Why do Sad eaters think raw food is too cold?

[Light of an Angel]

This is my third month being raw and I haven't had a chance to really explain this to my mom who is SAD. I finally got a chance and basically told her it makes me feel better, lighter and healthier and it really is the best way to eat for the optimal health and well being. That was easy :)

The tricky part came when we approached the matter of temperature. She claims that we NEED WARM FOOD IN OUR STOMACHS and raw food is way to cold and can eventually make us sick. That was the most bizzare thing I have ever heard but she insisted that we function better when we have warm food close to our body temperature to make us function the best. I am no scientist or a doctor so couldn't really support my argument with any scientific explanation. What do you think would be the best answer to this?

Thank you

Dominique

[heabrook]

that we function best when eating room temperature food because it is netiher extreme hot nor extreme cold.

[karenisraw]

My raw vegan doctor addressed this very topic in one of his lectures. I cannot remember exactly what he said because I don't remember the terms, but according to him it is scientifically better for you to not eat hot foods. I don't think it is a major issue though.

k :)

[dreamrawalwz]

wow, I've never heard of anyone using that argument of "needing" warm food...Recently I found I want ONLY cold raw food. My mom had an uncut pineapple on the counter and I had a bite...eww, too warm to me!

[cherry405]

People in cold climates say that just because eating or drinking
something hot makes you feel warmer. But actually I heard the warmth
that you are feeling is caused by your body fighting the toxic effect of
putting something hot in your stomach. It's actually bad for your digestion
to eat anything cold or hot.

It's the same effect you get when eating hot spices, garlic or stimulants.

[Shivananda]

The tricky part came when we approached the matter of temperature. She claims that we NEED WARM FOOD IN OUR STOMACHS and raw food is way to cold and can eventually make us sick.

I'm in New England, and it is a very common concern here as I talk to people. I hear it all the time. Fortunately there is a way to satisfy folks like your mom and still keep the food raw. Warm it up!

Think about it... our normal body temp is 98.7, and the temp Dr. Howell established as the point where enzymes start to denature is 118. That means there is plenty of elbow room to give people food that is warmer than body temp, which means it will be perceived as warm/hot when eaten, without exceeding 118.

That's why I say a digital insta-read food thermometer ($7 at Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, WalMart) is an essential tool for a raw chef.

Putting food into the dehydrator for a few minutes, warming in a colendar over a bowl of hot water, using a heat lamp, these are all ways to make raw food more acceptable and appetizing to non-raw folks. Many raw restaurants are now doing this as a matter of course, especially for things normally eaten hot in the SAD world, like soups and chili. Makes the food more accessible.

It also answers the complaints of Oriental Medicine doctors who don't think damp, wet food is healthy. I can give them some faux Egg Foo Yong (brazil nuts) from the dehydrator, with a warm mushroom gravy ladled over the top and they will feel well taken care of.

Use your imagination. There are lots of ways to make real, raw food more acceptable to non-raw eaters. It's kind of a specialty of mine. :)

[rawpriestess]

actually, eating or drinking hot or cold food is extremely bad for the body, it actually sends your body into a mild form of shock.

when you put something hot or cold in your body, your body instantly goes to work to cool it down, taking all it's reserves from your extremities and even your brain to cancel the bad effects of the extreme temperatures.

and besides, you don't need to prove anything to anyone, this is your life and your body.

[Light of an Angel]

Rawpriestess I know I don't have to explain myself and believe me I really don't want to but for some reason I got upset and uncomfortable when I was questioned about this. Not that I don't believe in what I am doing but I thought I was lacking the answers and wanted to seek the best answer.

Shivananda now you gave me a lot to think about. Perhaps I should invest in a dehydrator to "warm up" food because I rather eat 100% raw then heat anything on the stove. But that would satisfy my mom not me. I am ok with my cold 100% raw. Besides everyone is different. Some feel better having something warm in their stomachs (and I really question if her motivation for this isn't emotional) and others feel better with cool temperature. I know I feel my best with cool foods in my body.

[Shivananda]

I know I feel my best with cool foods in my body.

Then that's what you should do for YOU, no question. Never, ever, ever eat something or do something to your body or let someone else do something to your body that is anything but entirely what YOU want.

I made the suggestions mostly to try to help you bridge the gap FOR OTHERS. I am constantly working on ways to make this ARAT way of eating and living more accessible to people who are not yet convinced of its benefits, and I think temperature is the biggest single barrier. I know it was for me. I simply could not fathom condemning myself to a life of eating nothing but cold, damp food. I'd rather shoot myself first. (And to fully appreciate this last big declaration, I have a huge, lifelong commitment to ending violence, especially gun violence. In other words, it was extraordinarily unthinkable to me to do such a thing, but I'd rather do THAT than never enjoy a hot meal again.)

