Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine
by Gabriel Cousens
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Book Reviews of Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine
Book Review: Most up-to-date and insightful live-food book available
Summary: 5 Stars
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!!!
Book Review: The Best Program in Raw Foodism
Summary: 4 Stars
I consider Gabriel Cousens to be the most tenable among the proselytizers of live food/raw food nutrition. I say proselytizer not necessarily as a pejorative but to describe that Cousens is advancing a particular program as a believer to convert others. All authors of diet books do this, of course, so this book, like any other, should be approached with a healthy skepticism. Some of the science in the opening chapters may seem hokey, but I think that the general principles that shape Cousens' dietary regimen are quite reasonable. For instance, he is very attentive to the pitfalls of a high glycemic diet, which is why his recipes do not contain many fruits (bananas, mangoes, etc) and dates, the latter a food that is overused in many raw food recipe books. Sweeteners are also quite limited and he doesn't use much agave nectar, an ingredient used in just about everything by some rawfoodists. This is a recipe book that is very sensible and healthier than most, raw food or otherwise. It is also perfect for those suffering from yeast overgrowth.
All this being said, the book is not without problems. Because Cousens desires simultaneously to espouse a strict vegan diet AND be mindful of the individuals have different dietary needs (metabolic typing/Ayurveda), he has to do some odd contortions. Protein types, he believes, can get all the protein they need from nuts and seeds but he doesn't seriously consider that with such sources of protein comes a lot of fat, so the percentage breakdown of macronutrients (carbs, fat, protein) for such types doesn't quite add up. And he also quickly wishes away the Ayurveda use of meat for some people and rather monomaniacally insists that a raw vegan diet is doable if not ideal for everyone. It's fine if Cousens advocates a vegan diet for ethical reasons but to prescribe such a diet for all people as one supporting optimal health seems unsupportable, even according to his own reasoning, and perhaps irresponsible. The fuller case that Cousens makes for veganism and livefoodism in the new edition of Spiritual Nutrition doesn't do much to dispel this problem and others.
Now live-foodism clearly has much to recommend it, so I say all this as someone who is not at all hostile to many of its precepts. And Cousens's recipes are generally easy to prepare (although you will need a dehydrator, high-speed blender, homogenizing juicer, and food processor to take full advantage), use readily available indredients, healthful, and often delicious. There are some problems with the recipes, however, which more careful proofreading could have corrected. Very often the amounts of some ingredients, such as salt and oils, are way off (tablespoons are indicated instead of teaspoons, etc.). I've made a lot of the recipes in this book and always proceed with caution and recommend not adding immediatley the full amounts of oils, salt, and spices indicated and let common sense and taste be your guide. If you do this and use the recipes as a starting point, you will consistently have good results--at least that's been my experience.
One other problem with this book is its construction. Soon after I got the book, pages started to come loose from the spine. Over a year later about half the pages are detached--rather a nuisance. And I treated this book as I treat all my books, with great care. I've heard similar reports from other owners of this book, so this may not be an isolated problem. If after getting it you discover that pages are coming loose, return it and get another one before Amazon's return period expires. (I emailed the publisher over a month ago about this problem but have yet to hear back from them.)
Overall, this is a book that I very much recommend to rawfoodists, dabblers, and just those interested in eating more healthily and who are open to trying something new.
Book Review: The Definitive Book on the Raw Foods Diet, with Recipes!
Summary: 5 Stars
How to transform your life in record time with
the most delicious and energetic food on the
planet! This book is an essential addition to
the library of any serious student of health.
It is my favorite book on health and nutrition.
It also contains some of the best recipes I've made.
If you want to learn about health, you must study
those who have mastered the art of healthy living.
You must look to the world's best health and healing
retreats: "The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center" in
Arizona, and "Hippocrates Health Institute" in Florida.
Brian Clement is the director of Hippocrates and his
book, Living Foods for Optimum Health, is required
reading. Dr. Gabriel Cousens is the director of the
Tree of Life. Rainbow Green contains the diet used at
the Tree of Life for healing and rejuvenation.
I use the recipes in Rainbow Green daily. The cakes,
cookies, soups, salad dressings, nut milks, pates,
sauces, fermented foods, crackers, and other recipes
are easy and delicious. I also enjoy making the vegan
kefir drinks, KimChi, and essential oil delicacies.
