I received an email question from a reader about raw sweeteners.  Here is the email that they sent me and I will answer this question.

Hi Evelyn,
I enjoyed reading your blog and had a couple of questions — what sweeteners are actually safe if we are wanting to have a ‘raw’ lifestyle?  I’ve noticed that many used maple syrup (which is far from raw as much as it is boiled down), or agave, which many say even the ‘raw’ isn’t actually raw.  Is there a sweetener besides raw honey that can really classify?   Also, have you heard of date syrup?  It comes from a steam extraction of dates, but that still seems much less processed than maple syrup and other sweeteners.  I’d love to read an article about this on your blog.

Reader, thank you for complimenting my blog and taking the time to email me your question. You are keeping me on my toes and I appreciate that.  I did a little research and learned a lot.  Here is what I have found. 
**My opinion:  The ideal sweetener would be one that is found in nature, unprocessed.  The best sweetener is always from a natural source (ex. fruit), but we don’t live in an ideal world. **
Raw Vegan Sweeteners

• Agave nectar is sweeter than honey with a low glycemic index, but this may not agree with everyone.  Just because something says it has a low glycemic index doesn’t mean that it won’t have an effect on you.  It depends on the individual. Some raw food vegans will not use agave and will not recommend it because it is not raw, but there are some companies that do produce raw agave nectar.  Try it for yourself and you be the judge.
• Carob powder is a sweet chocolate-like powder.  Carob is a better alternative to cacao because this is already naturally sweet and is rich in calcium. Z Natural Foods
• Coconut palm sugar is not raw, but is one of the most nutritious sweeteners.  There are companies that sell organic palm sugar. Organic Palm Sugar
• Lucuma powder is from an exotic Peruvian fruit, low sugar and has a taste similar to maple syrup. Lucuma Powder
• Mesquite powder is nutrient rich and has a molasses flavor. Mesquite Powder
• Really raw honey is very nutritious, but those who are strict vegans would not even consider honey.
• Stevia is an herb and the leaves are naturally sweet.  This site does not say that their stevia is raw, but there are some companies that do offer raw stevia.  Stevia
• Yacon root syrup and powder is a very healthy sweetener that helps feed friendly bacteria and will not give you a sugar rush. Tastes like molasses.  Yacon

I haven’t heard of date syrup before, but if that is something you’d like to try, go for it.  I may even give it a try myself. I don’t get hung up on sweeteners being 100% raw, because I ask myself how often do I use sweeteners? (not much).  Also, is it organic and vegan? (must be)  Is it highly processed? (can’t be) That’s how I make my decision.
I lean toward vegan sources, but I do use raw organic honey, which some would label me as not being vegan.  Who likes labels?  I know I don’t.  I say, find what you like and what works best for you.  Don’t let what anyone says sway you one way or the other.  Do what works best for you and always listen to your body.

Image Credit:  Wikimedia

Originally published on Planned Diet veggieNews with Evelyn.


Many people are finding ways to eat a healthier diet.  Some are even crossing over from eating an animal-based diet to eating a plant-based diet.  If any of these people were asked why they have switched to a predominately plant-based diet, they will have many different reasons.  The main reason that people switch to a plant-based (vegetarian) diet is usually for health reasons.


What Is A Vegetarian Diet?


A Vegetarian Diet is one in which one eats mostly a plant-based diet.  However, there are different types of vegetarians.  Not all people who say they are vegetarians, actually adhere to a strict vegetarian diet.  There is a lot of flexibility here in the vegetarian world.


Types of Vegetarian Diets


Vegan - A vegan is one who does not eat any animal flesh or animal by products.  Some will eat honey.  This diet is strictly a plant based diet.  A vegan eats fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts, and sprouts.  Some include sea vegetables and wild edible greens.


Raw vegan - A raw vegan is similar to a vegan except he/she does not cook foods above 105 degrees.  No animal flesh or animal by products are eaten, but some will eat honey.


Fruitarian - A fruitarian is one who eats fruit, seeds and nuts.  No animal products, vegetables and grains are eaten.


Lacto-ovo vegetarian – A lacto-ovo vegetarian is one who does not eat any animal flesh, but will eat dairy, cheese, and eggs along with plant-based foods.


