Cashews toxic? Peanuts bad? Yeast moldy?

[startootsie]

Hi everyone!

I've heard different things about both of these nuts. Example, cashews I've heard are never raw, and that you have to heat them some in the unshelling proccess cause they have toxins, and I've also heard that they are just plain bad for you?

I have heard so much about peanuts, like you should not eat them. I don't know if they are all raw but I did hear they were bad for you.

And yeast! I've heard the good and the bad about nutritional yeast! The good: it has so many vitamins, the bad: it has lot's of mold!

Any opinions or research?

Thank you!

[Brianna]

I have also heard that the cashew plant is toxic and that when eaten in large amounts, cashews can even cause paralysis. Also, they are not raw unless you order them online from a trustworthy source, such as rawfood.com. I eat them occasionally from a reliable source just because I like them.

Peanuts are always contaminated with aflatoxin, which is a mold and a known carcinogen. The only source that I know of for aflatoxin free peanuts is www.rawfood.com. They have wild peanuts that have been tested for aflatoxin and were found to be totally 100% free of it. This is because they are wild and not hybridized, so the plants are stronger and not capable of being overtaken by mold.

[paleogirl]

Also bear in mind that peanuts are legumes, not nuts.

[RowanC]

I eat cashews. My co=op says they're raw... and they make a large portion of my diet. What would I do without cashew cheesecake?

Peanuts I can live without...

[rawpriestess]

all, I know is what my body likes, I've read this and that, and I've read that ONLY this ONE website in the entire world, has the ONLY truly RAW and truly organic fresh wild mountain peanuts, cacao nibs, cashews, etc.


it seems to me IF these things ARE available raw, then there would be more places selling them, IF these are not raw, then NO website can sell RAW ones, that is just what seems logical to me.

so, if I want peanuts, I eat almonds, which are so much better to me, same with almond butter, and instead of cacao nibs I just use cocoa powder, it is my one unraw item that I occasionally use, or I just use carob, and If I want cashews, I buy the unroasted cashews from the health food store, and they taste great.

If this makes me only 99% raw, so be it, I feel great, if at any time, I decide NOT to eat these things, then I won't.

I haven't had peanuts since I went raw, or peanut butter either, I do eat some cashews, although only about 1/2 to 1 cup a month in frosting, and the cocoa, I use about 1/2 cup a month or so.

[Vegan Diva]

all, I know is what my body likes, I've read this and that, and I've read that ONLY this ONE website in the entire world, has the ONLY truly RAW and truly organic fresh wild mountain peanuts, cacao nibs, cashews, etc.


it seems to me IF these things ARE available raw, then there would be more places selling them, IF these are not raw, then NO website can sell RAW ones, that is just what seems logical to me.



Early last year I started hearing this from one particular company. Personally I thought It sounded like a marketing ploy so I was really turned off by that statement. :o I also thought if raw was available than more places places than that particular company would sell raw cashews.

I occassionally eat raw cashews from a local source. Peanuts never agreed with me.

[sport]

I have been buying raw cashews from Detox Your World simply because that seems to be the only nut that I can buy that sombody is garanteeing to be raw. I do not know wher I stand buying nuts in the health food shop.
Does anyone know where I can buy other nuts garanteed to be raw.
That company also sell Cacoo Nibs garanteed to be raw but I have read elsewhere that there is no such thing so maybe the same applies to the cashews. It is difficult to know where you stand.

[learningrawways]

I get most of my nuts from our local health food store--though I buy organic raw walnuts at the Giant. The label says they are raw and organic. When I'm looking for nuts, I remember what Alyssa says in her book--if it doesn't say raw--they're not. I don't like buying online, so if I can find it local--I do that. I know I asked at our local health food store if the pine nuts were raw and they said yes, but it doesn't say it on the bag, heck I bought them because so far I haven't found anyplace that sells pine nuts that say raw & organic. You do the best you can. In the end, I think it's a heck of a lot better than eating processed food, and if the nuts say raw but are a little cooked in the shelling process--it's still a heck of a lot better than ''roasted''.

[sport]

IWhen I'm looking for nuts, I remember what Alyssa says in her book--if it doesn't say raw--they're not..
The problem is that over here nothing says raw. It has not come up on their radar screene yet that anyone would require such information


-it's still a heck of a lot better than ''roasted''.
I agree but if I can be 100% then that is what I am going to aim for. I did buy some unshelled wallnuts and pecans last week just for veriety but they were not organic. I am assuming that unshelled would be raw but I may be wrong there as well.

[startootsie]

Thank you!

