Olives etc...

[Lucy76]

Hi everyone!
I'm trying to stay 100% raw for the next few weeks, and I have a few questions.
First of all, a friend gave me some black olives, that are in brine. He says they haven't been heat treated in any way, but they have salt added to them. It's definately sea salt, but it's probably not unrefined (I don't know for sure). Is it okay to eat them?

Second question is, I cook for my family, and sometimes I taste a tiny bit of the food to make sure it's ok (for eg one chickpea to make sure it's cooked). Is that really bad? I mean does it set me back?

And one last thing, is vinegar raw?

Thanks in advance!:throwhearts:

[GreginND]

I think the olives may be fine. If they are not canned and are truly preserved with brine without heating, they would be technically "raw". Not the same as a vegetable just picked, of course. I don't think it will hurt. Personally, I am not worried about salt. Sea salt is usually prepared by letting the water evaporate.

As for tasting cooked foods, while some may disagree with me, I am a believer in moderation in all things. In my opinion, taking a taste of a chick pea is not going to have any effect at all on your health if you are eating your meals raw. You don't have to swallow it if you are worried about that.

As for your vinegar question, it depends on the vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is not considered raw. It has been boiled and condensed to purify the acetic acid and then diluted with water to the desired concentration.

Other vinegars are naturally fermented. You can inquire with the company specifically how they produce it, but apple cider vinegars, wine vinegars, balsamic vinegars are probably more naturally made and not cooked. Again, if you are not 100% absolutely raw, a little bit of "non-raw" vinegar may not matter to you.

[sport]

I find that if I taste cooked food in that way that I will just want more. It sets up cravings. Maybe it does not effect everyone else like that. I would taste and spit.

[Lucy76]

Thank you both for answering!

That's actually what I do, taste and spit, I don't swallow.
But you're right sport, it does set up cravings, so I try not to do it, unless I'm making something new and I have to make sure it tastes ok. :)

[Ucat]

Olives are normally pasteurized to preserve them - which means heated to high temperature. You can order raw olives online and in the UK there is a company called Oliveology, who claim to sell raw olives, and provides stock for some health food stores.

http://www.oliveology.co.uk/

A very tiny little bit of cooked food here and there will do a very tiny little bit harm, most likely. It won't ruin your whole diet though. Your bigger challenge is trying to figure out where the limit lies. That's why I find it easier to be 100% raw and avoid everything heated, and then go back to raw breakfast, raw lunch and fairly healthy cooked dinner. And then 100% raw again. I find that I keep interested in the diet this way while giving my mind and body a chance to get used to this.

Don't try to be 100% raw if you don't feel like you're enjoying it. That means you're not ready. Or do 7-days or another length limited period.

Whenever I go back to cooked it is for taking a break from being disciplined and every time it just reinforces the realisation of how much better I feel when raw. So it actually helps. Also, taking time off to reflect on what worked and what didn't is good.

I don't know if this answered your question or if I was digressing big time!

[therawmichelle]

Hey there!

Black olives are indeed raw as far as i know. However, canned black olives may contain colorants that turn them black artificially, so i wouldn't' recommend eating those. Freshly picked olives are not usually eaten, because they taste very bitter. That's why they are usually fermented or cured in brine to make them more palatable. But yes, they are still raw, much like pickled vegetables are still "raw".

Tasting cooked food is not a crime in my book, but it would really be difficult for me to taste something that i made and then not want to eat it. I'm surprised you don't find this teasing. If you truly are not tempted by the food you're cooking, then i suppose it is fine, but if it starts making you feel bad in any way, then you should probably try to find an alternative solution.

Good luck!

[RawDad]

My gf loves olives, and I havn't been able to answer the question "what makes a raw olive?" So I'm getting this from this thread - Brine cured, good. Some vinegars, good. It sounds like the best bet is to contact individual companies. Anyone know some good raw olive brands they trust in the USA? I live in the Puget Sound region in Washington so replies from there would be very helpful, but please share your choice picks!

[MysticTree]

raw dad - if there has been heat treatment in the production then they aren't raw. If there has been heat treatment in the production of any of the ingredients then they aren't raw. On the whole, raw olives taste a world away from regular olives we are used to so be ready for that when you do find some. I have bought from http://www.therawgreek.com/ and they are good but not sure if they ship in your direction.

[Ucat]

raw dad - if there has been heat treatment in the production then they aren't raw. If there has been heat treatment in the production of any of the ingredients then they aren't raw. On the whole, raw olives taste a world away from regular olives we are used to so be ready for that when you do find some. I have bought from http://www.therawgreek.com/ and they are good but not sure if they ship in your direction.

Hey Mystic Tree

Can you recommend other good websites for shopping raw foods in the UK?

