Is buckwheat ok to eat?

[jamesey]

Hi,

I've been looking at the pizza recipe for ages now but have always been tempted away from the buckwheat used for the crust. I did try the flax seed crust one but went wrong. Anyway, that was ages ago now and am ready to try again. But I've always been put off by the buckwheat so have never tried the buckwheat crust, because I have heard the wheat raw or cooked is not human food or designed for human consumption and contains the female hormone estrogenin high doses which is not good for male or female!

But then i just re-read some of Allisa's book (can't believe it was nearly 2 years ago i got this now!!) and it says buckwheat is biotanically a fruit, and not a grain. So basuically, does this mean that buckwheat is perfectly safe too eat.. as in no big levels of estrogen and is meant for human cinsumption. I know there are a lot of doubters about raw chocolate (raw cocoa) I'm wondering if there is the same doubt about buckwhat?

James

[raven]

Buckwheat is not a form of wheat. The seeds are often sprouted in soil. You soak the buckwheat before using it in recipes, which should deactivate any enzyme inhibitors. Not every food agrees with every person so sometimes you have to find out what works for you. Using buckwheat is a less expensive alternative to nuts in making crusts and also lower in fat.

Suzy

[jacsam]

Before I knew about raw foods I was the whole wheat queen. I have 2 girls and 2 boys and they grew up on homemade whole wheat bread, pancakes, cookies etc., my girls are very femanine and my boys are VERY masculine and are now men. I've never heard anything but good about whole wheat and buckwheat. I actually saw a HUGE change in the health of my family when we went from white, refined flour and sugar to whole wheat flour and natural sweeteners. Don't worry....do some research because why would a whole food be bad as compared to processed. Good Luck....Judith:)

[RawisRad]

I am curious about it too! My local health food store only sells buckwheat groats, and I am wondering if those are raw or not? Does the buckwheat have to be specified as "raw"? Sorry I am totally clueless, but I want to start using more sprouted grains in my dishes, and I want to make sure I don't buy something that might have been roasted or what not! :eek:

[raven]

If the buckwheat isn't labelled raw, it's probably toasted.

[jamesey]

thanks for the replies guys/girls. Mine says "organically grown raw buckwheat" so thats good, still not convinced about buckwheat from the responce so far but im still going to try it so my pizza base. I'm going to try the Karen Knowler recipe which avpoids the use of flax seed in the crust as well... i think flax seed as well as the 2+ different nuts uses for the cheese would be too nut/seed heavy, for me at least.

[okorolina40]

I cant seem to figure out the right buckwheat for some of these recipes.

is there a difference between the type you use for oatmeal/cereals and the type you use for the pizza crust/ burger bun stuff?

rawnaija

[hibisanpo]

I am curious about it too! My local health food store only sells buckwheat groats, and I am wondering if those are raw or not? Does the buckwheat have to be specified as "raw"? Sorry I am totally clueless, but I want to start using more sprouted grains in my dishes, and I want to make sure I don't buy something that might have been roasted or what not! :eek:

if the buckwheat is multi-colored - greenish to light tan in color,it's raw. if it's a uniform brown color, it's toasted.

[okorolina40]

hi --

it turns out that I guess I had the right buckwheat (the light green one). but I have already soaked & rinsed them, then put them in the dehydrator to crisp up and use for cereal.

How can I use this in the pizza crust recipe? should I wet it again, or can I add it dry to the recipe.

Just want to make SOMETHING bread-like today! I think I will make banana bread if I dont hear back -- my sprouted wheat berries are ready...

can I use that in stead of buckwheat for the pizza crust?

rawnaija

[mousebandit]

Now, I have read that somewhere before - that if it's light green, it's raw, and that if it's brown it's toasted. But, I bought a pound of brown buckwheat, labeled raw from my food co-op, and it sprouts up beautifully. So, it MUST be raw if it sprouts, right?

Tracey Mouse (who is sprouting some brown buckwheat as I type!)

[StarFire]

buckwheat groats... very cute little things! mine are brownish/tan - some have a tinge of green... but they're definitely raw since they sprout jes fine!

I loooove the pizza crust recipe with the buckwheat! Postively fabulous! I also love to just sprinkle my salad with sprouted buckwheat - very tasty!

you can also make a rice crispy kinda treat with the sprouted dehydrated buckwheat and some agave... yummm!!! :D

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/clever663.gif