"Raw" vs. "Live"

[ConsciousCuisine]

Hello! I am just curious how many people consider themselves Raw and make use of "Live" foods such as Unpasteurized Miso, Braggs, Nama Shoyu, Nutritional Yeast, Kombucha and the like that are "Live" and not really "Raw" at all. Thanks! :)

[thunderdancer]

Hi!!!

thanks for this thread - I didn't realise that miso wasn't raw but was instead live. Last week I bought some and then found out its cooked soy beans, the live bit is the culture.. I'm sure the culture is very valuable, I definitely believe I need more probiotics anyway, but the cooked soy aspect of it really didn't do me any good at all. I thought about taking brewers yeast, for the B vitamins, but it didn't 'feel' right - jury's still out on that one - I guess I prefer whole living foods.

One of the things hard to get on a raw foods diet (I believe) is probiotics and B12 - maybe live stuff has it's place here, but not for me, it doesn't make me feel good at all. I'd rather eat my organic food unwashed and soon grow lots myself so I get some of the beneficial bacteria and B12 that we need. For now I take a B12 supplement and SBOs in my superfood (soil based organisms).

Interesting thread.

Does anyone eat raw animal products? Like milk? Yogurt? eggs?

[lil]

I avoid all soy - I don't consider it to be healthy, although I can understand some of the fermented ones could be okay to eat. But I react badly to Miso.
I see people talk about Braggs but never used it. What is it?? A soy?
I don't eat any raw animal products - I've never seen them!

[Jeanne]

Hello Thunderdancer,
Oneway to get more live/raw going on in the digestive process is to eat fermented nuts, seeds and vegies. You can do this by making rejuvelac from sprouted grains and using some as the water to mix into the ground up seeds and nuts. The more or less liquid you use determines whether you are getting a sauce, loaf or cheese. The other way is to grind the nuts and seeds, add some water with some powdered probiotic. This will ferment the mixture as well.
I use the rejuvelac and set the mixture aside for anywhere between a few hours to a day. I got my information from an Ann Wigmor book. If you would like the recipe for rejuvelac I can post it when I get home from work tonight.
My son and husband like raw goat cheese now and then.

[thunderdancer]

Thanks Jeanne, I really appreciate it but I can't eat any of those things - my digestion doesn't like it.
I know well the smell of fermentation LOL (sorry!)

[Analeah]

I have only been doing (nearly) 100 percent raw food for the last few weeks but I do use nama shoyu soysauce (which I thought was raw and unpasteurized?), celtic sea salt sometimes and I am trying to wean myself off brewers yeast. I just moved to Switzerland from California and I found raw milk at the health food store as well as some raw cheese. I have never found any raw yogurt before or raw butter but I have heard it exists. Here in Switzerland I found some raw Gruyere cheese which is really good. My goal though is not to use any dairy products or ingredients which are not raw. I think if you are transitioning it is okay. Also listen to what your body really craves. If you are really craving raw milk or dairy and nuts or other raw food doesn't do it, give raw milk or cheese a try and see if it satisfies the craving.

[ConsciousCuisine]

[QUOTE=Analeah]I have only been doing (nearly) 100 percent raw food for the last few weeks but I do use nama shoyu soysauce (which I thought was raw and unpasteurized?), QUOTE]


Nama Shoyu is not "Raw" even though it says it is. The mixture is concocted from cooked soybeans. :(

You are right about being easier with yourself while transitioning. It helps you stick to healthy, newly-learned habits.

[kirk]

I've see-sawed between being a purist about living foods and allowing some fermented foods into my diet. After reading most of Ann Wigmores books I am leaning towards a small percentage of fermented foods simply for the beneficial live bacteria.

[Analeah]

I am disapointed to find out that nama shoyu isn't actually raw but I guess if it does have the beneficial bacteria using a little every now and then is okay (at least for me). Does regular pasteurized soy sauce still have this good bacteria or is it only the nama shoyu that does?

[thunderdancer]

Hiya Annaleah

Cooool you live in Switzerland - one of my most desired places to visit - I want to see the alps. :)

Normal soy sauce won't have any beneficial bacteria in it, no - nothing pasterised can, pasturising kills anything.

[Analeah]

Hi Thunderdancer thanks for your reply. I am a little confused now though because I always thought yogurt had beneficial bacteria in it (at least it says that on the label) but it of course has been pasteurized. The only reason I can think of is because the milk is pasteurized and then the bacteria grows after that but the final product has not been pasteurized. Is that correct or is the whole beneficial bacteria thing in yogurt a hoax?

I have been here for about six weeks so far and I absolutely love it here! I am right at the foot of the swiss alps and overlooking Lake Geneva. I can see France from just outside my house which I learned was the town of Evian where the Evian spring water comes from. The forests and mountains here are amazing. I don't think I have ever visited such a beautiful country! If you ever get the chance I would highly recommend coming here for a visit!

[marigold]

i would think that the draw backs of having milk yoghurt are bigger than any benefits of the good bacteria..far better to get it from other suportive sources..imo

[thunderdancer]

Hi Analeah - wooooow the foot of the alps :D

I'm confused now too - I think you might be right - bacteria added in after... but then it still lives in the yog... hmmmm, I dunno :confused:

I agree with marigold about dairy, personally. But I haven't tried it.

So where do we get our beneficial bacteria from then? Specially as the earth most food is grown in is not alive.. hmmm
Wild food, unwashed I guess.. I can't wait to get that more and grow my own too...

