Alissa's Book and DVDs

[jacki]

I canÂ’t recommend Alissa's book and DVDs enough. It is the ultimate raw food book!
I have over 20 raw food books and this one is the best by far. The 4-week guide, shopping list, testimonials, all the recipes, its huge! Should be called the raw food bible.
Question: Alissa talks about how you should soak nuts and seeds and how it activated the enzymes and all of that, but in many of the recipes it doesnÂ’t say soak and sprout for the nuts and seeds. Am I suppose to soak and sprout everything?

[Alissa]

Hi Jacki,
im getting this question a lot. Let me clarify.
Yes, soaking nuts, seeds, grains and legumes removes their natural enzyme inhibitors: phytates and oxalates.
Even though they are raw, sprouting greatly increases the nutritional value and makes them more digestible, because their protein is broken down into amino acids, their starches are changed into simple sugars and their fats are converted into soluble fatty acids.
Now, having said that... in some of the recipes the texture of the nuts depend on the outcome of the recipe. So if for instance on the date nut tort you soak the walnuts, the finished product may come out mushy.
Also, I wrote the book so that people could make easy recipes and know that they didnÂ’t have to soak, sprout, ferment and dehydrate every nut and seeds in every recipe and plan ahead a week before they could eat.
So, in recipes where it is imperative to soak, it will say, but otherwise it is up to you. I didnÂ’t want you to have to wait 3 days to make the no-bean falafel!
Also, I very often soak my almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and some others but there are many nuts now (as opposed to years 15 years ago when I first started eating this way) that I donÂ’t think benefit much from soaking such as walnuts, cashews, macadamia, etc... Since they really donÂ’t sprout. I used to think that soaking them still activated the nuts but the theory is still out on that one and there are many conflicting thoughts about it. So I would suggest doing what feels right for you on that issue.
As far as grains and beans (chick -pea, buckwheat, wheat, etc...) you must sprout these first in order to eat them.
Hope that helped!
Alissa

[Bob]

I agree that there are certain kinds of nuts that are not worth soaking as they do not sprout. I have spoken to many long time raw fooders about this and they agree.
The best nuts and seeds to eat on a regular basis are ones that sprout such as almonds, sunflower, etc... like alissa mentioned.

~Bob

[Dane]

If there is any out there who has been searching for the perfect raw food book, well, your search can end right here. Alissa book, Living on live Food is THE ultimate raw food guide. The DVDs have 'put it over the edge' as I heard someone else say on one of the other boards. Between these two items, itÂ’s all you need to go raw and stay raw.
I have struggled with this diet for many years off and on. I was even 100% raw for 10 months at one point.
Its not until I found this book and watched the DVD's that it all made sense to me. No deprivation, no slaving over food, just fun fun fun and lots of amazing meals. ItÂ’s the only way to do this diet. I truly believe that I will be able to STAY on this now as opposed to the yo yoing IÂ’ve been doing for the past 5 years.

Much Love,
Dane

[riacw]

I agree!
This is by the far the best book on raw food. And the DVDs are like having Alissa right in your own home with you as your personal coach.
This book is the most down to earth book I have read so far and it is incredibly inspiring. It pulls it all together and gives you a plan all the while making it simple and easy - and your right Dane, FUN.
Just what the raw food world needed :D

[rawdelight]

Oh Yeah! By far the best! my family, (who used to think I was nuts for doing this) is now all raw with me! We are on day 27. Alissa, I am so grateful to you for writing this book, It's life changing.
Bless you!
Rawdelight

[carrotlady]

Alissa uses Braggs amino in some of her recipes.
is this ok to use, I've heard different things about it.

[Bob]

I have read a lot about how people are not using Braggs any more because it has MSG and hydrochloric acid. Patricia Bragg has been a health crusader for many years and I always used this products and believed in this company.
I began reading articles (mostly from natural hygienist) about how braggs is not raw and it is processed in a certain way. So I started using nama shoyu.
But in fact the nama shoyu, although fermented, is cooked soybeans! So how can that be raw!
I occasionally use braggs now if a recipe calls for it and I feel fine using it, just your call I guess about how particular you want to get.

~Bob

[Alissa]

Many of my recipes are older ones that I have been making for years.
I used to use a lot of braggs. If you want to substitute it for nama shoyu or something else you can. It wonÂ’t affect it, it just gives it that salty soy sauce flavor.
There are certain things in my book like miso (only used in about 2 recipes) and nutritional yeast (used in 2 recipes) that strict raw fooders may not want to use. Most of the other 300 recipes do not contain things that are questionable.
I donÂ’t use maple syrup as some other books do as it is cooked to death!
I donÂ’t use hard to find foods that you have to order or search out before you make the recipes.
Most of my recipes take only minutes to whip up but then there are more gourmet ones like the calzones, eggplant parm... although even these are not hard to do, just more steps and dehydrating.
You can check out the book and browse through it on at:
http://www.alissacohen.com/books.html

Best,
Alissa

[smasty]

Yeah the book is great. So far my favorite raw book. The recipes are awesome. I keep talking and talking about the Black Forest Cake...there is no deprivation with something like that available!

Sue


http://www.alissacohen.com/process_sue.html

[Kristi]

By far, Alissa's book is the best. It answered questions that I had to find out the hard way and still answered many other questions. I have the DVDs but haven't finished them. Her book has taught me so much and I had read many others, done tons of internet research. I wish I would have found hers first. It would have saved me time and money. I don't need another raw food book. I have made many recipes and haven't begun to get through all of them. Her book goes into more than the food and food prep. It talks about the whole person. I liked her philosophy and of course, the testimonials, were inspiring!

[RawGirl]

This is a message I posted on another board, think it belongs here as well..

Alissa I can't thank you enough for what you've done for us struggling (in my case) rawfooders. What a well done, professional product you've put out.. As you know, I hesitated ordering your book and dvd questioning whether I needed another raw food book. Well, I now know that your's is the only one I need, the others I'll probably never use again..

First pleasant surprise was that I ordered it late Mon. and received it Sat.. I watched the dvd first and knew then that I hadn't made a mistake. The first one is well over 2hrs long. They are very well done.. My only regret regarding the dvd is that I wasn't right there with you, Sharon and Nancy to ask Q's and taste your creations.. Although just watching it one get's so motivated.. The book has so much info in addition to the receipes it is well worth the price.. And I love the inspiring, motivational quotes on some of the pages..

I made your Blueberry pie and my husband who is not a raw fooder loved it.. As Nancy said, "Oh, my God."

Not having any support groups in my area can make it difficult. Now all I have to do when I feel I need some help staying motivated is to put in you dvd.

It's obvious you put your heart and soul into this Alissa.. Thank you again, and keep following your heart..



PS - In case anyone is wondering I'm not related to Alissa, am not being paid for this endorsement and have never met Alissa..

[flnana]

Using Alissa's new book,gives me inspiration to go raw,the recipies are wonderful :cool:

[Guydiane]

Thanks for all the info about raw books I am new at this about 2 months and have been just fixing from scratch which gets boring sometime. I'll get her book and start in.

[Aasyah]

I have Alissa's book :D . Just waiting for the DVD to try the recipes (want to make sure i get this right, and not be a disaster in the kitchen) :rolleyes:

My next step is sprouting, glad you toched on the sprouting benefits and uses.