Raw Nuts vs. Raw Nuts

[Kate H]

I've read that what we think of as raw nuts---labeled raw in our health food bulk bins---aren't really raw because heat is used to extract the nut from the shell, hence why there are "really raw" nuts sold at stores with a truly raw foods section.

Does anyone have any experience with this or could lend any insight, because the "really raws" are often times more expensive, yet I want to get what's best for my body and my raw diet.

How much of the nut itself is affected by a heated hulling process?

[RawVee]

You can find a lot of info about this by searching this forum and online. I know there are a few places online that sell "truly raw" nuts. For truly raw cashews, you have to find the ones that are hand shelled. I've found they're not really much more expensive than the "raw" cashews you'd find at a HFS. I think the best way to determine if the nut (although cashews are botanically labeled as seeds) is still raw and viable is to get some and sprout them.

Here's a good article on the subject:

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/nuts.html

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi there!

Well, I consider myself a cashew queen! :) I LOVE cashews and they are a main staple in my home as we use them for nut milk, shakes, ice cream, frostings, cheezes, etc. I've heard/read the whole debate on if raw cashews sold in HFS are "truly" raw or not due to being heated to be shelled. Some say the nut IS affected, some say it is not. One guy who took a class from me told me during the class when were discussing cashews and their "rawness" that he did something in the field of testing enzymes or something and that he found that the enzymes in the cashews were not destroyed during the heating of the shell.

Now, I don't know for certain if this is true or not, but what I DO know is that, if I eat a handful of roasted cashews, I feel weird afterwards...but if I eat the "raw" cashews, I do not. So, my body knows the difference between COOKED/cooked cashews and the other ones. I also think that it may be a matter of the whole cashews vs. the pieces. I do buy the pieces because they are less costly and I have a large family to feed so I pick and choose my battles where I see fit - but I think if truly in doubt, as RawVee said, get a few of the whole, "raw" cashews and soak them then try to sprout them and see what happens! I've noticed that the raw cashews in my co-op are pretty "raw" in texture...what I mean is, they are almost kinda, "rubbery" for lack of better term, when you chew them as opposed to straight up cooked cashews that are crunchy.

As for other nuts besides cashews, as we all know or are finding out, ALL almonds are gonna be pasteurized soon unless it changes (there's a letter that people are sending out and a discussion about that in the main, "Raw and Living Foods" area).

Walnuts...I've never heard too much concern over those or Brazil nuts or Filberts (hazelnuts). Mainly it's been almonds and cashews that get a lot of controversy concerning how raw they are.

[Kate H]

...thanks to you both for the info. The article is good, and as I am just going beyond basic produce for raw, and a few packaged raw foods, and am beginning to uncook in the kitchen, its good info for me to have.

Best,

Kate H