Lacto vegetarian - A lacto vegetarian is one who does not eat animal flesh and eggs, but will eat dairy and cheese.


Ovo vegetarian - An ovo vegetarian is one who does not eat animal flesh and dairy products, but will eat eggs.


Pesco-vegetarian - A pesco-vegetarian is one who only eats fish/seafood and does not eat any other animal flesh.  Some also include eggs and dairy.


Semi-vegetarian/flexitarian - A semi-vegetarian is one who does not eat red meat, but will eat poultry, fish, and/or seafood. 


As you can see there are many types of vegetarian diets.  When transitioning to a vegetarian diet, most people will start out being a semi-vegetarian and work their way up to the vegetarian diet they feel works best for them.  


Gradually transitioning is the best way to go.  Going cold turkey can cause you to return back to the way you were eating which can result in your deciding that a vegetarian diet does not work for you.

I started this blog in November 2008 and I had no idea what I was doing.  One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to document my journey to eating a raw vegan diet.  Overtime, my focus has changed.  I will continue sharing my journey, but I also enjoy sharing information and inspiring others to live a healthy lifestyle.

Today, I am working my blog everyday.  Some of you are probably wondering, “What does working my blog mean?”  Well, my goal is to build a community and to have a blog that is reaching people.  If I want to build a community and have a readership, then there is work that I must do. 

I don’t get hung on the number of followers I have, because it is the number of people that my posts actually reaches that matters.  What good is a large following, if no one is visiting your blog and leaving comments or even sending you emails?

How I’m Working My Blog

• Posting regularly.  I try to post at least 5 times a week and I usually take a break on Thursdays, but that may change.  I also focus on putting out good content.  Content that will be beneficial and helpful to others.
• Commenting on other blogs.  I use to be scared to comment on other blogs, but now I’m not scared.  I have found myself commenting more on blogs outside of my niche and some of those blog owners will take time to come over and visit and some will even RT (re-tweet) a post that they enjoyed. 
• Improving blog layout.  I am always seeing what works best on my blog and in the sidebars.  I try not to put a lot of extra widgets in the sidebar, because I have learned that too much of anything will make the page load slowly.  I don’t want anyone who wants to leave a comment to leave because the page load time took too long.
• Being more active in social media.  I am on Twitter, but have just recently started being more social.  As a result, I have met some nice people on Twitter inside and outside of my niche.  Now, I’m working on being more active in Digg and StumbleUpon.  Oh, and there’s Facebook and I usually post links on Facebook that I think friends would enjoy reading.
• Sharing the blog posts of others.  If I enjoyed your post and got a lot from your post then you can expect me to comment and/or share it on social media.  That is my way showing my appreciation.
• Becoming more active in forums.  I’m a member of a few forums/groups in my niche and I rarely visit and participate in discussions.  I will be carving out time for visiting and being more active in these forums/groups.
• Being different and unique.  Although my blog is about eating a raw vegan diet, there is so much information out here that can be shared with everyone, and that information can possibly help someone.  Even if going vegetarian or vegan is not your thing, there is always something for you on this blog.

Since, I spend a lot of time on blogs that help me become a better blogger, then I have decided to devote Wednesdays to posting articles about blogging.

I was able to try the Agape Nutrition Bars and all I can say is ummm, ummm good!  I have never tasted anything like these bars.  I will not be trying any other bars, because there is no need.  Agape Nutrition Bars are truly one of a kind.

What are Agape Nutrition Bars?

Agape Nutrition Bars are raw nutrition bars without any additives.  These bars are raw vegan, gluten free, dairy free, GMO-free, white and brown sugar free.  The raisins, apples, blueberries, and cranberries are all unsulphured and organic.  The nuts are raw and organic.  The sweeteners (Barhi dates, yacon syrup, date paste or organic agave nectar) used are diabetic friendly.  Agape Nutrition Bars make for a good nutritious breakfast, especially when you’re on the go or a healthy snack.

