Raw diet, but some cooked food?

[Lena Carpenter]

For those of you, who are eating a high raw diet, do you add some cooked food, why or why not? How much? What's the purpose for that specific food?

I've been raw for two months now, about 98% because there are a few random things that were still left in there, like nutritional yeast and cooked spices, and salad dressings, if I'm eating out or at a friend's. Anyhow, all those not raw things are unintentional and I don't care about those. But lately I've been thinking about adding in a bit of cooked food once or twice a week. Specifically, potatoes and yams because they would add more bulk without increasing my fat intake. Other ideas I toyed with in my head are psedograins, such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and amaranth, legumes, and even some seafood.

So if you are eating high raw, but still adding some cooked food, what are they and why?

[3afash]

Seems to me like you're not doing raw the right way and that's why you're asking about cooked foods. Since you're already 98% and you're almost there, stay away of cooked food, potatoes, legumes and yams altogether as they aren't the healthiest foods for you. Potatoes are full of carbs and may in turn affect your blood sugar, and I also heard something about yams having high amounts of estrogen (or something like that). To get the most out of the raw diet you have to add a few superfoods, superherbs, seaweeds, sprouts, and lots of vegetables. This is an excellent guide to raw foods that you can add to your diet: wayoftheiconoclast.com/The Superhero’s Guide to Raw Food.pdf

[Lena Carpenter]

For anyone else, who was interested in this topic, here's an interesting discussion of adding some cooked foods in to high raw diet:
What Cooked Foods Do We Eat : The Renegade Health Newsletter | The Renegade Health Show ? Raw Food and Vegan Diet Friendly TV for Health Nuts

Some people say they can feel their results decline too much. Some say they feel healthier eating some cooked, so as expected, there are mixed results.

As for me, I experimented with some freshly cooked vegan soup and some yam. I can't say I liked or disliked how I felt after. I could tell the difference eating cooked. I felt a bit more dehydrated after, but the same can be said for raw gourmet. Overall, I felt better eating fresh cooked vegan soup than eating raw nut-based cake. That's not to say that I need to eat one or the other. Smoothies and salads are definitely more energizing. I guess it depends on the effect you want from your food. I'm sticking to very high raw for now, with maybe 2 times a week adding in some cooked food, mostly when I go out. We'll see how I'll feel when the cold weather gets here, but right now I'm loving all the fresh fruits and vegetables.

[Lena Carpenter]

Originally Posted by 3afash

Seems to me like you're not doing raw the right way and that's why you're asking about cooked foods. Since you're already 98% and you're almost there, stay away of cooked food, potatoes, legumes and yams altogether as they aren't the healthiest foods for you. Potatoes are full of carbs and may in turn affect your blood sugar, and I also heard something about yams having high amounts of estrogen (or something like that). To get the most out of the raw diet you have to add a few superfoods, superherbs, seaweeds, sprouts, and lots of vegetables. This is an excellent guide to raw foods that you can add to your diet: wayoftheiconoclast.com/The Superhero’s Guide to Raw Food.pdf

Obviously, super foods are healthier than cooked starches overall, but I do believe there can be room for healthy bulk. By almost there, you mean completely raw? It's really not one of my goals at the moment. I eat the way that's most healthy and practical for me. If a year from now, I feel that 100% raw is the way to go, then I will, but I also prefer to take it day by day. What do I feel is healthiest and most enjoyable way to eat today? Meaning, it will give me plenty of energy, enough calories, and will be satisfying, so that I don't think about food all day.

Thanks for the list of all the foods. I'm eating and enjoying some superfoods already, such as spirulina, various seaweeds, maca powder, hemp, etc. I do want to try and experiment with a few more, although the major focus for me is on 90% on what I'm eating, so what forms the bulk of my nutrition every day.

[Harald]

I eat mostly raw, with some cooked foods. I still eat meat sometimes, and that will be cooked, of course. Other cooked foods include fish, sauces (particularly Thai curries and that kinda stuff) and even some grains and - gasp - the occasional pizza or grilled cheese sandwich. 95% of the plant foods I eat are definitely raw.

If I ate JUST for health, I'd be 100% raw. However, at roughly 75-80% raw day to day I still feel fantastic compared to how I used to. Works great for me.

[ginkgo]

Some do, some do not. Do all raw vegans eat bananas. Some do, some do not. Now this webpage about helping emotional issues with diet tells about a group that says that you get all the benefits of all raw by eating 85% raw and 15% cooked healthy food at the end of the day as a reward. It is on this page since it has healed bad depression.

[Mabel]

Originally Posted by Lena Carpenter

So if you are eating high raw, but still adding some cooked food, what are they and why?

I eat cooked foods because:

*I do not want the burden of being 100 percent raw. I eat about 80 percent raw.
*Nutritional diversification--while enzymes are killed by cooking--access to some nutrients are enhanced by cooking
*Social convenience
*I prefer to have cooked foods sometimes and see no reason to deprive myself
*Stay grounded and feel balanced. I do not feel my best when I am 100 percent raw.

I eat vegetables stews with brown rice. I actually eat a variety of cooked foods but most commonly the stews. I do not make anything from a can--I use just whole foods but of course when I eat at someones house or at a restaurant then who knows. I don't stress out about it though. I eat very little dairy and do not eat eggs however I don't go to great lengths to make sure foods I eat on occasion do not contain these ingredients. I do not eat meat or seafood though I have been toying with the idea of trying a little sushi after not having any seafood for over a year.

It is fun to be alive and explore all the options. I wish you luck with your food adventures!