If you read my "Groceries" post, you may have noted that I said I had purchased steel cut oats so that I could eat some oatmeal in the morning. I decided to surf the web a bit to find some raw/live foods recipes using steel cut oats (or oat groats, which I didn't purchase although both are available at the Outpost where I shopped). I was also curious as to whether or not steel cut oats were truly "raw," because I have seen a few raw foods recipes requiring "oat flakes." I didn't know I could purchase "raw" oat flakes; I thought that was something Quaker Oatmeal made -- but, regardless, I thought that oat flakes were prepared by means of some sort of heat processing. I came across an informative post yesterday called "Are the Oats You are Buying Raw? (Retrieved January 20, 2013)." (I can't find the blogger's name on her website in order to give her proper credit.)
After reading the post and it's comments, I have concluded that unless I am purchasing them very fresh, I will not be able to obtain "raw" oats. This is based on the guideline that raw foods are not heated over a certain temperature, traditionally 104 degrees Fahrenheit, although I have also seen the maximum temperature listed as 115 degrees, 118 degrees, and 120 degrees. One of the respondents to the blog post comes from Elizabeth, a customer service agent of Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. She clearly explains that "a raw oat will only live for about 72 hours" and, so, their oats are heated to 200 degrees fahrenheit to "stabilize the enzyme." I have not attempted to research and/or verify her statement, but Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. is a reputable company, so I don't feel the need at this point to double check her statement.
Having said that, however, I also want to acknowledge another respondent to the blog, musician Pete Kruse and blogger of 321 Natural, who included links to sources for raw oats on his own post. These links include oat products by Blue Mountain Organics, Goldmine, Natural Zing, and sproutable oats from Legacy Valley. Sproutable oats are apparently also available at Whole Foods, and if you read the post called "Are the Oats You Are Buying Raw," you'll better understand Pete's inclusion of a link for "sproutable oats." (Side note: Check out Pete Kruse's original compositions in the right-hand column of his namesake blog. I really like it!)
It can be frustrating when conflicting information is available, and I prefer to err and eat on the side of caution. That is, I'd rather eat with the thought that I'm getting quality nutrition although not fully raw, than think I am eating raw only to feel disappointed and confused later when I find out this was untrue. My approach to this issue is to decide to prepare the oats as though they were a raw product and, if in fact they really are raw, I am better off. If they aren't raw, I'm not worse off. Know what I mean?
A few more sources and another blog post about this from a trusted source, including links to raw oats, is available from Noveau Raw, a blog by Amie Sue Oldfather, who is also the author of e-book Make Your Own Edible Veggie Bouquet. The blog is titled "Truly Raw Oats vrs. Standard Oats (Retrieved January, 20, 2013)." Check it out and let me know what you think about raw oats, Pete Kruse's music, my Facebook page, or anything else that's on your mind!
Oh, one more thing, I typically do not include recipes on my blog unless I am sharing something I made at home. This is because Google and YouTube will connect you with countless free recipes on any raw food or meal you want to make. But, in my opinion, oatmeal is an excellent food to include in your diet whether you cook it or not and I have found that it definitely promotes weight loss!
Live. Love. Joy.
Veronica
P.S. -- Please take a few minutes to check out my Facebook post about the 80-10-10 diet and please support my efforts by liking my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MilrawkeyLive.
Having said that, however, I also want to acknowledge another respondent to the blog, musician Pete Kruse and blogger of 321 Natural, who included links to sources for raw oats on his own post. These links include oat products by Blue Mountain Organics, Goldmine, Natural Zing, and sproutable oats from Legacy Valley. Sproutable oats are apparently also available at Whole Foods, and if you read the post called "Are the Oats You Are Buying Raw," you'll better understand Pete's inclusion of a link for "sproutable oats." (Side note: Check out Pete Kruse's original compositions in the right-hand column of his namesake blog. I really like it!)
It can be frustrating when conflicting information is available, and I prefer to err and eat on the side of caution. That is, I'd rather eat with the thought that I'm getting quality nutrition although not fully raw, than think I am eating raw only to feel disappointed and confused later when I find out this was untrue. My approach to this issue is to decide to prepare the oats as though they were a raw product and, if in fact they really are raw, I am better off. If they aren't raw, I'm not worse off. Know what I mean?
Oh, one more thing, I typically do not include recipes on my blog unless I am sharing something I made at home. This is because Google and YouTube will connect you with countless free recipes on any raw food or meal you want to make. But, in my opinion, oatmeal is an excellent food to include in your diet whether you cook it or not and I have found that it definitely promotes weight loss!
Live. Love. Joy.
Veronica
P.S. -- Please take a few minutes to check out my Facebook post about the 80-10-10 diet and please support my efforts by liking my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MilrawkeyLive.
