Book Review: Becoming Raw - The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets
Vegetables are an important part of a well-balanced meal. However, cooking these foods can minimize the phytochemical benefits. Some of the many benefits include but are not limited to cancer prevention, inflammation reduction, cardiovascular system protection and immune system enhancement. It’s truly amazing what the world of raw fruits and vegetables can offer your body. Eating a raw diet can ensure that these phytochemicals and other nutrients stay within in the plant when you consume it. Not only is eating a raw foods a healthy option for your body, but you can also incorporate your vegan ethics into this diet as well. Becoming Raw: The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets is a thorough yet easily digestible manual on the advantages of a raw food diet and how you to easily make this transition.
Synopsis
The authors have compiled credible and factual information to provide a basic guide on why raw foods are advantageous and how this raw food movement has evolved over the years. In addition to discussing raw foods, there are also sections dedicated to educating readers on the basics of carbohydrates, good and bad fats, vitamins, bone health and food safety.
Style and Presentation
While this book is chalk full of facts, figures and case studies, it’s presented in a clear and organized manner, which makes this medical information easier to digest. The headings, subheadings, bullet points and tables offer a plethora of knowledge to help you understand what makes up a healthy diet so you can live an energetic and illness-free life.
There are several recipes for salads, soups, desserts and other meals in the back of the book. The one below shows how simple it is to make a dairy-free milk at home. This sunflower hemp milk will nourish your body with 6 grams of protein and various vitamins and even 1.4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids.
Sunflower Hemp Milk
Makes 4 to 5 cups (1 to 1.25 L)
3 to 4 cups (750 ml to 1 L) water
½ cup (125 ml) sunflower seeds, soaked in 1 cup (250 ml) water for 4-12 hours, drained, and rinsed
¼ cup (60 ml) hempseeds
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) vanilla extract (optional)
Pinch salt (optional)
1 ripe banana
Put 1 cup (250 ml) of the water and all of the sunflower seeds, hempseeds, vanilla extract, and optional salt in a blender. Process on high speed until thick and creamy. Add the remaining 2 to 3 cups of water and the banana. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Serve cold. Sunflower-Hemp Milk does not keep well, so it is best to make just what you can use within 24 hours.
Variation: For longer storage, replace the banana with 3 pitted dates or 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of maple syrup or other sweetener, and use 3 cups (750 ml) of water. Process as directed. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Take Away Points
Transitioning to a vegan diet is already positive for your health, and it’s possible to obtain a balanced diet and healthy weight without eating animal products. However, by going a step further and choosing to eat raw foods, you’re increasing your nutrient intake as well as preserving the natural benefits that are often cooked out of vegetables and fruits.
In order to help you on your vegan raw food journey, there are several meal plans as well as discussions about food myths including the misconception that raw sprouts contain pathogenic bacteria. Learning how to take better care of yourself does require your time and effort, but it’s worth it in the end to do your homework so you live a better and longer life.
Author's Disclaimer
Please note: The author received a free copy of Becoming Raw: The Essential Guide to Raw Vegan Diets from Book Publishing Co. in order to develop the content contained within this review. Also, permission from the publisher was received to reprint up to two recipes.
Posted by Marina Hanes at 5/3/2010 7:59 PM 
Categories: Barn Animals, Green Action
Tags: raw diet raw vegan diet raw vegan meals brenda davis becoming raw rynn berry vesanto melina
Categories: Barn Animals, Green Action
Tags: raw diet raw vegan diet raw vegan meals brenda davis becoming raw rynn berry vesanto melina
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