Are these things truly "raw"....

[bananaberrie]

I've been questioning lots of stuff since I found out that rolled oats are in fact not raw. Maybe not surprising for some, but was to me. So now I have been wondering about some other things that I have been using, and some things often called for in raw recipes, and wondering "are these things truly raw?" Things like:

Coconut oil
Coconut butter
Dates
Raw almond butter (like from the store) I'm thinking they are surly pasteurized and certainly not soaked...right?

I think there is more but just can't seem to remember them now. If anyone else has something they were wondering about please feel free to add it with a post.

Thanks

[Aleesha Sattva]

as far as i know.. they are all truly raw except the almond butter. since it's law now to pasteurize almonds in the USA... they wouldn't be truly raw.

you are the only one who decide how much of a purist you want to be. in my opinion... if you are 100% raw 100% of the time... then being a purist is perhaps the next step. if you aren't... then why sweat the little things like is agave truly raw (which it isn't), should i really have balsamic vinegar (again not raw)...

just my thoughts is all...

[JElay]

Raw nut butters that you can buy at the store are generally not soaked. Almonds grown in the US have to be pasteurized before sold unless you buy them directly from the farm. If you want raw almonds, you might want to call around. I know one farm, Massa Organics, sells them raw at the farmer's markets, but I'm not sure if the ones they ship are truly raw.

You could always make your own nut butters in the food processor or, even better, the vitamix. I'm still transitioning so the "raw" butters at the store don't bother me, but if you want to guarantee you are getting raw, making it yourself is the best way.

[Mrs. Papaya]

You have to make sure the coconut oil is extra virgin + cold pressed. It should specifically say that on the jar. Otherwise, regular coconut oil has probably been processed with heat. My local natural food store sells like three kinds of coconut oil and only one is actually raw. (It also says raw right on the label.)

The almond thing is an issue but to be honest, I eat store-bought "raw" almond butter and almonds. I can technically buy imported, non-pasteurized almonds at the natural food store, but they cost about 4 times as much and are packaged in very small baggies. It hurts my head to think of how much I'd have to spend to make just one batch of almond milk. It's not worth it to me at this point -- I feel good after eating the "raw" almonds and, even though they might have been pasteurized, I still think it's a heck of a lot better than if they were roasted.

Does pasteurization go for other nuts too, like cashews?

I kind of worry about dates, too, but it sounds like they are always raw. A friend gave me a box of dates, though, and they LOOKED perfectly normal, but according to the box they had added sugar! But I hope the dates I buy at the natural food store are just pure dates.

[Raw Angel Mom]

It has to say raw coconut oil or raw coconut butter on the container. Dates are but make sure you buy them organic, if they aren't the amount of pesticid is far too high.

It is true that you cannot buy raw almond butter unless this is from another Country without this law to pasteurize almond.

If you can buy your almond directly from the farmer, you could perhaps get them raw and make your own almond butter with a juicer machine and a blank instead of the screen.

[bananaberrie]

What about shredded coconut and salt? Raw or not?

[Mrs. Papaya]

Coconut needs to specifically say it's raw. Most of the shredded coconut at my natural foods store is not raw. I often have to buy bigger pieces of raw coconut and chop it up myself to make it shredded.

As far as salt goes, use Celtic sea salt or Real Salt and you should be fine. (Not table salt.)

[bananaberrie]

Okay, I thought of something else...flax seed and flax meal? And what about millet?

[ReneeH]

you are the only one who decide how much of a purist you want to be. in my opinion... if you are 100% raw 100% of the time... then being a purist is perhaps the next step. if you aren't... then why sweat the little things like is agave truly raw (which it isn't), should i really have balsamic vinegar (again not raw)...

just my thoughts is all...

I couldn't have said this better myself!!!!

[bananaberrie]

I am asking because I would like to be as raw as I can, but there are some things that I just don't know where they stand on being raw, and I don't want to continue to use things that are not raw when I am trying to avoid non-raw things. I am not trying to be a purist. I am just trying to learn and grow, and seeking knowledge from others who might know more then me......Thanks

[Raw Angel Mom]

Celtic sea salt and himalayan salt is raw.

You can find raw shredded coconut.