It’s important to always soak nuts and seeds in water before eating them to ensure better digestion and optimal nutrient absorption.
Nuts and seeds have inhibitor enzymes on their surface that protect them from germinating too quickly. Soaking them no only deactivates the inhibitor enzymes, but it also activates beneficial enzymes, which help turn many of the stored nutrients from a dormant to an active state.
It’s important to buy nuts raw because roasted ones cannot be soaked. Steer clear from consuming roasted nuts, since roasting can change some of their beneficial qualities. Also, most commercially packaged seeds and nuts are over-salted and are cooked in hydrogenated oils, full of unhealthy trans fats.
Directions:
- Place the nuts or seeds in a container and cover them with water.
- Store in the fridge. (The harder the nut, the longer it needs to soak. Hard nuts like almonds should be soaked for 24 hours. Medium-density nuts, like walnuts, should be soaked for about 6 hours. Softer nuts, such as pine or macadamia nuts, only need a couple of hours. To make things easier, just grab a handful of a variety of nuts and soak over night. Soak at most for 2 days.)
- Rinse the nuts off under water and lay them out to dry on a plate. Use a paper towel to help with the excess water.
- Enjoy! (Great as a go-to snack and are delicious on salads.)
Not only are soaked nuts easier to digest and make nutrients more readily available, but they taste AMAZING and they don’t dry out your mouth because of the retained moisture from the water.
Will you be trying this?
Let me know how it goes in the comments below.
XO Devon