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What is a raw vegan?
A vegan who is undressed, crude, ignorant, immature? I could go on and on about a raw vegan, but I suspect we’d all be better off if I presume that there are those of you who want to know about raw food suitable for vegans.
There are few vegetables and fruits that can’t be eaten raw. However, there are some vegetables that will be a lot easier to digest if boiled or steamed. A vegetable that shouldn’t be considered as a raw vegan dish would be the potato. Steaming, baking or boiling this tuber will make a far more satisfying meal. Always eat the skin of the potato because the skin contains the most vitamins.
When considering the potato as a raw vegan food, some of you may not know that the potato is a member of the Nightshade or Solanacea plant family. The potato naturally produces a glycoalkoloid poison in all parts of the plant. This includes the tuber, leaves and stems. This glycoalkoloid, solanine, is very toxic even in small amounts.
Any green color on the potato should be cut away. The color green is an indicator of solanine. All potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place. Potatoes, exposed to light, will begin to turn green which means dangerous levels of solanine are being formed. Just one green, unpeeled potato can contain enough poison to be very dangerous to a person eating raw vegan food.
Even after peeling and removing all green areas of the potato, it may be wise to taste a bit of the potato. If it is at all bitter, it should be discarded since the bitter taste is an even better indicator of high levels of solanine. Eating raw vegan foods can be dangerous. It is always wise to do a little research about the things you eat.
At one time it was thought that cooking would destroy the solanine in potatoes. It seems that only deep fat frying is effective in lowering the solanine levels. Boiling doesn’t help at all and microwaving is mostly ineffective. As a cooked or raw vegan or even non-vegan food, the potato needs a bit of inspection.
A good source of information for you who want to eat raw vegan foods, or for other consumers, is MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
