I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve his or her health without the strictures of a diet. This groundbreaking book presents a nutritional lifestyle that I heartily recommend for all who want to eat healthfully and at the same time enjoy fine food.

The high protein, high fiber and complex carbohydrate structure of Spelt grain makes it a natural for Whole Food Cooking. Spelt is the best all around replacement for common wheat, the use of which is fraught with allergies, potential for weight gain and slowed metabolism. Spelt in concert with natural foods as presented in this book is a first-rate way to manage weight, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, some types of arthritis and low energy levels that can contribute to depression and anxiety. It is extremely beneficial to those with Type II Diabetes in managing portion control and quality of intake. As Ms. Cosentino rightly points out, all carbohydrates are not the same, especially when it comes to grains. Spelt Healthy! gives both the athlete and exercise-minded individual the nutritional elements for maximum efficiency in exertion.

Spelt Healthy! is not a diet or a magical cure for any of the conditions described above. The author is clear about that. Spelt Healthy! is a lifestyle change beginning with the change of a grain and the consistent use of natural foods in one’s cooking. Ms. Cosentino provides a good variety of palate-pleasing recipes. Just as importantly, she offers ingredient options within the recipes, most notably in the consistent alternative of vegetable oil to replace butter in many recipes.

Where Dr. D’Adamo’s Blood Type Diet has not been widely embraced by the traditional medical community, one can see its usefulness is evident in encouraging people to consider the choices they make—choices in something as basic as pizza dough and selection of cheeses that Ms. Cosentino writes about. The recipes in the book tilt toward the Mediterranean eating style, which I applaud because of the use of olive oil, fresh vegetables, fruits and the traditional Spelt and other Farro whole grains.

Lively, enjoyable and loaded with useful information, I highly recommend Spelt Healthy! This book makes cooking with Spelt a pleasure. Ms. Cosentino has answered many questions about Spelt, cleared away a good many misconceptions and made Spelt accessible to all. With the publication of Spelt Healthy!, I predict we will see Spelt products in all the mainstream supermarkets and more people turning to the Spelt Healthy! lifestyle because Spelt really is “nutritious and delicious” and poses fewer health risks than common wheat flour. I have tasted many of the recipes in this book and look forward to more Spelt Healthy! food.

—Dr. Suzanne Bentz
Red Mountain Family Medicine