My Taste Test

My first bite of Blueberry Ginger was an amazing experience.  This bar tasted so pure, clean and of course, as the name implies (Agape), full of love.  I ate it slowly because I wanted to savor every bite.  I didn’t have to worry about biting into something that wasn’t suppose to be there.

Secondly, I tried the Cranberry Orange.  One thing I noticed when I opened the bar, was the smell of orange.  Now, who doesn’t love the smell of orange.  All I can say is that this bar was love at first bite.  I have never tasted a raw bar so good.

I asked my husband to taste the Cranberry Orange. The first thing he said was, “Can you buy these in the store?”  I told him, I didn’t know, but I do know we can order them online.  My husband said, you need to order some of these, because this is really good.  I’m going to win him over yet, to my way of eating.  One step at a time.

Once you taste these raw food nutrition bars, you will never look at the other bars the same.

Agape Nutrition Bars can be purchased online and they come in three Agape flavors:  apple cobbler, cranberry orange, and blueberry ginger.  The Agape Nutrition Bars are handmade by Chef Carolyn Akens, uncooked, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Spring is almost here and guess what?  It is spring cleaning time.  No, I’m not talking about cleaning your home.  I’m talking about cleaning your other home, your body temple home.

Our body temple home is the body in which we reside.  There is no one that I know who will go for weeks without bathing.  Well, there could be someone out there who goes around smelling for weeks at a time, but for the most part we love to be clean and smelling good.  So why do we go for months and even years with our cleansing our body temple home?

I use to be one who didn’t know the importance of cleansing the body internally.  Why?  Because I wasn’t taught this.  Yeah, I use to hear my grandparents talk about “getting a good cleaning out,” but I didn’t know what that really meant.  Today, I know what it means and understand how important it is to cleanse internally.

I am staring today with my spring cleaning and I will spring clean for 14 days.  I’m not doing a fast or anything.  I”ll be using a cleansing kit from Enzymatic Therapy.  I’ll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

The cleansing kit consists of  Fiber Fusion, a Laxative Formula.  Along with that I will be drinking lots of water and eating clean.  I guess you’re probably thinking, “Evelyn, I thought you ate clean.”  Not always, I fall short sometimes.  Anyway, let’s talk about fiber.

Dietary Fiber

Fiber is the indigestible part of plant food that absorbs water in the digestive system.  This makes it easier for you to eliminate waste.  Fiber acts like a broom, moving along sweeping those things out of the system that don’t belong.

If you rarely eat plant food or foods high in fiber, then you will end up with a problem and the problem that usually occurs is constipation.  The bowels must be kept moving so that toxins can be eliminated.

The Importance of Fiber

Fiber helps absorb and eliminate toxins.  The fiber binds to toxins and are excreted out of the body.  It also helps improve the function of the colon.  Fiber helps to increase bulk and soften the stool, which makes it easier to eliminate.  Fiber also helps shorten the amount of time waste stays in the intestinal tract.

As you can see fiber is very important in our diet.  If you are one who eats very little food that contains fiber, then you should consider increasing those foods.  The foods that are high in fiber are usually plant-based.  So that means, you should increase your fruit and vegetable intake.

The fact is, to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can. – Robert Cushing

Follow your honest convictions and stay strong. – William Thackeray

Everyday do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow. – Doug Firebaugh

If there is something that you’ve wanted to do, then get out there and do it.  Who and what is stopping you?  Don’t worry about how you will look or what will happen.  Just do it by seizing your day and rolling with it.

Sending a big thank you to my girl over at Chocolate Orchid for bestowing upon me the Sunshine Award!

This award  means a lot to me, because as a blogger, I sometimes wonder if anyone is actually reading my posts.   I am grateful to all the people who stop by Natural Raw Living, leave comments, and send me encouraging words.

This is a simple award.  Just pass this award along to other bloggers who bring you sunshine and make sure you link to the person gave you the Sunshine Award.

Now on to the good part!

Here are some people who bring sunshine:

Sarah @ Living the Fruity Life
EarthMother @In the Raw
Kiesha @Highly Favored
Ingrid @ Raw Epicurean
Attorney Mom @Character Corner
D. Miller @Devotions ChopChop
Carolyn @Carolyn’s Raw Foods

 This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.