Is this or that raw?

[Sharon in Colorado]

Just wanted to start a discussion on this! :)

Several folks new to raw always want to know if a particular food item is raw. Often its an item that comes in a package, bottle or can, or something that's been frozen or dried in a particular way.

Recently a question was asked here if hemp powder was raw. People ask about certain dried fruits and sometimes olives and things like miso. They want to know if herbal teas are okay. If sea salt is really raw.

I think most folks do realize that raw is something that comes in its original form - something that was picked off a tree or bush, or pulled out of the ground, that the consumer eventually eats as a fresh item not too long after the item's been harvested.

When you think about it, anything other than fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and certain grains eaten in fresh form isn't truly raw.

But for now, that's okay! :)

I believe there shouldn't be too much worry or issue about it because if it's more natural than what you are presently eating, then you should feel free to enjoy it every now and then, even though it may not be truly fresh or raw.

When you are on the raw diet long enough, sooner or later you'll be able to discern fresh foods from supplemental or habitual foods and feel good about it.

So unless your goal is to immediately start off being prestine, it isn't really necessary to be wondering about everything you eat. Especially if you are coming from the polar opposite of a raw vegan diet. If you are accustomed to eating processed grains, meat and dairy products, it will be enough of a challenge to adapt to a raw diet, make it as enjoyable as possible until you are used to it, and then you can refine as you go along.

Thoughts?

[Ginger]

I agree, great post! :D

[Pailani]

If your purpose in going raw is for healing, and if, as is often stated here, only those who are 100 percent raw see drastic results from a raw diet, then it could be important. Could hemp powder, or sea salt, or any other ingredient, be the 1 percent that prevents a person from experiencing the kind of health they expected from a raw diet?

Either a pristine 100 percent raw diet is the essential key to dramatic results, or it isn't. It can't be both. It can't be "it's important to try 100 percent raw for x amount of time if you really want results" and "don't worry if this or that ingredient is totally raw or not." Not both at the same time.

[VeganVixen]

Palaini I agree!

[Rawkinlocs]

I agree with both Sharon and Pailani.

I think that like Sharon said, if you're going the polar opposite of what you used to eat and there are those little things like hemp powder which is SAID to be raw, but "may not be", etc. - at FIRST, don't worry too much about it.

BUT - if you're going raw for healing purposes and you're still not seeing the results you desire after having given it a shot for a while - then those "little" things do need to be considered and removed from the diet to see if it makes does indeed make the difference.

Just as one might start out eating a lot of fruit, little greens and no nuts/fats at all - later they may find that their body needs more greens, less fruit and a few nuts/fats; same thing with those seemingly minute "could-be-raw/could-be-not" items. Allow them in the beginning and if the possibility arises that they are the 1% culprit that hinders total healing/restoration then shuck 'em.

Some people's bodies heal and get cured from various ailments just fine although they are using Nama Shoyu or Bragg's or sea salt or hemp, etc.

But then there are some who need to make it totally natural as it grows in nature. Shelly Keck Borsits, the woman who wrote "Dying to Get Well" comes to mind. She said that in the beginning for her and her fibromyalgia and the depoprovera side effects she suffered, etc. - she was first put on a diet of raw fruits and veggies with NO fats at all for 30 days - then from there, a 30 day juice fast and after that, a water fast (forget if it was 30 days or shorter than that) and then broke that fast with juice and then raw foods and she got total body healing with that plan (she said she also did enemas as well).

But some have gotten healed from things eating "Alissa's way" with the recipes and stuff. It really just depends I guess.

[Pailani]

Allow them in the beginning and if the possibility arises that they are the 1% culprit that hinders total healing/restoration then shuck 'em.

That clears it up, thanks! :)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Yes. My original point (see quote below) was that unless you are pursuing a pristine diet (which I spelled wrong, sorry), then the questionably truly raw stuff isn't going to be detrimental in the beginning.


So unless your goal is to immediately start off being prestine, it isn't really necessary to be wondering about everything you eat.

[ANIMLOVER]

when you're told to eat a 100% raw diet and only 100% will give you results. It is important to know.
I am a vegan and I want to see if I feel and look any different than I do now.
Now I feel great, boundless energy, healthy - no problems, nothing hurts!
A bit of dry skin and some extra flab around the mid section
5'7" - 134lbs
So yes it is important to me that if I am to do this and commit to it, to do it right - without a doubt!
SO can someone tell me, can I eat hemp protein powder???
PLEASE!

[Rawkinlocs]

when you're told to eat a 100% raw diet and only 100% will give you results. It is important to know.
I am a vegan and I want to see if I feel and look any different than I do now.
Now I feel great, boundless energy, healthy - no problems, nothing hurts!
A bit of dry skin and some extra flab around the mid section
5'7" - 134lbs
So yes it is important to me that if I am to do this and commit to it, to do it right - without a doubt!
SO can someone tell me, can I eat hemp protein powder???
PLEASE!

Only YOU can know that. Try it, if it doesn't work then don't use it. Some use it with no problems whatsoever. Some say it's raw, some say it isn't. I've always heard it was raw, but really doesn't matter to me as I don't use it nor do I have a desire to do so.

Best thing for you to do is to call the company of the brand you're using and ask them if it's truly raw, if it's been heat-processed in ANY way or not and go from there.

[mermaidinphilly]

is white wine or red wine vinegar raw?

[bellamausi]

The only raw vingear I've ever seen, was 'raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar'. ;)

[Sharon in Colorado]

Maybe the term "RAW" is misconstruing. I try not to use it too much nowadays, because I don't consider dehyrdated foods, seasonings, frozen foods, *live* supplements "RAW". IMO I'd rather use the term natural, as is comes from a natural source.

The thing I was trying to get across, that if it doesn't come from a plant that you are making yourself isn't 100% truly raw. Not hemp powder, not vinegar, not salt, not wine, not even sun dried raisins. They just aren't 'raw'.

Think FRESH. If it's not FRESH, how can it be raw?

Are you holding in your hands the grapes, or the vinegar from the grapes? The actual hemp seeds or the powder that was manufactured from it?

Now, you have to decide, do you want to eat something more 'natural' or do you want to be 100% pure raw right away?

ANIMLOVER, doing it "right" may be different with one person than another.

Person A might do it "right" her way be bing 100% pure.

Person B might be doing it "right" by eating all raw but using a few condiments/supplements here and there.

Which person are you? If you are like the A person, then no, I would say, hemp powder is NOT 100% raw in the fresh term. It just isn't. But maybe you are the B person, and doing a little something here and there, as long as it's a natural product, then you can use the hemp.

Here's a suggestion for you, ANIMLOVER: finish up your hemp product, and then stop using it and see how you feel. Then adjust accordingly! :)

Many years ago, when we started to make our fruit shakes, we'd add tons of supps: oat bran, wheat germ, flax seeds, soy protein, oils, vit c crystals, lecithin, green powder, honey, nutritional yeast, etc. Adding all that extra stuff took a lot of time and space in our refrigetrator. The shakes tasted pretty bad but we got used to them. Then my husband and I went to a lecture and realized all that stuff was probably useless. We stopped using all those supps and just made shakes with juice and bananas and frozen fruit. The shakes tasted TONS better and we didn't feel any different, at all.

So if you feel the same without the hemp, ANIMLOVER, then you'll know what to do.