Is it alive?

[Lauraw]

I'm a little afraid to ask this possibly paradigm-shaking question. Forgive me if this already has been discussed. I didn't find anything after searching for it. Here goes...

First, let me say I love making and eating dehydrated foods.

Lately, however, I've been wondering if dehydrated foods could possibly still be alive. I mean, if you look at any living creature, it's got a fair degree of water content in it. Plants die without water. So do people.

So, let's say I'm dehydrating something at 110 degrees. Even though the temperature won't kill the enzymes, won't taking all the water out of the food do it?

[christiahall]

Hi, I'm glad you raised this question because I feel the same way. I found out that my dehydrator was too hot, and was forced not to use it for that reason, but I am glad I am not dependent on it. I can't see how a dried food can be living. I felt really guilty eating sun dried raisins. Dried tomatoes are out of the question.

[leeleelocs]

I think the point is you are benefiting from the enzymes preserved by dehydrating the food. Thats why you sprout the seeds, grains, ects..
When you think about it, when ever you blend, cut, chew then the food will not be alive anyway, but you are getting the nutritients, vitamins, enzymes, ect.. from the food. Thats how I understand it.

[christiahall]

A chopped, blended or cut vegetable is still technically alive as the cells are still functioning. But, once you suck the water out of them, they are preserved yes, but not alive. I really don't see how dehydrated is different than cooked. Maybe the water molecules in your body can finish the enzymes that the water was sucked out of?

[Ireland]

Perhaps try an experiment. Soak some nuts such as almonds, then dehydrate.

Then try to sprout them. If they're still alive, they should sprout. If not, they won't.

Jsut a thought.

[Stina]

It's the difference between a raw diet in general and a fresh one in particular, huh?

[Rawkinlocs]

Perhaps try an experiment. Soak some nuts such as almonds, then dehydrate.

Then try to sprout them. If they're still alive, they should sprout. If not, they won't.

Jsut a thought.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing - soak and then sprout a grain such as wheat berries or buckwheat (though that's not really a grain), dehydrate for 8-10 hours and then re-soak and then drain and see if it sprouts. I've done this before and it did!

[GlimR]

I read somewhere on this forum that someone threw a piece of a flaxseed cracker out in the yard and it grew.......so......I think if you do not put the temp too high it does preserve the life force of the food.

[DavidZaneMason]

Even if it IS alive....I think the more pertinent/salient question is: Is it the most vital/highest quality food you can eat (in YOUR mind). If not, why settle for second best?

-If you choose to eat those foods (dehydrated, processed, frozen, etc.) during your transition....or to help support you.....of course you should....and have my support 100% :)

-David Z. Mason

[Lauraw]

Thanks for your responses. I laughed, envisioning a flax cracker out in the yard! But it's good to know that rehydrated food still has life force in it. I may try those experiments myself.

[Ariannah]

Once in a blue moon, I will eat dehydrated foods.

However for me, the question isn't, "is it technically alive" as in "if I toss it in the yard, will it sprout?" LOL, it's more about how I feel afterward. Most of the time I don't feel that fresh and alive feeling after eating a significant amount of dehydrated foods. I feel almost like I've had a cooked dinner, even though by textbook standards, it's still "living".

That's because the dehydrated food is still significantly denser than a water rich fresh piece of fruit or head of lettuce, so it's important to not let yourself get too thirsty when you eat dehydrated foods, balance it with lots of water or fresh fruit.

[Zuri]

Excellent posts you all. I appreciate it. I was having the same thoughts about dehydrated foods. I have more clarity now.

[eatyourbroccoli]

I read somewhere on this forum that someone threw a piece of a flaxseed cracker out in the yard and it grew.......so......I think if you do not put the temp too high it does preserve the life force of the food.lol

raw vegan urban myths?

jk thats actually pretty cool :p