New to this site and to Raw eating

[KimO]

I was a guest on this site for a few days. Really liked the info I was getting so registered. I'm hoping everyone's insight and experiences will help me along my journey. I've been eating raw for two weeks just started my 3rd week. I'm a little confused about raw cheese. Is this not really a raw food? I really enjoy the flavor but don't want to continue to eat it if it's not considered raw. I understand it's not pasturized (meaning not cooked). Am i wrong?
Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks,
KimO

[Elizabeth]

Hi Kim,

I am not sure what temp. a cheese can be processed at and still be labelled Raw. I know that I have seen Truly Raw goats milk products online..and I have eaten Raw cheese from whole foods. I don't know how hot it was heated..

Here are some links about Raw dairy....perhaps one of them will have the info.
I am not feeling well enough to read through them right now. :-)

http://www.mercola.com/forms/organic_pastures.htm

http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html

http://www.realmilk.com/fall2000.html


Blessings......

[askcassyfirst]

Welcome kim! Your question about raw dairy is an interesting one, I think you would do well to research that one per the company you buy it from. Ask them for details, I am sure you will be surprised.

Personally, even with really raw dairy, I try to stay off it, since dairy and I don't do well together. it aggrivates my health issues, and one bite leads to another, to another...I have been known on occasion to eat homemade yogurt, but even that causes me to break out, so I typically don't indulge.

I'd look in to the sites recommended by Elizabeth, but also do call the cheese manufacturer. Most companies, especially those with a lean toward organics and the raw market will tell you honestly.

Cassy. :)

[KimO]

Thank you both Elizabeth and Cassy. I will definitely contact the manufacturer and check into that side of it. The websites furnished will also be very helpful. I'll let you know what I discover.

[KimO]

Hello Elizabeth and Cassy,

Finally got around to finding out about the processing for raw milk cheese.
Here's the information I received from Tree of Life, a local manufacturer near where I live in Florida.

Thank you for your recent e-mail as it pertains to our Tree of Life Cheeses made from "raw milk."
As for the heat treatment of the raw milk, all cheese has to be heat treated to some degree. It is the temperature and length of time that constitutes whether the milk is "raw", unpasteurized" or "pasteurized". During the process of making raw milk cheese, the milk is heated only as high and as long as needed to "cook it", that is, just enough to turn the milk into cheese. To be considered raw milk, the milk can not be heated above 90-115 degrees F and the time averages 13 seconds, depending on the type of cheese and the cheese maker. Because of the low temperature used to make raw milk cheeses,
the flavor enhancing flora in the milk remains intact. To ensure the safety of raw milk cheese, federal law requires that all cheese made from unpasteurized milk be held for at least 60 days and inspected by a licensed "cheese grader" prior to its sale.

I hope this clarifies any questions you may have had regarding raw milk cheese

According to this company, there aren't cooking it over 115 degrees, which would fall within the guidelines of raw. Yeah? No?
Cassy, I know that cheese wouldn't be an option for you since it aggravates your health. I just thought this was interesting and wanted to make sure I passed it along.
Thanks and everyone have a wonderful day.
Kim

[sweetgoddess]

Hey Kim~ welcome to the site!
Best wishes to you.

[Mieke Benton]

Welcome!

I personaly do not eat any dairy at all.
I feel that the fruits ans veggies are giving me lots of energy and if I tune into the dairy, it does not give me that vibrant feeling.
But thanks for bringing this up, I did not know about the cheese myself.

[JustMe]

Hi Kim!! WElcome!

I'll give some short information as to why a majority of the people on here do not consume dairy products. Dairy causes your body to become acidic. Acidic is not good because it leads to lots of illness in disease.

2. Your body will do anything to balance you pH and body chemistry when it is acidic. Ususally it is calcium that is leeched from your bones to balance your body out. vegans are supposed to have a greater bone density especially when they keep their body alkaline (lots and lots of greens and chlorophyl and when they have weight training). So there is no worry about being deficient in calcium. lots of raw foods contain a good percentage of calcium. i saw a study where they looked at the two countries that consume the most dairy-the U.S. and England (where they drink goat's milk). These two countries have the highest percentage of osteoporosis cases.

3. it is mucus forming (that is why doctors do not recommend drinking milk when you have a cold or flu because it is mucus forming). Lots of mucus leads to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients along with other complications with organs and also autointoxication (where you reabsorb toxins that are trying to get out of your body, but can't because of poor digestion.

umm.. i think that's about it. short info-probably not, lol

[Alice]

Hi Kim and welcome to this forum. :) You'll find lots of info. and support amoung these wonderful rawbies. ;) I can't help you with raw cheese, I've never tried any.

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Welcome KimO!

Glad that you are here!

Melissa