I'm going to be including questions and answers more often on the blog, since we've had a lot of emails from many of you saying you found last week's Q&A helpful and fun to read. I have many questions I've been saving to share with others, and more come in daily. Don't be shy if you have a question about anything that you think I'd possibly be able to help you with. Simply send me an email asking, and I'll reply to you personally. Questions that I feel might have a more general interest may be shared here on the blog (with the questioner being anonymous).

[Please email questions to me, rather than post them here on the blog: WendiDee [at] PureJeevan.com.]

Q. First, just want to say that your website has changed my life, I'm now 100% pure raw vegan and I'm loving every bit of it. However, I have a little concern, I keep hearing that green beans (dwarf beans) are actually poisonous when eaten raw, is this true? If so what other foods do you recomend are poisonous when eaten raw? Thanks and keep up the great website. :)

A. I'm so happy that we have inspired you to be 100% raw vegan. Congratulations on your decision to embrace an even greater sense of health and well being!

Green beans are eaten by some raw foodists. I have tried them a few times, but they cause tummy upset for me, so I no longer eat them. I don't believe they are fully poisonous, at least not in a dangerous way, since many people do eat them raw without a problem.

Just about everything edible has some sort of toxin in it. Our bodies are designed to handle moderate amounts of most toxins without harming us. However, there are a few things that have higher concentrations of toxins that can sometimes be harmful if eaten raw (cooking destroys toxins in some plants, but that doesn't mean cooked foods are healthy for the body). Included in the harmful when raw list are: kidney beans, fava beans, lima beans, chickpeas, navy beans, and soy beans. In a class that KDcat took years ago, she was taught that all beans are poisonous before they are cooked.

Some plants will not harm us if eaten in small quantities, however in large doses they can become poisonous. These include: potatoes, rhubarb, cassava, parsnips, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, beet greens, swiss chard, buckwheat greens, green beans, and apricot kernels.

I'm sure the lists are even longer than what I've included here. Some people can eat many of these foods without any problem. However, if you eat large quantities of any of them you may be doing some damage in your body.

When I was younger I ate raw lima beans and never had a problem with them. I was surprised to find out that they are toxic when raw. It just goes to show you that not all people react the same to the foods they are eating. When I was younger I also ate raw white potatoes. I tried a raw white potato a year ago, after being raw for about two years, and my body reacted violently to it! It just goes to show you that even the same body changes over time and what used to be okay may no longer work. Make sure that your diet has a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds and you should be protected if you eat something that's slightly poisonous. Pay attention to how you feel after the foods you eat, looking for anything that continually causes you to feel less than wonderful!

One good thing about Pure Jeevan's blog is that we have both long-time raw foodists, new-to-raw individuals, and many in between. So, there is a good chance that others may offer advice here, as well. For anyone who knows what should be avoided as food in a raw foodist diet, please share with the rest of us. Together we can all help each other!

Q. Thank you SO MUCH for your inspiration. I have about 125 pounds to lose. I have acne. I just feel awful about myself. I am very happy to be going on this journey! I need to set a good example for my three children!

The more I read about raw, the more excited I get. I've been a vegan for years, and this is just perfect. However, I don't have the money to go and seek out organic produce. I can just get whatever I can at the local grocery store, and there is a big limit and it's very pricey. Do you have a suggestion? Is it really THAT big of a deal to go organic at first

A. You are very welcome! You've come to the right place for inspiration and motivation to turn your life around from one of feeling awful about yourself to knowing how absolutely beautiful and special you are! I think setting a good example for your children is a GREAT motivation to make better choices for your health. That was one of my motivators when going raw. You can do this, too!

Please see yesterday's post about priorities, health, and groceries. Many of the comments offer suggestions for ways of saving money on your grocery bill. As for organics and whether it's a big deal, or not, personally I think it's a big deal. However, if your choice is between eating nonorganic raw foods and eating cooked foods, I think you'd be better off with the nonorganic raw produce (staying away from the "dirty dozen" that are loaded with pesticides).

I've read information shared by many raw foodists who have recovered from ill health while eating a raw, nonorganic diet. So, obviously it's not the lack of pesticides that's helping bodies heal---it's the actual life in the raw foods that's assisting our bodies. But, they may have gained better health, even faster, if they had eliminated nonorganics.

For me, I refuse to eat foods grown with harmful pesticides and chemicals (or that have been genetically modified). As I stated in yesterday's post, my health is extremely important to me. Eliminating harmful chemicals that I am capable of avoiding is something that I do on a daily basis (both with the foods I eat, the products I use on my body, and the cleaners I use in my home---all of which will be a future blog entry).

It's all a matter of priorities, however. Decide what's most important for *you* and then find ways to make sure you are living up to and reaching your goal. I know it's not easy to reach a goal over night, but working toward it is very important. If eating a nonorganic raw food diet is the best you can do right now for yourself and your family, then that's a HUGE improvement over the way that most people are eating and you should be proud of what you are doing for yourself and your family!

Q. Are fruits that have been frozen still raw

How do you heat food to 105 degrees, like a raw soup

Can one freeze their own vegies without blanching them first and still be raw

Is eating cold processed extra virgin olive oil and cold processed extra virgin coconut oil raw

Is sea salt ok ?

Is there a newcomers raw food support group ??? on line or in Pittsburgh ??

I just read your blog about you wanting to move away from Pittsburgh and it made me feel sad, but I understand your wishing to be somewhere else. Well, I hope you get your wish soon, and thank you again for your great site and all the info. I wish I would have seen your site long ago.

A. Wow, a lot of questions. I hope I can answer them in a way that is helpful for you. Thanks for your email.

Fruits that have been frozen are still consumed by many raw foodists. They are not live anymore, but they have not been subjected to heat, either, so there is still a lot of nutrition available in them.

For heating a soup, I guess you could use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your water. Some people let soups process in their blenders until they become a bit warm, also. I don't heat soups, so I'm not sure exactly how it's done. Maybe some of our readers will offer suggestions for you.

Hmm...I'm guessing the same reasoning would apply to home freezing veggies that does to frozen fruits. If you don't blanch them, they aren't cooked. I've never done it, however, because I really like fresh veggies (they are definitely healthier for you than frozen ones).

As for cold processed extra virgin olive oil, many people disagree on whether it's truly raw, or not. Some say that even with the cold pressing there is some heat through friction that will cause the oil to not truly be raw. The most I can say is that I use cold pressed oil and my health has continued to improve.

Sea salt is okay, depending on whom you are talking with. Some think it's imporant because we can obtain trace minerals from it. Others think it's harmful for the body. I use Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt, purchased through Natural Zing, and LOVE it!

There are many online communities for support (check the Online Communities section of the All Raw Directory) and I'm going to be launching a special support group within a month, or so, that will offer inspiration for so much more than just food.

For local support, I recommend that everyone search the Meetup.com site for raw food meetups in your area. If there is a group nearby, join it and you'll be meeting others who are interested in the raw lifestyle, as well! If there's no group nearby, I recommend starting one. You may be surprised how many people are interested in joining you on this beautiful raw food journey!

Yes, we're moving away as soon as our home sells so that we can travel across the country teaching others about the health benefits of a raw diet. We'll settle in a warmer climate, where we can grow our produce year-round. :-)