nama shoyu

[T-Bird]

I see lots of recipes using nama shoyu - is this 100% raw?


What's it's deal???

[Veronica01]

its unpastuerized soy sauce, no it is not raw. Just remember anything like soy sauce or vinegar is fermented and not really a food item either as it's not natural. It's everyone's choice to use what they want, but it is still a condiment.

[jurence]

I would say its raw. Fermentation is in MY opinion extremely natural. Your body does it all the time when you aren't breathing enough when exercising. Lactic acid, heard of that?

[HolyGuacamole]

its unpastuerized soy sauce, no it is not raw. Just remember anything like soy sauce or vinegar is fermented and not really a food item either as it's not natural. It's everyone's choice to use what they want, but it is still a condiment.

Whoa there, Nelly.

You're right about one little piece of that - it's not strictly raw.
It is a living food, however, and is widely used by raw foodies. It is what is commonly referred to as a "transitional food." Some people like it, some people don't. Some people think it's acceptable on a raw diet, some people don't.

Where you're way, way off is in this "it's fermented therefore it's unnatural and not really food" business.
Fermented foods are actually very, very good for you, and there is nothing unnatural about them.

My quibble with nama shoyu is that it is a soy product, as soy's bad for you in about a million ways (which Google would be happy to detail for you) notably in that it thrashes your thyroid.
I still use it, though, in very small quantities and rarely.

Long story short, nama shoyu is just another one of those "use it if you're down with it" items which are so often the subject of discussion among rawbies.
Like everything in life, ultimately, you get to decide.

[Veronica01]

When i meant it's not natural i meant in the whole food -can you make a meal of it idea. I totally understand that people like gourmet raw and use it... i have used it, but it is not an actual food in itself, it's a condiment, just like apple cider vinegar, which is acetic acid diluted in 19 parts water, if it was not diluted it would be poison to us. I'm just saying i have used it occaissionally by choice for recipes but i would not tell myself that it is just like any natural whole food or healthy for me.

I am not attacking or anything at all, i'm just confused how fermented foods are totally natural for you. You have to create fermented foods right, they don't grow like that.

[spicyfull]

Not RAW and real Salty.

[TaupeRawMan]

And has wheat in it...

[Pistachios]

Don't remember the source(s), but I remember hearing/reading on several occasions that it has MSG or at least a substance similar to MSG with the same properties and effects on the body.