Raw Foods to Avoid

Surprisingly many foods, that people think are inedible raw (vegetables especially), are actually very edible in their raw state and often taste better raw than cooked. These include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, courgette (zucchini), peas and beans straight from the pod, yams, sweet potatoes and many more.

Foods that are best avoided being eaten in their raw state are:

• Potatoes - hard to digest, not especially palatable but wouldn’t harm you; potato juice is actually great for healing digestive upsets.
• Unsprouted or uncooked pulses such as lentils, mung beans, aduki beans etc. These contain toxins that can only be removed by sprouting or cooking – so sprout away!
• Kidney beans - you need to cook these if you want to eat them safely. Never eat raw.
• Horse chestnuts - these must be boiled or roasted before eating due to the high levels of tannic acid
• Grasses – we are not designed to eat grass : ) Small amounts can just about be tolerated but grass is best taken in the form of juice (such as wheatgrass juice).
• Mushrooms – if you are picking your own, always make sure you have a good guidebook with you to avoid picking the poisonous varieties.

Comments

[Pilar]

Ha! Well there is something to be said about taking things at one's own pace - I was out walking my dog and I thought, "Hey, I'll pulse some lentils to try and make a soup!" So, thanks for the heads up as I serendipitously saw this post! Sprouting is still a mystery to me, one that I do look forward to discovering...thanks again.

[Deborah Stanley]

Dear Karen, just starting out on a RAW adventure in Argentina with Saskia Fraser's mum (we've been inspired by Sas, she did a course with you). I've ordered your book about intuitive eating so it awaits me back in UK. We've set up a holistic retreat out here and I do treatments for the guests and teach yoga. All diets are catered for and the veg garden is HUGE!

Just wondering, we have an abundance of pumpkins and squash and butternut squashes, can we eat them raw, grated into salads etc? Also, can oats be eaten in any raw form (love them, would miss them!), and lastly, does the nutritious quality of melon get interfered with or interfere with other fruits if they are mixed together in fruit salad, also in juices?

Many thanks, Deborah Stanley

[Christine]

Hi Karen,

This may seem easy but how do you marinate vegetables? I have tired with no success. I want to marinate bell peppers and they never turn out. Thanks Christine
P.S. Love you books.

Karen replies: As you know my books you will know that I like the quick and easy method! When I marinate veg all I do is simply chop the veg all up in a bowl, give them a good swishing of olive oil, add some lemon juice (or apple cyder vinegar instead for a tangier bite) and then I may add some fresh or dried herbs. Then mix it all around, making sure everything is coated, and leave to sit for a few hours, or preferably overnight in a refridgerator. Works a treat, so long as you don't over or under-do the oil : )

[Karen Knowler]

Thanks Leo : )

I have sent you an email privately about the questions you asked re events in the US.

Thank you!

[Leo A Blair II]

Hello Karen..once again.
Now that I think of it, I first became interested in the raw food movement when I was told about Scott & Helen Nearing from the State of Maine. They wrote the book, "The Good Life". That was many years ago and they did everything as close to natural as possible.
Thanks again,
Leo

[Leo A Blair II]

Hello Karen,
Just downloaded your e-book on 50
Quick, Easy,Healthy & Delicious Raw Food Recipes and Wow! are we in for a treat!. Where have you been all my life? Sure glad I found your website and all the wonderful information that you have so nicely made available.
You could be named the "Angel of Raw Food"!
Thank you ever so much. Keep it coming..all that information. A friend of ours is going to open a Raw food restaurant and retreat center in about a year. Want to come on over and teach your program?
Blessing to you and your staff.
Leo

[Karen Knowler]

Re mushrooms: They are fine raw for most people (I eat them a fair amount, but usually marinated, as part of a recipe or marinated and dehydrated)...

I listed them here only in terms of "watch out for the poisonous varieties" - because obviously they are a no-no!

[Dirty Butter]

I'm confused about the mushrooms. Are they not to be eaten raw at all, like in salads?