What does it mean to eat "raw"?

1. 64

   FloBeposted 13 years ago

   I've heard a lot lately about eating "raw" foods and how healthy it is supposed to be. Does anyone know about this and how you'd begin?

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      alternate poetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I wouldn't if I were you. The enzymes and the rest of our digestive environment have lost much of the ability to deal with most raw foods.  We cook for a reason, either to make the stuff more digestable or taste better and to kill bacteria and stuff on and in the food.  Unless you get sound advice I would stick with cooking and only go as far as steaming and al dente veg.

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   2. 60

      eslevy17posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My cousin went 100% raw and hasn't looked back, though I think the health benefits aren't as strong as he imagines. The idea is that food has beneficial enzymes and high temperatures destroy them, therefore it is more nutritional in its raw form. However any serious temperature change will alter the chemical composition of the food, and it doesn't mean it will be worse in all cases. I believe carrots actually gain nutritional value by being cooked, either from certain molecules combining together or breaking apart due to the high temperature. The diet also claims raw foods are easier to digest, but again, there are infinite exceptions.
      Anyway, it's worth looking into, but any plan that says "you have to do it this way no matter what" is more of a religion than a nutrition plan. But any increase in fruits and vegetables will be good for you.

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         couturepopcafeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Lightly cooking carrots makes Vitamin A more bioavailable.
         Raw foods are easier to digest by a healthy gut because the enzymes are built right into the food.  Smart idea.
         AP is somewhat correct.  If you're not used to raw food, your intestines might have a little difficulty.  Start slowly with fruits, washed.  Don't go heavy on the raw veggies at first. 
         A great raw purifier is parsley and pineapple in the blender with pure water or green tea.
         Never eat raw meat or fish.
         Go organic if you can.  The skins of fruits and veggies are much more delicate possibly because they have not had to toughen up against pesticide attack.  But organics have organisms of their own, so wash thoroughly.
         Enzymes can and should be taken supplementally if you have a problem digesting raw food.  If you're young, you should be ok unless you are a real junk food eater and your body rarely sees real food.

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   3. 59

      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Flo:
      There's only 1 way to eat oysters: alive and raw!
      I eat alota raw veggies. No complaints.
      I was eating eggs raw in a milkshake. I've been doing that for about 40 years, but since we had this egg scare, a few weeks ago, I stopped.
      There are definite benefits to eating fruits and veggies "raw." The stomach needs roughage for good function.
      When I cook 'em I like them crunchy, not overcooked. the best way to cook 'em is to steam 'em.
      I think "raw" is healthful.
      Qwark

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   4. 59

      livelifealiveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      SognoPiccolo is right about raw foods being foods that are not heated above 118 degrees, not heating the foods prevents the denaturing of essential digestive enzymes that then allows the food to be more easily digested.
      
      However, you do not have to eat an entirely raw diet to receive the benefits that it provides. As long as each meal you consume has at least 51% of the caloric intake as raw food, then you will still receive the digestive as well as energizing benefits that raw foods offer.
      
      I know many people who have transitioned to, or incorporated more raw foods into their diet and it has cured stomach ailments, cleared up skin, and they claim more energy then they have every experienced. I personally practice a 70% raw diet and love it! This post has a lot of great information on raw foods and the transition to a raw food diet. Hope it helps!

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      KimmiSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It seems like a lot of people are replying when they don't really know much about it! Here is an informative article about the raw food diet, and what it really means for your health.
      http://realrawhealth.com/what-is-a-raw-food-diet/

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2. 72

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I have known people to cut up raw food and mix it with some cooked food, mixed with a blender to make drinks. I am not sure of the nutritional value it had, but they didn't complain about taste.

