Soaked nuts are more nutritious…really?

Dear Jess, I have heard you say that soaking almonds makes them better for you. Is this true? Can you explain how that works? Thanks, JB

Yes, JB, this is, indeed, true.

A handful of nuts are an excellent snack. They contain protein, healthy fats, and are relatively low in carbohydrates. They are excellent sources of vitamin E and most B vitamins, lot and lots of various minerals and several phytonutrients.

How could you improve on that?

Well, grains, legumes and nuts are all seeds of various plants. What makes a nut specifically a nut is that it grows from a tree and has a hard removable outer shell and a soft, edible inner kernel…the nut.

All of these types of seeds…grains, legumes and nuts have varying degrees of what we call anti-nutrients. Nuts, in particular, contain phytates and enzyme inhibitors. Phytates bind with minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron, interfering with our body’s ability to absorb these important minerals. Enzyme inhibitors can interfere with optimal digestion and absorption.

Soaking nuts (and grains, legumes and seeds, for that matter) stimulates the process of germination. Germination wakes up the nut’s metabolism from its dormant state, ramping up production of several vitamins including vitamin C, several of the B vitamins, and carotenes (precursors to vitamin A) in preparation to sustain the new sprout. Germination also produces several beneficial enzymes that specifically help digestion of the nut itself. During this process phytates and enzyme inhibitors are neutralized.

So, yes, soaking nuts (preferably in filtered water) increases the nutrient content of vitamins, increases the availability of minerals by neutralizing phytates, and produces enzymes beneficial for digestion.

Are you convinced? Ready to give it a try? This site gives great directions: http://www.avenaoriginals.com/library/recipe_display.asp?a=Soaking_Nuts_and_Seeds

Get the most out of an excellent food choice…soak those almonds!

To your good health-
Jess