new here and have questions!

[groomindogs]

Hi, I have been researching the posts here and am really excited that I found this website! I am new to the whole raw food experience and have some questions. I was wondering if anyone has used the bentonite (sp?) clay as a detox aid, how long does it take to achieve results and what are the results?
next.. I was reading about the different 'treat' recipes...is calorie counting an issue when adding treats? can all of the ingredients be found in my local hfs (particularly the ones for the super candy!)?
Does dehydrating foods deplete the nutritional values?
Is stirfrying ok (with tofu)?
Is taking Probiotics recommended with raw food diet.

I just discovered this site as I mentioned before and plan on buying alissa's book. Hope its ok to ask all these questions. thanks!

ps. what is a green smoothie?

[Rawzula]

Stir frying is not okay.

Raw Foodists don't cook their food. Heating destroys the enzymes, making the food void of nutrition.

The wonderful thing about raw is... no counting calories:D.

[groomindogs]

I was thinking that but was not sure. How do you use tofu, maybe not at all? :D

[Rawzula]

Raw Foodists do not eat tofu. I heard it messes around with hormones.

Anything that has soy in it should be avoided like the plague.

I stopped eating tofu long before I became raw.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Tofu is already not raw, as far as I know.

[groomindogs]

I did not realize that soy was bad. Thank you for the quick replies, I will continue surfing this board to learn more.

[sport]

Shortcut to: http://www.healingcrow.com/soy/soy.html
Shortcut to: http://www.mercola.com/2000/jan/16/soy%20_protein%20_unhealthy.htm

There are a lot more sites like this with lots of info. Anything made of soy should be considered to be very bad for your health.

I forgot to welcome you.
Probiotics are fine and are especially needed if you do any type of clense. If you want specific info on them then it may be best if you start a seperate question with that heading as you would get more answers.
On the stirfry. If you want to continue to eat cooked veg (as a lot of people here do) we would recomend that steaming would be best.
When you heat oil the composition of it changes and becomes cancer causing so it should only be bought cold pressed and used cold.

[groomindogs]

thank you so much for the info. i am so excited and already feeling sooooo much better than i have in a very long time. even though i was <-- cooking some of my veggies i have dropped approx 7 lbs in 2 weeks. I am not waking up tired in the mornings, the condition of my skin has already improved. I had a bunch of errands to run today and did not think about bringing anything to eat, I was so hungry but the thought of eating fast food and feeling gross afterwards kept me out of the drive thru. I ended up munching on some raw cashews and sunflower seeds instead, then ate raw when i arrived home. i do feel a little rotten tonight, but i know its because of lack of food today, i waited way too long to eat. at this point i dont think i will be 110% raw, but thats ok for now, if i discover later i want to be 100% then i will. once again thank you everyone for the help!

[sport]

One of the main pieces of advise that you will get to help you to stay raw is "Be Prepared".
Never leave the house without a raw bar of a little bag of raw nuts in your pocket.

[River Mom]

Groomindog.
Welcome,
I'm really new too, and the best advice I keep getting over and over when I'd ask questions was to get Alissa's Book. You order it on line. You will be so happy you did.

Keep asken' That's how we learn.
River Mom