[smasty]

I'm torn on whether to become a purist about this, or be happy with the variety that braggs and nama bring to my diet. I do a T. of nama every night in my salad dressing, but rarely use braggs.

[ConsciousCuisine]

No need to be a purist about it unless that is a choice that serves you; you can be mostly Raw if you want, 100% Raw if you like or 100% Cooked as well! It's all about personal choice. The goal is to find a plan that works for you, be it 99% Raw or 60% Raw. It's all up to you :)

[Analeah]

I heard that if you eat 100% cooked food you will die within a relatively short amount of time. I was just curious if anyone here knows if that is a fact or just a myth.

[mwjeepster]

He/they give/s a very convincing argument as to why we die from diseases... "Cooked food is poison"

I want to be 100% raw because I think that the joy I'm seeking is a complete life change. When I start to eat "outside" of raw, I get into real trouble very quickly. I have found it extremely easy to stay raw if I carry fruit with me - as I did today when I had to ago into the city to see my mil. This is a four hour event at a nursing home, so I brought a bunch of grapes and apples with me. And on the way home we stopped into my favorite store for lots of fresh veggies. I really do not deprive myself in the slightest. I don't know if you can get the energy/beauty/health, etc. from doing 60% raw - maybe you can! But I think for me, as a food addict, I need to stay away from my drug of choice, which is sugar. Because if I go there at all, I'm staying for the night so to speak. I want to lose all this excess fat, and I want to have an abundance of energy and I want to be one healthy 49 year old going into 2005, because then no one will have even the slightest argument against me and my way of eating.

Sorry to go on!!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!

Melissa

P.S. Kirk: We just adopted a ferrett :eek: :eek: :eek: !!!! & he's a cute bugger.

[kirk]

HeeHee. I hope yours don't do what mine did. I used to work nights and come home really tired, plop down in bed and go to sleep. One morning my ferrett (who had the run of the house) saw my foot hanging off the side of the bed and desided my little toe was a tasty grub. I like to have never gotten his mouth pried open.

kirk

[Curtis]

Analeah I would prolly write that off as a myth because a lot of folks eat cooked food 90% or more and live a long life. Let me give you an example. Most folks I work with eat the typical American diet. Breakfast consists of a bowl of cereal with milk. Some if not all of it has cooked parts to it. For lunch they go to eat at the local fast food place, so they have had cooked for 2 meals. Then at night they go home and cook something else. This diet is mostly cooked and yet the human body is made so wonderfully it still, (I have no idea how :) ), lives a life of 50 to 80 years.

I am not convinced yet one has to be 100% raw to gain many health benefits.
Many professional bodybuilders are starting to reach the age of 50,60, and 70 and from some I have seen on their web sites they look extremely young. :) In fact Jack Lalanne reaches 90 on Sept. 26.

Lastly, I haven't researched this yet so am not 100% sure but some scientists say some nutrients in food need heat to unlock them.

I am prolly am going to end up being 80 to 85% raw and the other cooked food. Now let me clarify what I mean by cooked food. I enjoy making my own cereal from different grains and to have them absorb water they have to be cooked. :)

Having said all of this, I am sorry for a long post, I do believe any person who switches over to eating mostly raw food will gain tremendous health benefits.

[NWgal]

Oh my goodness!!! KIRK!! your poor toe! LOL
I think raw food should never become a prison to our minds and hearts I do not thing i will every be a purist.. Its just not my style.. But want to be as close to 100 percent right know becuase of my health prolems! Boy We much Visit Switzerland but first I want to go to England to have a juice with Thunderdancer :)...

[NWgal]

Ok I just put my glasses on and see all my spelling errors LOL sorry guys LOL

[ConsciousCuisine]

I wish there was a "poll" option, because I really wanted to get answers to my question of how many people call themselves "Raw" and include cooked "Live" foods in their diet, or don't...I didn't intend for this to become a thread where people defend their choice to be either way...I just would like to know the facts...Also, I do not understand the whole "purist" theme and the implied negativity surrounding it (not just here, but on other threads and forums as well)...what is wrong with being "pure"? Isn't becoming "Pure" part of what being Raw is all about? I love being Pure and direct. It really works for me. :cool:

[NWgal]

I found this very subject explained very well at the address below..
I am not sure how "right" the guy is on every-thing but for the most part it makes sense
http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/rawornot.html

[Analeah]

Hmm okay to answer your question CC, I would consider myself "raw" but I still include cooked "live" foods on occasion such as nama shoyu. I don't know why there is so much negativity surrounding the purist aspect of raw food. I probably eat more dehydrated foods, oils and nuts than I should but I feel like it's what I have to do to transition myself. My goal is to be one hundred percent pure and get myself to the point where I am eating mostly fresh vegetables and fruits and only a small amount of nuts and hopefully cut out all forms of oil.

[ConsciousCuisine]

I found this very subject explained very well at the address below..
I am not sure how "right" the guy is on every-thing but for the most part it makes sense
http://www.rawfoods.com/articles/rawornot.html


I say he's "Right-On!" I love that page and often refer clients to it when they look at me like I am from Mars (no, it's Venus, thank you :) ) or think I am really extreme. I feel like he does about health-building foods and avoiding foods and substances that are not health-supporting...Based on research, education and instinct...I am glad you posted the link because maybe others don't know about this :) Thank you!

[wannabyawatch]

Dear ConsciousCuisine

I noticed on another website that you stated the following:

If anyone is interested, I can send or post safe instructions on how to create and care for Kombucha in your own home.

I am very interested. Please contact me @ wannabyawatch@yahoo.com. Thank you.

wannabyawatch