It is easy to make store bought nuts even tastier, and at the same time, easier to digest.
Nuts are nutrient dense, and provide a good balance of fat and protein, along with omega 3 fatty acids! They can be a great food for most people.
What Problem Occurs with Eating Raw Nuts?
One of the downsides to nuts is that they contain enzyme inhibitors like phytic acid. In nature, phytic acid prevents the seed from sprouting prematurely, safeguarding the nut until proper growing conditions occur. Unfortunately for humans, phytic acid can be considered an "anti-nutrient" because it binds to minerals (e.g. calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and copper) making them unavailable for the body, and inhibits enzymes that aid in digestion.
Although nuts are considered a nutrient dense, "healthy" food, the body will not benefit as much from nuts if the nutrients are not digested and absorbed. In addition, whole grains and seeds also have high levels of phytic acid, so eating them with nuts makes the problem worse. Read more about phytic acid. in nuts, grains, and seeds.
How Do You Solve This Problem?
It's easy! Soak and dry the nuts.
Our ancestors soaked nuts, seeds, and grains to start the process of breaking them down and making them easier to digest!
How Do The Nuts Taste?
I did a side by side taste test of soaked and dried nuts vs. nuts straight out of the bag. There is a definite difference. Nuts out of the package have a slightly bitter taste that is absent with the soaked and dried nuts!
Recipe to Soak and Dry Nuts
Ingredients:
- Nuts - any kind you like. For example: almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, or brazil nuts. Note: Peanuts are not a nut, they are a legume, and have their own issues that are outside the scope of this recipe.
- Filtered water
- 1 TBSP sea salt
Directions:
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Place nuts in a large glass bowl or mason jar
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Cover completely with filtered water
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Add sea salt and stir
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Cover and let sit overnight or up to 24 hours
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Drain and rinse nuts and lay them out on trays of dehydrator
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Dry at a low temperature (about 105-150 degrees) for about 24 hours. If you don’t have a dehydrator, bake them in the oven at the lowest temperature of your oven for 12-24 hours.
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Enjoy! Store your dried nuts in the refrigerator or freezer for best quality.
Soaking and drying nuts is not difficult, but it does take some time. I urge you to give it a try, and observe the difference. Let me know what you find on facebook!
Dr. Jamie Thomure