Victoria Boutenko - 12 Steps to Raw Foods

The first edition of this book (published in 2000) was excellent. The second edition is masterfully outstanding. In the last six years, Victoria Boutenko has established a fresh outlook on nutrition and revealed herself as a live-food woman of wisdom. She offers tremendous insights on the benefits of raw foods. Her studies of the importance of greens in the human diet are particularly interesting and constitute a breakthrough for the live-food movement. Her work using blended greens is valuable both as a transition diet for people with a very poor digestive system, and as general nutritional support for just about anyone consuming the greens at least once a day. Victoria highlights the importance of greens by explaining how she attained a high level of health by adding a sufficient amount of greens to her live-food diet.

Victoria successfully conveys the significance of live foods. The depth of her book is marked not only by copious new research on the benefits of raw foods, but by a clarity that shines through these pagesthe clarity of her own soul. Victoria's wisdom and understanding of the live-foods lifestyle is communicated with enthusiasm and pointedness.

Scientifically, she shares many interesting facts that have only become available in recent yearsfor example, her excellent research on how humans went from a raw, primarily vegan diet (similar to that of the chimpanzee) to a meat-eating diet.

Victoria's review of the research on advanced glycoxidation end products (AGEs) is particularly relevant because AGEs play a major part in the degeneration process when there is an excess amount of sugar in the system. A high level of AGEs in the diet can lead to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular problems, and kidney failure. As we see with diabetes, the AGEs are literally a form of accelerated aging.

It is really gratifying to see the level of documentation and research of scientific journals that Victoria provides throughout her book. Victoria mentions research about acrylamidea carcinogenic substance associated with cooked starches. This is now a global problem, since acrylamide seems to be considered a carcinogen for humans. Cooked and processed meats and fish create heterocyclic amines, along with other mutagens and carcinogens. So obviously we avoid all of these toxins when we eat live foods.

Victoria also brings to light lots of scientific studies that illustrate the presence of multiple beneficial elements in living foods, such as phytonutrients and antioxidants, as well as many others. For example, molecules of resveratrol can activate human longevity genes, and falcarinol in raw carrots aids in preventing and healing cancer.

Overall, 12 Steps to Raw Foods is a breakthrough work for the live-food movement. One important point Victoria Boutenko humbly and with great wisdom articulates in this book is the fact that some people are dependent on cooked foods, for the variety of reasons she talks about. Because of this addiction, it is difficult to transition gracefully to a full live-food diet. Victoria outlines a clear solution to this problem with her 12-Step program. People need a lot of support to move into live foods, and they also need a thoughtful and compassionate program to support them after the initial decision. This book, 12 Steps to Raw Foods, helps significantly. Victoria fills her 12 Steps with really practical information and insight for the transition.

Before reading this book in 2000 and talking with Victoria about it, I did not fully understand the addictive power of cooked foods. I applaud Victoria for this breakthrough. I am happy that this book is on the market, and I recommend it to all who come to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center (a live-food center and oasis for awakening located in the mountains of southern Arizona where I am Director). This second edition is so much deeper that I am now also recommending it to my staff as mandatory reading so that they can be much more understanding, compassionate, and insightful about live foods.

Victoria's genuine humility and wisdom make this book even more powerful. By sharing the stories of her own transition and some of the difficulties in her family, the author gives us a very personal and heartfelt book. Victoria takes a good look at cultural attachment, social pressures, programming from birth, and addictive qualities of processed food, then gives people ways to deal with these problems so they can succeed in making changes. The stories of her family's struggles and the growth they have experienced in this process are truly a human inspiration, as well as a live-food one for the community.