Food's 'rawness'

[Diana I.]

Hi everybody,

I have troubles sometimes figuring out if certain foods raw or not. Would be great if you could give me some advice!

First, nuts that are not coming with a note 'roasted, salted' are all raw, is this correct? This is what I'd been always assuming before yesterday when I got a package of cashews stating something like 'we process our raw materials at esp. low temperatures (75C) to preserve the nutrition values'. So this means, even if not roasted, nuts are still processed? Where I get raw nuts then? I'm confused!

Are the dried fruits if not sun dried are still considered raw? Also this is never stated on the packages, whether they were dried artificially or not! (At least, not here in Berlin, where btw I sometimes feel like being the only raw foodist in the whole city!! :/ )

I've heard a lot about sprouting but have never heard of eating grains or similar just soaked. I eat pretty often soaked buckwheat groats (no sprouting, only soaked). I'm pretty sure it's raw but never hurt to ask! :)

And what do you think of fermented foods? (I know, this is a controversial one but would like to hear your opinions)

[nadien alexandra]

what's wrong with fermentation? nothing according to me.

nuts can be blanched too. I would like more for the word "raw" on nuts, rather than the absence of the words "roasted, salted"

if by artificially dried, you mean a dehydrator, I see nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not dehydrated above 118 degrees, its still got its nutrients preserved.

[Orange]

Hey can I add to your post?

And what about frozen corn, peas, snowpeas? Use 'em?

[Aleesha Sattva]

i buy my nuts from my local health food store and make sure they are raw. i don't buy from grocery or chain stores.

frozen foods - are often heated before freezing.

purchased dried fruits - from what i remember... chemicals are added to them.

i prefer to prepare my own... whether frozen or dried. that way i know they are raw.

that said... i also believe that i'm eating SOOOOOOOO healthy that a frozen bag of peas isn't gonna kill me.

[revdrcyn]

Dried Fruits - read the label - if there is anything besides the fruit itself, don't buy it. Many if not most contain added sugar and sulfur dioxide.

Trader Joe's has a few dried fruits that are pure - mango, blueberries, and cherries. Sometimes the packages are mixed in with the bad stuff on the shelf, so look closely.

I agree with Aleesha about drying your own fruit, but if you do not have a dehydrator, find markets or HFS that carry quality products and again, read the labels carefully.

I also agree with Aleesha about nuts -- I buy them from a Farmers Mkt or direct from the grower if I happen to be driving around Central California - you can also find raw nuts online (check eBay)

It is very easy to freeze your own fruits and veggies - I bought a bunch of organic corn the other day, which I will cut off the cob and freeze for later. I only wish I had had children to help with that - LOL - oh well, too late!

As for fermented foods, my body (or maybe it's my mind) likes the probiotics -- I use unpasteurized Miso in soups and cheezes, and sometimes just a Tbs in a mug of warmish water.

I highly recommend searching the threads on RFT for past discussions on all these topics - there is a wealth of info here.

Welcome!!!

[JennaHoneyBear]

frozen veg are likely blanched before freezing. Trader Joe's confirmed this for me with their corn

[Diana I.]

Thanks everyone!

Well, the problem is that things are different where I live. Most people have never heard of raw foodism, and it's very uncommon (at least in Germany, even though I'm living in the capital). I do buy nuts only at organic stores but I've never seen a note on packages that explicitly says they're raw. For my attempts to ask the sales assistants at the organic stores if the foods are raw or not, I just got blank looks in return.

Never thought there are chemicals added to dried fruits! Wow, now that I know I'm so glad to have posted this question here!

Here's also another question: I googled information on the buckwheat groats I've been buying and found out that they have been steamed before being packaged. This means, they are not raw anymore, as far as I understand, right?