The first step is just getting them to eat it. Warming it helps A LOT.

The next step is getting them to enjoy it. Skillfull food preparation helps, especially transitional foods like "faux" this and "gourmet" that make it seem more familiar, as does warming the food.

Third, enjoy life, be happy, don't worry. What they do, and what they think about what you do, is really none of your business. Your business is just to do what is right for you.

[Chanda]

I have always heard that room temperature food and drink is best.

I actually was at a 'thank you' dinner and had pre-ordered a big salad instead of what was offered (we told them we wre doing the raw thing) and they came out with pasta with veggies instead (no, not vegetarian, RAW).

I decided to at least eat the veggies instead of starve. When I ate the warm veggies they were burning hot to me. I actually started sweating and everything. I had only been raw for about 5 days at that point.

[aisah]

I read somewhere sometime ago (meaning I do not remember the source now) that foods are best eaten not heated nor frozen.

Example, raw fruits, or say apples are at its best in room temperature. Heat it up, make it into an apple pie not only the nutrition/minerals/enzymes are depleted but the source mentioned that, since the intestines of the body is already warm in its natural state, consuming heated food will only increase the warmthness in our digestion tract. And more often then not, the heated food are also of SAD nature, meaning made of processed flour etc as in the apple pie case. So not only will it slow down digestion in your intestines (with the absence of fiber), the heated food and the natural warmth in our intestines adds up to more heat and the food ends up being fermented which in this case will not increase good bacteria but bad bacteria. So heating food = absence of minerals/vitamins/enzymes & increases the heat in our digestive tract hence promotes fermentation which can lead to bad digestion and increases bad bacteria. Explain this to your mom.

As for freezing, hmmmm don't remember the source mentioning anything about it but hey, the 'adults' never forced us to eat frozen foods. Fact over here the 'adults' discourage eating too cold food for it may upset the tummy. My guess frozen foods cause the intestines to cramp and thus disturbs the flow of their work.

I would understand that some people like to eat heated/hot foods for it provides them with the fullness feeling. The satiation feeling. I guess that comes from the hot air from the heated food??? Hot air rises and causing a 'bloatedness' feeling that many are accustomed to and feeling very comfort and at ease with that state?? Just my guess!

Since I was a kid I never like hot soup, hot tea, anything piping hot! I prefer them to let cool to room temperature and then consume. Guess I 'knew' a little bit more then.... ;)

best ~ a

[rawpriestess]

I LOVE super hot and super cold foods.

I chew ice for Goddess sake,

so, I understand that this is a mineral deficiency issue, but I won't take supliments, so I'll be deficient, besides the more raw I eat, the less ice I chew.

Just to let you know how much ice I was chewing, my hubby bought me a freezer and a ton of ice trays, because he couldn't keep me in ice.

How funny (and lovable) is that?

anyway, back to the issue at large.

I love hot food, and on raw, you just can't get it hot, so I settle for the next best thing, warmed in the dehydrator and lots of cayenne, tastes hot to me. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm (not in every thing though) LOL

but I also love cold, so I make ice cream type desserts, when I was eating SAD, I could easily finish a 5 gallon thing of ice cream in a couple of days, and now that I eat raw, instead of 5 huge scoops I eat only one, satisfies me totally, so I know I'm doing much much better.

you know, you don't have to eat exactly what every one else wants, just eat what you want, and enjoy the process of cleansing your body.

it is ALL a process, hey, LIFE is a process.

[Light of an Angel]

Rawpriestess I was smiling when I read your honest answer and a lightbulb went on in my head "cayenne pepper and chilis!!!"that will warm you up and it is in its natural state.

Shivananda yes I get that! I forgot that in a lot of cases a smooth transition is preferred to cushion any bumps on the road from cooked to raw. Not everyone likes to do things "cold turkey" so thank you for making this suggestion.

Aisah I will explain this to my mom because this is a wonderful answer. Especailly if someone is prone to bad digestion and suffers from constipation from so called "warm" cooked foods.

Again and again the best answer seems to be "I am eating raw for medical reasons." What would this journey be without any challenges? It teaches me how to DEBATE NOT ARGUE about something that I am so passionate about.

Thank you all for your helpful answers. I love how much I am learning through being here. I am becoming a raw warrior ready to stand up for what means the world to me (mind you in a gentle way) and you are all a big part of this raw awakening.