Interview: Author of The Live Food Factor

Susan Schenck is the author of the award-winning book, The Live Food Factor. The book has gained the reputation as the raw foods bible, and we are giving away a copy of her book here at Blisstree. We also talked recently via email with Susan about how she became involved with the raw foods movement, and what it means for people. Following is Part 1 of our 3-part interview.

Tell me how you first became interested in the raw food movement?
I had been a health seeker since the age of 16 when I developed asthma and an eating disorder. Doctors could do nothing for me so I sought to heal myself, which I did. Constantly looking for ways to maintain my health, I experimented with dozens of healing modalities and even got a master’s degree in acupuncture and herbs. But by far the greatest health secret I discovered was the raw food diet! Someone I met on the internet challenged me to try the diet. After a few weeks I was hooked. My energy at the age of 46 was like that of a 20-year-old. My husband, kicking and screaming at first, was ecstatic when he experienced the same thing.

What can readers learn from your book, The Live Food Factor?
The first section is pure inspiration: 10 reasons to go raw and 20 testimonials (which includes an entire chapter on mine). Without inspiration, no action will be taken.

The second section is the science to back up why it works, which includes 66 studies (some in Appendix D) to support the superiority of eating a diet of 80-100% raw foods. It also explains how cooked food is toxic and keeps us from living our potential.

The third section is a history of the raw food movement and current day leaders.
Section four is a complete how-to guide with all kinds of tips on how to transition, stay raw, avoid pitfalls, detoxify, learn about nutritional controversies, raise children to eat raw, and recipes.

At the end is a complete resource guide (where to shop, books to read, raw restaurants, etc.)

Please check back tomorrow for Part 2 of our interview.

Image: Live Food Factor