Rainbow Green discusses how there are microscopic
organisms in the blood such as yeast, mold, fungus,
and bacteria. These organisms enter the blood through
various food and beverages and they contribute to poor
health. They they are fed by foods high in sugar, and
they thrive in an acidic body.
In Rainbow Green you'll discover how to alkalinize your
body to prevent the microorganisms from growing. You'll
discover which foods to eat and which to avoid for
optimal health. Rainbow Green foods are classified low-
glycemic, high-mineral, and high-vibrational foods.
I also enjoy the chapters on how to raise babies and
children on a raw foods diet. One chapter discusses
how to reduce jet stress, jet lag, and it gives various
yoga poses for the airplane. You'll discover how to
sprout, how to grow high mineral organic foods, why it
is essential to eat organic foods, effects of pesticides
on children, the many benefits of enzymes, How to
dramatically increase your life-span using the secrets
of a Calorie Restricted Diet, modern research on living
foods and superfoods, how to travel on a raw foods diet,
what kitchen appliances you'll need for your kitchen, and more.
Give this diet a try and I guarantee you'll experience the
greatest health of your life. Even if you don't do the diet
100%, you'll fall in love with these recipes.
Book Review: Great information on why Std. Am. Diet is damaging us & how to eat raw style
Summary: 5 Stars
The beginning of this book reviews the Author's premise regarding how the Standard American Diet (SAD) is damaging us. Essentially our unhealthy diet is creating a state that the body recognizes as death, so it begins to decompose the body - this is what our poor health, and auto-immune disease stems from (to some extent). The author calls this "self-composting' as they body is trying to break everything down into basic elements (like composting does). He then explains how live, raw foods, which are rich in vitamins and essential enzymes, are the key to "shutting off" the compost button, so that we have superior health, longer lives, increased vitality, etc.
The next part of the book has a variety of raw-foods recipies. The think that I like about their recipies is that they acknowledge and utilize the need for balancing of the 4 tastes: sweet, astringent, fat, salty and their recipes account for it. This contributes to a more rich, fulfilling taste. The bummer with the recipes is that they lack any commentary, such as "This one is a real favorite with kids" or "Many people think this one tastes just like lasagna", or "this is Gabriel's favorite!" etc. I love cook books that have that commentary, as often it will help me decide which recipes to try first. It also makes the recipes more interesting in my opinion. But obviously this additional commentary is not a necessary part of a recipe.
If you are trying raw for the first time a book with pictures for every step would be much more helpful, such as Raw Family Signature Dishes: A Step-by-Step Guide to Essential Live-Food Recipes. The step-by-step pictures make it less daunting, and they also include info on what equipment you need to get started with the lifestyle, how to sprout stuff, etc.
This is a great book & it has me seriously considering a raw food prep retreat at Gabriel's center in Arizona!
Book Review: One man's food is another man's poison
Summary: 4 Stars
With Gabe's fine work on Conscious Eating, you'd think he understand the concept of individualizing one's diet, for one's particular constitution. He's a diplomat in Ayurveda, and has written extensively on the concept of eating right for your Ayurvedic body type and Oxidizer status. However, in this book, he recommends a high green, low glycemic, high fat raw diet to ALL. All, being the key word. Where has his 30 years of experience gone all of a sudden?
People with Type O blood will likely thrive on this type of diet. People who are "fast oxidizers" or "Vata" Ayurvedic types. Since Gabriel himself is a Type O, he has excellent success with this kind of diet. This kind of diet is in line with my body type as well, since I'm also a Type O/Fast Oxidizer. However, a Type A blood type, who is generally a Slow Oxidizer will absolutely TANK on this diet. These are the people that gain excess weight, feel sluggish, and can't stick to the diet. Dr. Cousens should know better!
With that said, roughly 40% of the people who read this book and try the diet will be singing their praises. Some will find it to be "ok", and many will fail miserably. Just as many fail miserably on other raw food approaches, such as the high fruit, low fat type diet.
Bottom line, you need to individualize your diet to your own needs. The one size fits all approach doesn't work, and I'm very surprised Dr. Cousens wrote this book in such a fashion.
I'm giving this book 4 stars, because the diet jives with me, and my body type. However, I can understand the many 1 star reviews.