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Food is a controversial subject, there are as many theories on diet and nutrition as there are recipes. It is a subject that no-one seems to be able to agree on. Some maintain that we are essentially herbivores, while another group insists we are omnivores, a few even claim we are carnivores. About the only thing everyone agrees on is that whatever we are it ends in Vore!
The subject of diet and dieting is an equally thorny subject, diets come and go, and vary radically from 'expert' to 'expert'. One thing is clear though, numerous independent studies have shown that the human body is a strange beast, yes you can make some short term gains by reducing your calorific intake but as soon as you stop the diet you will likely bounce back to your original weight, maybe even heavier.
The Live Food Factor is a radical look at nutrition. The authors are proposing a nutritional route that may come as a bit of a shock to the average person. Eat everything raw! In fact this book is not so much a nutrition guide but a lifestyle guide.
The authors do share a number of testimonials from adherents to the Raw Food movement, and certainly if the stories are true it would seem to indicate that raw food has some great healing properties. From asthma to cancer there are examples of people conquering debilitating diseases.
I have to admit that I am not sure I could muster the will power to commit to a lifestyle as radical as Susan Schenck subscribes to, I like my meat and BBQ too much. I did look through the recipe section included in the book though and did find a few that I might try.
A good deal of the book is dedicated to explaining the science behind their thinking. Cooking foods does indeed lower its nutritional value this is a well known and well researched fact. The difference between eating raw carrots and cooked carrots is significant. Also deep frying foods causes certain chemical reactions in the fats that make the fat less desirable from a nutritional stand point.
There is also the question of organic produce. Much of what we purchase at the local supermarket has in some way been fiddled with, to enhance its shelf life, to maximize its growth rate and size, all in the search for profits. I am not a nutritional scientist, but as a lay person I can certainly tell the difference between those pasty tomatoes from the supermarket and one picked fresh from the garden. So, while I cannot compare nutritional value I do know which I prefer from a taste standpoint.
One of the questions I have about these radical lifestyles is the potential long term effects. I have read a number of articles about long term Vegans suffering from certain vitamin deficiencies. The Live Food Factor explores strategies that can assist in ensuring that the correct balance of vitamins are maintained.
At a whopping 660 pages this book is to say the least comprehensive.
You can get your own copy of The Live Food Factor from Amazon, there is also a web site.
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