There are so many books on raw foodism out there, but
which ones suitably introduce the concept to the uninitiated or provide
a budding new convert with recipe ideas? Then there are the veterans
who are looking for a juicy read to take them to a whole new level.
I’ve managed to stick to a diet of 99 percent raw foods for a
number of years, against all odds (like, how do you say no to Mom’s
chocolate cake?). So how did I get here…well, I couldn’t
have done it (probably wouldn’t have even thought of it) without
my support network, that is to say, books. I’ve read every book
on raw foods I could get my hands on, and as a result, friends often
ask me to recommend the best ones. While I have learned something from
all of them, there are two that I find myself enthused about over and
over again.
First of all, my bible: The Sunfood Diet Success System by
David Wolfe (Maul Brothers, 2001). Wolfe justifiably describes himself
as the foremost promoter of the raw food diet. As well as tirelessly
hosting seminars and retreats all over the world, he sits at the helm
of a mail-order company called Nature’s First Law that caters
to raw-foodists’ every need. Note: Wolfe coined the term ‘Sunfood’
because, he says, this more accurately describes the ‘majesty’
of plant foods and the fact that they are nourished by the sun which
in turn nourishes us.
In his trademark enthusiastic style, Wolfe begins with a treatise on
the psychology of self-improvement. This serves to bolster the confidence
of one who may be transitioning to raw foods in the face of contrary
peer pressure, or struggling with what he describes as an addiction
to cooked foods. Later we get into nutrition as Wolfe adds his “Sunfood
Triangle,” a wonderfully simple, logical and workable method to
help balance one’s diet between items like sweet fruits, green
vegetables, and fats. Indeed, he considers healthy fats to be the missing
ingredient in most people’s diets; he is a huge fan of olives
and avocados and devotes a whole chapter to each. Other topics discussed
include the importance of correct breathing, the healing powers of the
sun, and the most insightful and challenging discussion on human evolution
you’ll ever read. (See the Satya Interview with David Wolfe in
June, 2000.)
Wolfe is quite a philosopher, so whether or not you adopt a new way
of eating (my bet is that you will), you will certainly think very,
very differently.
Secondly, there’s Sunfood Cuisine: A Practical Guide to Raw
Vegetarian Cuisine by Frédéric Patenaude (Genesis
1:29, 2002). Originally written as a companion volume to Wolfe’s
The Sunfood Diet, this incredibly user-friendly guide is designed primarily
as a recipe book but it is much more than that. Patenaude, a veteran
raw foodist and professional chef, introduces the Sunfood concept in
layman’s terms, in an uncluttered and non-dogmatic tone.
Patenaude opens with a concise yet comprehensive explanation of the
health benefits of raw foods and outlines some fascinating science on
the dangers of cooked foods. Next, we get into the basic principles
behind raw food preparation. Patenaude adds: “Not only will I
show you great recipes, but I will also show you the basic ideas behind
making [them], so that soon you will be able to make your own…without
using this book.”
Included in this book is a huge section on just about every fruit, vegetable,
nut and spice you can think of, with factoids about their origins and
health benefits. This is useful for any would-be chef but also makes
for an interesting read in its own right. I’d never before heard
of the soursop fruit, and I didn’t know that carob helps to calm
the nerves.
What about the ‘best of the rest’? Hooked on Raw
by Rhio (Beso, 2000) is another great recipe book and, like Sunfood
Cuisine, it begins by reporting the benefits of eating raw. Rhio also
passionately discusses issues like irradiation, organic foods, the environment
and industry exposés, and offers delicious inventive recipes.
If you think raw kale sounds unappetizing, you haven’t tried Rhio’s
marinated version. There’s even tomato sauce, vanilla ‘ice
cream’, and pizza. If you enjoy anti-establishment philosophy,
you’ll get a kick out of Nature’s First Law: The Raw
Food Diet by Stephen Arlin, Fouad Dini and David Wolfe (Maul Brothers,
2003). When I first read it, I thought, “Whoa! These guys have
a lot of nerve!” but on a second reading I began to get it, and
sense how much fun they must have had writing lines such as, “We
are superheroes and our job is to fight kitchen fires and save lives.”
However, they take their message seriously, which is, in a nutshell:
Humankind is designed to eat only raw plant food and cooked food is
poisoning us. Don’t neglect to read the appendix—it’s
as interesting as the rest of the book and lists fascinating studies
to back up their arguments.
Last but by no means least, I highly recommend Conscious Eating
by Gabriel Cousens, M.D. (see the Satya
Interview with Dr. Cousens). It’s not an obvious raw food
dissertation, but this is indeed the message woven throughout, along
with the counsel: you must individualize your diet. This fact-packed
volume is a mammoth undertaking, but a feast for anyone interested in
veganism, a live food diet, or just good health. Fasting, Ayurveda,
vegetarianism in religion, nutrition for pregnancy…those are just
a few of the many topics covered. Especially noteworthy is the often
quoted chapter on vitamin B12, which provides the most extensive and
interesting reassurance for raw-foodists I’ve ever read.
I hope that my book recommendations have whet your appetite for further
investigation of the raw food diet. If you can’t find these publications
at your bookstore, they’re all available by mail order from www.RawFood.com,
where you’ll find many more books on the subject. Enjoy!
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