Review of The Raw Gourmet by Nomi Shannon
A How-To Book for People Interested in Learning About Raw Foods
Nov 24, 2008
It may seem like an oxymoron, but at first glance “The Raw Gourmet”, may seem to be a “cookbook” of recipes made completely with raw foods. But, “The Raw Gourmet” is much more than that.
Enzymes: The Critical Factor for Health
The Raw Gourmet provides a wealth of information for anyone who may have heard that raw foods have healing power and would like to learn more. Nomi Shannon’s explanation of the digestive system’s dependence upon enzymes is easy to understand. “When we eat, we need enzymes to help digest the food. If the food we are eating is raw….all the enzymes we need are right there in the food itself, ready to go to work for us.” (The Raw Gourmet, p. 3)
According to raw foodists, when the body has to manufacture its own enzymes for digestion, it cannot be expending energy manufacturing enzymes needed for doing other work, like healing damaged tissue. “There is a tug-of-war between the demands of the digestive system for a constant supply of digestive enzymes and the needs of the body for the metabolic enzymes vital for cleansing, healing and building. Without an adequate supply of metabolic enzymes, over time, we suffer.”
Signs of Aging, Or Enzyme Depletion?
According to Shannon, what many accept as signs of aging are really symptoms of a body that is no longer able to keep up with the production of enzymes for both digestion and metabolic functions. The symptoms may be disease or just a general feeling of malaise.
Personal Testimony of Healing
Shannon’s own experience with the healing power of raw foods began when her holistic physician recommended eating a 50% raw foods diet to help solve her “serious digestive problems”. Noticing an almost immediate improvement in her health, she went on a three-week all-raw-foods program which resulted in the loss of over ten pounds in just two weeks and a great improvement in her physical and mental wellness.
Now an enthusiastic proponent of raw foods, Shannon credits her raw foods lifestyle with her ability to have “said good riddance to fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia, mood swings, allergic sinusitis, digestive disorders, including acid reflux” and systemic candida.
Recipes Inspired by International Flavours
If her personal testimony is not inspirational enough, readers will be delighted with the mouth-watering food photos throughout the book and the tantalizing recipes influenced by international cuisine. There are breakfast recipes, recipes for juices, salads of course, gravies, entrees and desserts. (And believe it or not, there are even recipes for pies and cookies!)
In addition to the gorgeous photos and great recipes, there is ample information for anyone who may be considering switching to a raw foods lifestyle, or anyone who is simply looking for interesting ways to add more raw foods to their diet.