I tell by when I soak the nuts if they realy grow or just get softer.

Does anyone have any opinions on yeast?

I also had another question if that is okay, I would rather not start another post about this. Anyway to get to the point, is there saturated fat in all coconut oil? And is this still really bad?

Thank you!

[sport]

Thank you!

I tell by when I soak the nuts if they realy grow or just get softer.

Does anyone have any opinions on yeast?

I also had another question if that is okay, I would rather not start another post about this. Anyway to get to the point, is there saturated fat in all coconut oil? And is this still really bad?

Thank you!
There are some that will tell you that yeast is a parisite and has no place in the human body. I avoid it but I know that others take it and do not worry about it.
Coconut oil is a very healthy food. It is Hydrogenated oils that you need to avoid.

[Sharon in Colorado]

A couple of health food stores by me started selling NFL's "raw" cacao nibs in bulk. Vitamin Cottage was the cheaper of the two, but they are still something like $16-17/lb.

So for me, as RP says, I'll use raw carob or organic cocoa powder because it's more affordable, and who knows just how "raw" the cacao nibs are anyway. There was a whole discussion here a while back about them getting heated pretty high under the banana leaves, that they could very well be cooked.

I just find some of these sites overpriced as well. I have gotten a gallon of raw agave nectar through my own co-op for $25 and I've seen that same gallon being sold online for $79 plus large shipping charges for the weight.

They do need to make a living of course, but the price is marked up way over 100% nearly to 150%, which is too steep for my budget.

As for cashews, I sort of gave up on being discouraged that they are not 100% pure raw. Sometimes you can get them to sprout anyway...I think someone here once did. They are cheaper than macadamias and good nuts to use for things that need a smoother consistency.

If I had the means, I wouldn't have as much of a problem purchasing the truly raw this and that, as there is probably some kind of taste difference, but who knows.

I also do use nutritional yeast. I really like the flavors in certain recipes that it adds to. My reason for using it is purely taste - even though there are supposedly some B vitamins that benefits vegetarians. My favorite nutritional yeast is the KAL brand, but I find Red Star more affordable when bought in bulk.

I know peanuts have aflutoxins, but I am unsure how that effects people. My kids still use peanut butter, I haven't been able to switch them over to almond butter as of yet. I don't buy the conventional Jif or Skippy junk, but either the Whole Foods brand or Maranatha Peanut Butter honey spread, which they've gotten quite hooked on. I try to get organic whenever possible although I don't know that it makes a big difference. I've seen Maranatha Almond Honey Spread, and I've been thinking about trying it out for the kids.

Hope that helps.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I also had another question if that is okay, I would rather not start another post about this. Anyway to get to the point, is there saturated fat in all coconut oil? And is this still really bad?

Thank you!

Coconut oil is very high in saturated fat. Somewhere I read it is 92% saturated fat.

I will use the oil in limited amounts when needed to harden up a recipe, like a dessert, but I personally don't agree with eating coconut oil straight. I just think it is unnatural as a food, and it is a pure fat.

It would be better to use a whole coconut than to take in the oil, IMO.

I have used the oil externally though. It's great on hair and skin.

[startootsie]

I was thinking about that too, to try to use coconuts rather then coconut oil. Also does coconuts have the same or more nutritional values?

Thank you!

[sunshinesioux]

Same here. I've been wondering about the nuts!! Whole Foods sells little containers of nuts labeled raw and sometimes organic raw. the prices are relatively reasonable so I think its a great source. From what I know about the man behind Whole Foods...he's dedicated to health, not just a "business man". So perhaps for those who live near this store...this is a nice source for moderately priced raw nuts w/out the shipping costs? How do others feel about these nuts?-good? -not good?

And yes...even if not perfect, we are all eating a thousand times better than our former selves who would of had chocolate covered roasted nuts at the local movie theatre!!

[Lay-Lay]

if you feel fine on them then they are probally fine. If you feel bad on them then they are probally bad. Don't worry so much. If it saids raw then enjoy if you wanna. I eat all of the above without worry, but if at anytime they made me feel like cooked food does, well out they would go.

[startootsie]

I try to go with how I feel, and also at the same time I am trying to build my body back up so I need to look at the foods that have more nutrients and try to eat more of those. I also have to make sure to get enough protein (I know, I know, you shouldn't count), but that's the way I do it now cause I am building. I don't count calories anymore! Just make sure to get enough protein.

[veganman]

Startootsie -

what do you do for protein? I find when I am watching my protein that to get it high enough (around 70), I have to add Hemp and lots of nuts or sprouted legumes.