I normally order lots of stuff from Goji King http://www.gojiking.co.uk/shop/ - they seem quite good.

I am currently trying to figure out where to buy uncontaminated spirulina and chlorella. Apparently they should be grown in clean waters and tested for contamination. (And Japanese products are out of the question now because of the radiation...)

Thanks!

[Revvell]

Anyone know some good raw olive brands they trust in the USA?

I just googled and this came up.... Price sounds high until you check the jar sizes ~ http://www.westcoastproducts.net/online-store.html?gclid=CNi5mrv60awCFW_DtgodZm4Upg

I'm looking for SoCal to avoid shipping.

[SunshineMN]

Thanks for the link Revvell! I'm definitely going to get a jar or two from them. :)

[RawDad]

Good lookin' folks! Those jars that you posted rev are a way better deal and quality then the ones I've been getting at cash & carry. Cash & Carry is the only place I've found affordable olives that might be raw. The ingredients check out but I don't know how the olive oil was pressed so I try to eat few.

[Lucy76]

Hello again!
One more question about olives. Is there such thing as eating too many? I love LOVE LOVE them!! They really help when I crave cooked food, so sometimes I eat a lot of them. Like today, I must 've had over 30 :drool: Is that too many??

[Traceyraw]

I am answering for the vinager. Braggs raw unpasterized apple cider vinager with the mother is raw. Mixed with honey is a great salad dressing. Mixed with water is a great detox and natural antibiotic. I love the stuff enjoy. I just saw the olive bar at WF. But wasn't sure about them so I stayed away. Welcome and enjoy.

[MysticTree]

Hello again!
One more question about olives. Is there such thing as eating too many? I love LOVE LOVE them!! They really help when I crave cooked food, so sometimes I eat a lot of them. Like today, I must 've had over 30 :drool: Is that too many??

if you feel ill or uncomfortable then probably yes. If you only ate 30 this once and don't do it every day then probably no!

The question though is are they raw? Most aren't but you can get very good raw ones so it is possible but they taste very different from regular ones; I couldn't eat 30 raw ones.

[Lucy76]

In what way do they taste different Mystic Tree? I have had olives that were definately raw, and they don't taste any different to me. They're pickled in brine of course, otherwise they're extremely bitter.
But yes, I was always able to consume a huge amount of olives... I'm Greek by the way lol!

[MysticTree]

In what way do they taste different Mystic Tree? I have had olives that were definately raw, and they don't taste any different to me. They're pickled in brine of course, otherwise they're extremely bitter.
But yes, I was always able to consume a huge amount of olives... I'm Greek by the way lol!

They are stronger. Deeper in flavour. Hard to describe really. The UK really does serve up some pretty awful olives a lot of the time.

[Revvell]

Is there such thing as eating too many?

Just the words alone say there is such a thing as "too many"...



.... today, I must 've had over 30 :drool: Is that too many??

Is it for you? Only you can answer that. Usually your body will tell you when you've had "enough."

I will sometimes REALLY want olives. Other times... no. If you eat them when your body doesn't want them, 1 is "too much."

[Lucy76]

I think they probably were too many. Next time I'll stop at 15... okay maybe 20:LOL:

[MysticTree]

I think they probably were too many. Next time I'll stop at 15... okay maybe 20:LOL:

Just do what you find yourself doing. You and the olives will be fine. Check out if they are raw or not though. Raw will be better.

[MysticTree]

I just had a pack of black, raw olives come through my letter box. I got them from the raw greek and they are very nice. The olive is picked ripe from the tree and then cured in salt. After the olive is cured the salt is all washed off in spring water.

They taste quite mild; not at all salty and not at all bitter.

[Baldwin66]

Anything in a jar is NOT raw. It has to be pasteurized once in the jar to seal it!
Try the olives on the whole foods olive bars...think the brand is Divina. Many of those are sold to them in pails that need to be refrigerated and therefore are only naturally cured and STILL raw!

[pixie_333]

Actualy.... our bodies goes into survival attack mode everytime we eat cooked food even if it's just a tiny biteful. The body reacts like you're having a heart attack and trying to survive. It's worse for the body when one eats mostly or 99% raw. Same goes with microwaved drinks...such as water and tea. So anything cooked.

PS.... I absolutely LOVE raw olives!!! Far better than cooked ones. The salt added is a bonus for my taste buds. I just wish they weren't so dang expensive. I met a major olive farmer and she told me some varieties can be grown anywhere in the U.S. and even for house plants. But it takes years to produce fruit. I'm going to try growing some. She said the pits should grow even if had salt on them that I've purchased online raw.

[walnutty]

I LOVE raw olives too! Especially black ones in lots of spices! YUM!!!