A couple years ago, my brother started saying everything was "raw." He says it like most people say "cool" or "dope." When he says goodbye, he often adds: "Rawness begets."
I love my brother.
Ever since going vegan and gluten free, I've wondered if I was gonna go raw. It's the next step, right?
Buuuuut... I'd have to eat fruit in order to go completely raw. Thanks to synaesthesia, fruit makes me gag. Secondly, who would want to give up oatmeal and sweet potatoes? Not me.
Just before Christmas, I discovered the Pure2Raw twins. These are two lovely ladies who have digestive issues like me, and have been using raw foods to cure them for the past two years. They even started their own raw bakery. In reading only a few of their blogs, the girls schooled me in the plethora of raw goodness out there.
Guess what? You can eat oatmeal raw. Here's the recipe.
Raw Oatmeal
Soak 1/2 cup oat groats for 8-12 hours.
Drain.
Soak again for 8-12 hours.
Drain.
Pour oat groats into food processor.
Add 1/8 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce.
Add a pinch of salt.
Add cinnamon.
Process until smooth.
EAT!
It doesn't end there! You can eat sweet potatoes and other rooty veggies raw too! Check it.
Raw Rootys
Wash and slice up your sweet potato.
Put the slices in a bowl.
Boil some water.
Pour the water over the potato so it covers it.
Wait like five minutes.
Drain and eat.
The photo above is the raw rutabaga I ate last night. I liked it better than cooked. It was much sweeter and more filling.
What's the point in eating raw food? Raw foodies and nutritionists argue over this. Basically, raw foodies believe that cooked food loses nutrients. In an interview with Herb Mentor radio, brilliant and famous raw foodie Brigitte Mars puts it this way: "When we are tired, we say we are fried or zapped... so why do we do that to our food?"
We have to remember that when we eat, we are ingesting ALL of the qualities of that food. Or lack thereof.
Now I'm not eating 100% raw yet. I'm definitely around 85% there though. Why bother? Because other IBS-bloggers have found solace in going high raw. So I'm giving it a try too. Already, it has helped me with my #1 cause of flare-ups: Overeating. Often I overeat because I can't tell if I'm full. BUT - when I eat raw foods - I can ALWAYS tell when I'm full.
Rawsome.
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9 comments:
Great post, Farty Girl.
I'm kind of in the same boat, just a good few months behind you. I've only just gone vegan again, but through reading vegan websites and blogs, I've discovered the raw world. Switching my grain and dairy heavy diet to a fruit and veg (raw or lightly cooked) based diet I've noticed big improvements.
Overeating was my big problem. Gut twisting pain, farting- and a poop-free zone for a week. Since I went vegan and simultaneously discovered rawness, I stuff myself less. I lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks and I'm ten times more energetic and happy.
I'm really loving your blog (the first vegan/IBS issues blog I came across). I love Michelle and Lori's, but may be getting ahead of myself with their wonderful stuff. It's great to read your frank and fun account of a journey towards a happy tummy:)
I want to try that oatmeal! I love my sweet potatoes roasted though. Don't know if I could give that up. :)
Aww thanks girl for the shout out! We are glad that we inspired you to start trying more raw foods! Healing stomach issues is a long journey, but one worth doing ;) We hope raw foods helps you out like is has for us, though you just have to listen to your body and it will tell you what it needs! :) xoxo
Pure2Raw Twins
i have to say, i could never go raw, but props to you for going for it and i hope it helps you.
however, you should def try the vegetarian haggis if you're ever in edinburgh again. i never had it either, but the meat version is so good! not as scary as people say =)
also, i enjoy that the above comment is by "Twins" and my/our blogger name is "the twins". you have a lot of twin fans! =)
On the subject of raw oatmeal, have you ever tried Birchermuesli? I was introduced to it when I was a student in Switzerland and it occurred to me this evening that it's raw (provided the oats are)! You grate an apple, mix in some lemon juice to prevent it going off, add half a cup of oats and them soak the lot in a milk-like substance of your choice overnight (I think almond milk would be good). In the morning you add whatever fruit you like, I like raspberries and grapefruit. I also used to mix in yogurt in the morning, it makes it really creamy. Some raw coconut yogurt would be great, soy yogurt is pretty horrible imo. You could sweeten with a bit of stevia, if the milk isn't sweet enough. It's so good- you should give it a try. In Switzerland they eat it for supper more than breakfast, it just feels so nourishing I could eat it at any time of day. I'll make it this week and blog it.
Hi there Farty Girl - I have struggled with digestive issues for so long now. About 4 years to be exact (Thanks to my ungrateful child who screwed up my system). Anyway, I read and followed the Fat Flush Plan which worked miracles for me. I am about 90% back to normal...it is worth a try!
Hey FG,
I've heard about going raw before, but thanks for introducing me to the twins. Rawness makes a lot of sense if you think about the incredible amounts of nutrients that we take out of our food by simply boiling something. Although, I've gotta say that the preparation time on food like the raw oatmeal seems a bit long. I've been trying to minimize cooking time with my limited diet, and that's sometimes hard enough...but if you notice a difference, that's great!
Hi Fartygirl, I see your comments everywhere, wanted to say hi :)
I am a high raw vegan, also GF, and soy free/light. I have food allergies, digestive issues, and other issues that have been 95% controlled by getting to the bottom of my intolerances and then staying off them. The Pure Girls and I have been friends for awhile too and we've talked about this too...anyway, just wanted to say hi here and that i totally hear ya!
While I can't imagine going totally raw, I did realize when I was doing a detox where like, 65-70% of my daily intake was raw, that I wasn't craving foods and prone to over-indugence. Even on nuts. Which I always eat too many of. Raw nuts were satisfying. Weird! I bet there is a totally scientific reason for this.
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