, it is good book for just anybody; unlike the books by Butenkos, in which I found some exaggerated claims.

Amazon.com suggests buying this book together with "12 Steps to Raw Foods" by Butenko, but I absolutely disagree with that choice. Firstly, for the reason just mentioned above; secondly, why would you buy two books on the same topic? I find that adding "Can We Live 150 Years?" by M. Tombak would be a more appropriate choice, as Mr. Tombak is also as down-to-earth as Ms. Alt; in addition he broadens the topic of health by so many other issues outside of proper nutrition that very well complement raw eating. Before buying the book, you may want to check www.starthealthylife.com to read many free excerpts provided by the publisher, or to download some free ebooks about alternative life styles.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book for the experienced raw foodist
Review: As a long time 100% vegan raw foodist, I was excited as always to see a new raw book! I was very impressed with the overall layout of the book. The forward by Nicholas J. Gonzalez, M.D. was fantastic. His description of the raw food lifestyle is very well researched and beautifully presented. This alone makes me delighted to have the book.

I tried four of the recipes, and they were all good. My favorite two were Kelly's Macadamia Whipped Cream and Kelly's Lemon Custard. I was impressed by how Carol believes in and defends the raw food lifestyle. I also liked her honesty about her popcorn slip ups. I love how down-to-earth she is. I also loved how she pointed out in her book that the raw food lifestyle is not a fad.

The first raw food restaurant opened in 1917 and stayed open until World War II. There are books on raw foods that date back to 1925, and I'm sure if I did even more research I would find books dating back even further. As Carol puts it in reference to the books and restaurant, "That's too long ago for this to be a fad." I think Carol is wonderful for the raw food movement. People admire her and respect her, so it can only help push the raw movement mainstream.

My concern with book is that she mentions eating raw meat and raw dairy. I agree that we are all different, but I have not seen any value or benefit from adding raw animal products to one's diet. I have seen fabulous results with the raw vegan lifestyle mixed with exercise. I culture all my foods and feel that this is vital to our health. Perhaps this is why Carol adds raw dairy to her diet. It is quite simple to culture seeds, nuts, and coconuts and reap amazing health benefits from this.

There are a few drawbacks to this book. The recipe section is very small and surprisingly, none of the recipes are hers. There are many conflicting references in regard to eating animal products. Carol seems to spend a good deal of time defending that decision which ends up confusing the reader on whether one should or shouldn't eat raw animal products. The pro arguments aren't convincing enough. I would have liked to have seen solid up to date research. Although, I loved a lot of what was in Carol's book, I would not recommend that someone who is new to the raw food lifestyle purchase her book. It is too confusing. This is an excellent book for the experienced raw foodist.--Angela Elliot


Rating:
Summary: Raw Food For Health - Looking Younger
Review: Carol Alt, the author, about ten years ago was feeling very bad. Then she started eating raw, and it changed her life. She had chronic headaches, sinusitis, stomach ailments, and she was tired and listless before "Eating In The Raw."

You will learn exactly what raw food is and is not. You will learn how vitamins, minerals and enzymes are affected by cooking and heating. Important to the reader, in the book are exact brands of foods, recipes, supplements and appliances. Using the author's guidelines you will be able to go to the local health food store and find all the ingredients in her recipes.

Rating:
Summary: Beginner's Guide to Raw Food
Review: I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book after reading about it in Travel Magazine where Carol Alt was the on the cover. I have thought about going vegan for about a year now, so I thought I would see what Carol had to say about it. I did not expect an experts guide considering the title. What I found was an interesting journey Carol went on to find a healthy lifestyle. Most important to me were the exact brands of foods, supplements and appliances she finds to be the best! The recipes were what I expected and look forward to making. Thank you so much Carol for such a awesome beginners raw food book!
Susan Y.

Rating:
Summary: Raw Food
Review: I anxiously awaited the release of this book thinking it would contain a lot of exotic recipes in addition to offering some new insights on the raw food phenomenon. I was also curious as to how a celebrity juggled a raw foods lifestyle while pursuing a global-trotting career. Mind you, this book is not bad, but it's not really good either. It's more of a guide to Carol's own raw foods lifestyle. The first part of the book centers around Carol's food journey from feeling poorly to vibrant health. While this section might be somewhat interesting to anyone interested in Carol's life, I personally found it difficult read. Frankly, Carol's so called serious health issues just never seemed that serious to me. Very sick to me is very sick. And her renditions of a model's life and subsequent weight challenges seemed trite. I had a hard time working up any real sympathy for an obvously previledged and fortunate individual. As to the remainder of the book, it offers some valuable information although not really telling, and doesn't offer enough data to substantiate the claims. Another problem I had is with the recipe section which is quite sparse. I was surprised to see that most of the recipes were not even Carol's. Another major problem I had with this book was the conflicting references regarding eating raw animal products. Carol seems to spend a good deal of time defending that decision which ends up confusing the reader on whether one should or should not eat raw animal products. The pro arguments are not convincing enough and I personally would have liked to see additional research on the benefits and hazards of consuming raw animal products. By the end of the book, I questioned whether Carol, herself was truly comfortable with it. If Carol's intentions were to appease her raw vegan friends, I doubt she succeeded with this book. All in all a fair book, but certainly not for anyone but the complete novice.

Rating:
Summary: Great Intro into RAW FOODS!
Review: I bought the book and liked it, Carol does a great job introducing people to RAW Foods and has some great recipes.

Rating:
Summary: Carol does a good RAW intro....
Review: I bought the book and thought it was a good introduction into RAW and she gives good reasons to go RAW. The recipes were good too. I have a new book: RAW IN TEN MINUTES that takes RAW to the next level, makes it easier, fun, practical and all under 10 minute recipes! If you liked Carol's book you will LOVE MINE!
http://www.Rawinten.com it will be listed on Amazon.com in a few weeks.

Bryan
http://www.Rawinten.com

Rating:
Summary: Great book for beginners
Review: I read the whole thing in 2 days. I have tried about 5 or 6 recipes and they were all very surprisingly good, full of taste and easy to create. the wealth of information given in the book is easy to relate for and apply for any average working class person, espacially tips given in shopping. Using her guideline, I was able to go the local health food store and find everything for the recipes, no problems. The basic information I was able to get in here. I think for any beginner, this is the book to start with.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!
Review: This book tells about

What exactly raw food is -- and isn't -- and how to integrate it into your diet
How to avoid the all-or-nothing pitfall: you can eat some cooked foods, you can eat some foods partially cooked, and you don't have to deprive yourself
Why raw food is not just for vegetarians or vegans -- Carol eats meat, and so can you
The differences between cooked and raw vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, and what they mean for you
An ease-in approach to eating raw, and how to eat raw in restaurants

I'm at the airport posting this review and looking forward to my long flight now that I have this book. Halfway through I simply cannot put it down. Just like my delicious cup of s o y f e e. It's a coffee substitute that's been helping me ween off caffeine since my doctor mentioned it. Made from soy it even lowered my cholesterol. Look for it online at www.s o y c o f f ee.com. Oh, gotta run or I'll miss my flight!.