Definition of RAW?

[AliCat]

I swear I tried to search this but its too vague. I went to a book store to get Alyssas book and I guess you can only get it online...

I went to whole foods today (supermarket). The section with the nuts and dried fruits is very confusing. Some nuts are raw and some are not. Are All organic fruits (no sulfites) RAW? I noticed that any fruit was labeled only as the fruit but the nuts could have been blanched or roated or raw.

[blessed]

:D The definition i have of raw is whatever can be eaten and will produce life such as seeds, roots, stems,nuts, this includes fruit, vegetables, grains and etc.
I may be missing something but that's my definition.
Hope it helps. :)

Ann

[Graciebeliever]

Alicat?

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF RAW :)

Just wanted to tell you that you are totally not alone and sometimes understanding raw is VERY confusing!!

Tolkien said "all that glitters is not gold, and he who wanders is not always lost"

Pretty shiney vegetables are NOT all Organic and some of the saddest veggies you have seen are organic. So? which is healthier? Good question..
Doing your research is important.

First decide what is important to you then you will have some guildlines that you can follow. DO you want 100% organic? 50%? it's up to you and some people just don't have the resources to buy totally Organic, for others? it's an Obssession.

Ask your produce guy (he will learn to fear you!!) about the origin of your produce. Make him earn his living :D

It takes time and learning. I have been slowly educating myself and asking questions too.

Read definitions, read the different Raw Food Gurus and think for yourself what is best for you.

[rawpriestess]

Well, when I refere to my food choices, to me raw means:

foods that have not been heated past 115 degrees so their enzymes are in tact

I also will ocassionally eat some vinegar or olives or pickles that I've either made myself or are not heated, but they have been sitting in brine solution, so are not fresh any longer.

I do ocasionally eat miso or nama shoyu, and some oil, (very little)

I count raw as unheated, but can be dehydrated, I'm sure you'll get alot of answers, many eat living foods, which is cultured or fermented too.

[luckitri]

Well I have to say that I am doing the lazy womans version of raw. It seems that I spend plenty of time on food preparation without getting involved with raw recipes or the dehydrator. I have decided not to consider dehydrated foods as raw so now I don't have to feel guilty about not using that thing!