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What's Raw
When making the change to a raw plant based diet, it can
often become confusing as to what foods are really in a natural,
unheated state. Obviously fruits and vegetables in their natural
state are usually no problem, but when it comes to nuts and
any dried (processed) items, everything is not always as it
seems! Many so-called raw food recipe books use ingredients
that are not raw at all. Ideally, everything should be eaten
in a whole, unrefined, unprocessed state, but especially for
those of us making the transition, this is not always practical
or very much fun. Therefore we present this informal guide
to what is really raw in the world of raw foods. This is certainly
not the final word on the subject, but will be changed and
added to as new information becomes apparent. To that end
your comments and information (please quote your sources)
are always welcome!
1. Braggs or Bronners Liquid Aminos - this is one
of the worst substances touted in raw recipes. It is definitely
not raw! Avoid soybeans completely, they are not or never
have been intended for human consumption. All soybean crops
are now genetically modified (GMO), even the so-called 'organic'
ones (There is much controversy as to whether such a thing
actually exists). The soybeans must be cooked (boiled) for
these concoctions, and much salt is added. Still think this
stuff is benign? Drink a glassful of it and let us know how
you feel! For more info about soy check out this link.
2. Nama Shoyu (natural soy sauce) - Same as above,
the soybeans are boiled to make this condiment, and although
fermentation makes soy products into a somewhat digestible
food, it is still cooked and salted.
3. Miso - another fermented soy product, made with
boiled beans.
4. Honey - Whether you are completely Vegan or not
will determine your use of honey, since it is an animal product.
If you decide to use honey, it is important to note that this
product can still be labeled raw even though it is often heated
up to 160 degrees F. However there is true raw honey, generally
sold by local farmers. Know your source!
5. Dried Fruit - Most commercially sold dried fruit
(including raisins) has been heated to temperatures ranging
from 150 to 180 degrees F. Ideally you should dehydrate your
own fresh fruit or seek out a source for naturally sun dried
items. Plus, you should be eating as much fresh fruit as possible;
any dried or dehydrated food is going to dehydrate you.
6. Dates - Not only are commercially grown dates heat
dried, they are also often steamed afterwards to plump them
up. These dates have a shiny appearance and smooth texture.
It is difficult to get information on specific growing techniques
but it would appear that some organic dates from North America
and those from the Middle East are still grown in a traditional
way, i.e. sun dried and not steamed.
7. Sun-dried Tomatoes - Same as dried fruit, most
commercial varieties have been heated. Make your own, if you
can't use sun power then put them in the dehydrator.
8. Nuts - Once nuts are out of the shell, they start
to decompose; yellowing of the meat indicates rancidity, don't
eat them. Nuts are usually harvested in the fall, try and
get them in the shell or from a reliable source that can guarantee
their freshness.
9. Cashews - these are a special problem, because
they require heat to be removed from their shells. There is
now a mechanical process for shelling cashews, but these are
definitely a specialty item and need to be purchased from
a reliable source.
10. Spices - Same as dried fruit, most dried spices
have been heated and irradiated if imported. Try to use fresh
spices as much as possible - grow your own!
11. Nut Butters - Most of these are made with roasted
nuts, but even when they say they're raw, they're usually
not. (e.g. Marantha Raw Tahini is heated to 170 degrees F).
Make your own in a food processor or a Vitamix using soaked
nuts.
12. Salt - This stuff is addictive! Table salt is
much worse than Celtic sea salt, since it is usually baked
and bleached with other substances (sugar, iodine) added afterwards.
It is in fact indigestible by the human body, and is an intestinal
irritant. I don't feel that any kind of dried salt is good
for humans, our cells need to maintain a crucial balance of
sodium and potassium and consuming dried salt upsets that
ratio. Whenever I consume any of these salts now, my eyes
are sore and swollen the next day. Surprisingly, many raw
food 'gurus' are still addicted to this stuff! Get your salt
from sodium rich vegetables like celery, tomatoes, and seaweed.
Iodine? On the West Coast we don¹t need to worry about
it, it's in the air here (evaporated from the ocean) and absorbed
through the skin.
13. Oils - Most oils are heated during processing,
and any made from nuts or seeds quickly becomes rancid. Olive
oil is the best choice but make sure you use organic cold
pressed extra virgin oil. And use sparingly, it is still a
processed, unnatural foodstuff.
14. Seaweeds - Most Japanese seaweeds are pastuerized,
especially hijiki and arame. Whole dulse is usually unprocessed,
but dulse flakes tend to be floor scraps with lots of extraneous
material (like shells) mixed in. Green Nori is cooked, the
black variety is raw.
15. Maple Syrup - Again, often called for in raw recipes,
but unfortunately this one is boiled, often in pots greased
with pig fat. It is a very nutritious food, and works amazingly
well in the Master Cleanse fast, but there's no way around
the fact that it's cooked...
16. Vinegar - It can be raw (usually the apple cider
variety) but it contains acetic acid, a toxic chemical (that
is used as a pesticide). Use lemon or lime juice instead.
17. Olives - There are raw (green) olives around,
but it requires some searching to find them. Occasionally,
R.F.S.B.C. members offer them on the mailing list. Otherwise,
commercial olives are boiled and/or soaked in vinegar or lactic
acid brine. Not good for raw food tummies!
18. Green powders and nutritional supplements - Most
of them are heat dried or freeze dried. If you feel the need
to take supplements you should thoroughly investigate their
source and means of production.
19. Mangos - There is rumour that all commercial mangos
are being boiled before being brought to North America, but
I have not yet had this information verified. Also, it has
been suggested that all fruit traveling to or through the
U.S. is irradiated. If anyone has substantiated facts regarding
this, let us know...
20. Papayas - All commercial Hawaiian crops are now
genetically modified , organic ones are not...
This list was researched and compiled with many thanks for
contributions from John Kohler, and the Eugene Raw Foods Community
Bulletin Board.
Submitted by Thomas Keenliside
Raw and Living Food Articles and Links to Articles:
On Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fruits, Roots, Stems, Greens, Flowers, and Nuts
Growing Food
Lifestyle
Off Site Articles:
Raw Health
Fasting and Cleanses
Growing Food
Misc.
Free Books Online:
- Soil and
Health Library - This is a specialist library about holistic agriculture,
holistic health and self-sufficient homestead living. Most of the titles in
this library are out of print. Many are quite hard to find. Here are a few
by Shelton:
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