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3. 78

   kirstenblogposted 13 years ago

   I actually saw a show featuring a bunch of people who are 'raw foodies' and only eat foods that can be eaten raw. There was even one family raising their kids that way, no processed foods of any sort, no cheese, no ice cream, no bread, nothing that requires cooking to process the food or any other major processing. They claimed that the rest of us smelled chemically and bad and that their health and energy was better then it had ever been before. I wouldn't say that they are not healthy, they seemed to think they were but I couldn't do it and be healthy. I am far to picky an eater to limit myself to those things that can be eaten as is. I would also miss bread and cheese and beans and such far to much.

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4. 60

   SognoPiccoloposted 13 years ago

   I raw food is nothing cooked/heated more then 118 degrees. It is supposed to be all about not losing natural enzymes and nutritional value by over cooking food. I like cooking too much to go completely raw. Cutting out meat and stuff was enough for me. lol

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5. 61

   telltaleposted 13 years ago

   There are a number of people and websites about eating raw food and the benefits which go with it.  While the Japanese (if I am not wrong) have been eating raw fish as part of their diet for ages, the effects or side effects have not really affected them totally. For me, I have taken raw fish, being a Chinese, we do have this Chinese New Year annual affair about 'Lo Sang', literal meaning as 'Stay Alive' or 'Have another good year', where raw fish is part of the ingredients of the dish.  So far, so good - no effects which can be felt or seen.
   
   Some of my friends are advocate to the practice of eating raw food - not processed at all, or at the very least, take very little amount of processed food.  This is to avoid alot of more serious diseases such as cancer, I was told.  So, it's a matter of practice and discipline on oneself, and should you believe, who knows, it may turn up good.  The point is, do we call taking raw food as risk to one's health?  Good question.

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6. 68

   alternate poetposted 13 years ago

   I went vegetarian for a year with my daughter. I was a bit stressed in a new business and had stomach issues. The veggie thing seemed to cure that permanently, as in this was 30 years ago and I have not had stomach probs since.  I put it down to not eating animal fat at the time, but only on my feeling.

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7. 59

   leatherfootballposted 13 years ago

   to me, raw food means anything thats not processed.

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8. 54

   Cealyposted 13 years ago

   I have had problems with stomach spasms for the past year that have sent me to ER thinking that I was dying. No meds helped.  So, one of my friends said to just eat RAW.  She noticed that I was about to throw up at the word RAW! She told me to go to her kitchen and look in the cabinet for RAW. I saw a box of Better Oats~ Raw. It is a multigrain hot cereal with raw oats. Oatmeal cooked makes me sick.  I was down to 88 pounds and I am 5'9 and desperate.  I read the box all organic rye, barley, quinoa, flaxseed, oats, and wheat.  Woops~allergic to wheat.  She poured a packet into a bowl with water and microwaved for 2 minutes.  I handed her the epipen and told her to aim for my thigh when I stopped breathing.  I love the taste and no more stomach spasms!  Why?  I don't know, but it works.  I can also eat raw bananas now. In fact, I crave bananas. Check out betteroats.com. Oh, and no I wasn't dieting.  My mother has the same stomach problem.  She takes an older drug called Donnatol and it works.  However, new docs will not hand out old timer's drugs that actually work.  All new meds that I have ever tried do not work  I am enrolled in a raw foods class, and I will let you know what happens.  If you see a giraffe of a woman running around Lake Oswego looking starved, it may be me.  Update:  gained 3 pounds!

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   1. 61

      Hestia DeVotoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Two minutes in a microwave is NOT raw food.  It's about as cooked as you could imagine without charring it to a crisp.
      
      Raw foodists don't eat anything that has been heated.  I know a few people who have chosen to eat this way, but I noticed they all live in really warm climates.  They marinate foods, or put them through a blender to make things easier to digest.
      
      It gets cold in the winter where I live and my acupuncturist says that eating food that is warm is important in cold weather to help take care of your body.

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   2. 60

      couturepopcafeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Cealy - you need to get a hold of a book called The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin.  He had a similar problem while in college and managed to heal himself.  It's too long to write here but well worth reading.

