Can "Sun dried" kill enzymes in nuts, fruits?

[MrGreenJeans]

I was checking out a site that is organic for nuts and fruits but they sun dry them. They are in California. Some know that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk at times in California. So is sun dried really that great?

Does sun drying kill the nuts and destroy the enzymes in nuts and fruits?

[beppa66]

I think sun dried is ok. I live in FL and same thing here...H-O-T! Except with high humidity...it would probably mold first! LOL

[DavidZaneMason]

Does it degrate the enzymatic activity - yes. Does it 'kill' the item? Kill ALL the enzymes? Probably not all - no. Many people have set different standards. Unless you are VERY high raw for a long time........I would not be overly concerned about this issue - and eat the dehydrated items if it helps you to meet your goals. If you HAVE been raw a long time and seek to refine your diet....perhaps sticking to unprocessed, fresh raw fruits & vegetable items MIGHT be one of your goals. Just my opinions.

-David Z. Mason

[Lady Green Jeans]

Good question--the sun is really not that much hotter in Southern CA than other areas. Highest temp here this past summer was 109. Being close to the high desert, I personally would trust "sun dried" produce without hesitation.

Kathy

[crystalmoon]

As sun drying is a natural process as opposed to gas processing or other factory heat treatments I reckon sun dried is okay & far better than the other options available to many of us.
I agree with David & once Ive been all raw for awhile I want to transition to eating foods in as natural a state as possible...But for now I am relishing enjoying lots of raw gourmet style recipes.

[MysticTree]

I haven't decided what I think about sun-dried foods.

The temperature reached is likely to be quite high and the fruits must get hot during the process. I would think "air-dried in the shade" would be ok though :rolleyes: :o

Georgina

[DavidZaneMason]

Right. One of the newer techniques I saw was on Good Eats. He took 4 cheap paper air conditioning filters and laid the food in the slats.....stacked the together....and bungeed the whole thing to a cheap box fan. The he just turned on the fan and air-dried his items for 24 hours! Sanitary....very low termperatures.....and no cleanup mess! Interesting!

-David Z. Mason

[AICgem]

I love that show! Good Eats...even though it's a cooking show I love the technical how and why food does what it does...He had a great one on avocados once...

[MrGreenJeans]

I guess if I can get the almonds to sprout after they have been sun-dried, that means they are not dead and still have plenty enzymes.