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9. 0

   Home Girlposted 13 years ago

   You cannot eat raw fish and meat unless it is smoked and/or salted to kill the bacteria and worm's eggs (like tape worm etc.). The rest of it (not potatoes and dry grains like barley, buckweat, dry beens) you can eat raw. Food is just a tradition. What your mom used to cook for you. You can unlearn to eat it, but you might crave it anyway. I like to eat raw salted pig's fat/bacon on a slice of a rye bread! I know it's bad, I do not eat it regularly, but I love it. I am not crazy, it's just a tradition, as I said.

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      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      ..don't eat potatoes raw? yer kidding! Potatoes are delicious raw! Snappy and juicy! Dip small pieces in a little salt, pop 'em in the mouth and chew! mmm   mmm good!  :-)
      you can scrub 'em good and even eat the peels raw on the "spud."

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         couturepopcafeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Never tried that!  But definately will.  Have you had jicama?  Always reminds me of a raw potato in texture but more like an apple in flavor.

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         1. 59

            qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            ...never tried 'em. Don't know what they are?
            Oh I looked it up.
            If it's like a turnip, danged right! Remove the skin and chop into small pieces and eat.
            I even eat "yams' raw after removing the skin...it's all delish to me...:
            Qwark

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            1. 0

               ss_sputnikposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Don't think I could eat raw potato, but jicama is so yummy with some lemon juice and chili powder on it.

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               1. 59

                  qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Sputnik:
                  Never say NEVER!
                  Try the potato with a little salt and lemon juice...delish!
                  Qwark

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10. 0

    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    I don't know. in my old country they even cook them for pigs' consumption. I was told long ago that they can rise your temperature if you eat them raw.

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    1. 59

       qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Home Girl: Try 'em! You'll change your mind. My Gramma was a German lady who introduced me to 'em. I used to help her peel "spuds" and she'd reward me with a bowl of small pieces of raw potato and a little salt.
       I've been eatn' 'em for about 50 years!  mmm mmm good! :-)

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11. 79

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    I believe eating "raw" is when you really, really don't dress at all for dinner!

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12. 0

    Stevennix2001posted 13 years ago

    
    
    this is what happens to folks when you eat raw food....

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13. 60

    mathereseposted 13 years ago

    We do eat raw don't we. Do you eat salad? raw green and red peppers cucumbers tomatoes and more are raw food.
    
    I went on raw food diet a couple of years ago, trustme it is a good way detoxifying our body. I only did it for ten days though, i will recomend it to everyone.
    
    Becoming a raw for eater forever is not for, just like i am never going to change from being a meat eater to a vegetarian.

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14. 71

    ddsurfscaposted 13 years ago

    I eat raw or uncooked fruits, vegetables, and beef, but not pork or poultry at they must be cooked because of bacteria content and worms.  I eat raw eggs, and about anything I can comfortably eat raw.  There is nothing wrong with eating raw food.  I have trouble if the texture is gross, then into the pan it goes.

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15. 60

    MichelleArakakiposted 13 years ago

    I agree with you ddsurfsca, i eat raw veggies but not raw meat.

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16. 0

    ss_sputnikposted 13 years ago

    A raw and living food (plant-based) diet are very healthy, but there are a few things to consider when getting started.
    
    1. Transition into a raw food diet (http://hubpages.com/hub/start-raw-food-diet)
    
    If you introduce a 100% raw food diet right away, you will find your body has a hard time digesting such a high fiber diet. You will experience gas, bloating, and constipation.
    
    For a couple of weeks, begin transition away from cooked food. This will give your body time to adjust to the changes.
    
    2. Because you are eating lots of fruits and vegetables, aim for buying organic food (without pesticides).
    
    3. You body will experience a detox period. Usually last a couple of weeks. You may feel emotional swings, may experience weight loss or gain, headaches, and other similar changes. This is normal as your body is releasing the toxins associated with eating unhealthy food.
    
    Maintain the diet and you will start to see the positive changes and increased vitality. Filling your plate with a colorful array of raw foods will help to ensure you are getting a balance diet.
    Best to success, ss_sputnik.

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