Is Soaking Nuts Necessary & How To Properly Soak Your Organic Raw Nuts!

 Is It Necessary To Soak Nuts?

 

Many of us consume nuts for their healthy fats and their good source of protein. They make a great quick snack that can easily be taken with you, making it an ideal snack. But many of us do not know how to properly prepare nuts so that we can better digest them. Is it necessary to soak nuts? The answer to that question is yes, absolutely!

Nuts have phytic acid. Phytic acid is also found in grains and legumes. Just as with grains and legumes, soaking nuts is essential for proper digestions. When eating nuts that haven’t been soaked, the phytic acid binds to minerals in the gastrointestinal tract and can not be absorbed in the intestine and to many bound minerals can lead to mineral deficiencies. By soaking, you are breaking down the phytic acid so it can be absorbed properly.

Nuts also have high amounts of enzymes inhibitors. This is another reason why un soaked nuts are hard to digest. Soaking nuts can neutralize the enzymes allowing for proper digestion.

 

Signs That You Aren’t Digesting Nuts

 

Have you ever had a heavy feeling in your lower stomach after eating too many nuts that were not soaked?

Have you noticed the next day that the nuts are in your stool? These are a few signs that the nuts were not properly digested.

It isn’t hard to soak and dry your nuts. It actually only takes a few minutes of hands on work to accomplish this task. Time is what you need to allow the nuts to soak and dry.

How To Soak Nuts

 

I have learned this method of drying and soaking from the research of Sally Fallon and her great book ~ Nourishing Traditions: The book that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. If you do not have a copy of her cookbook it is a great resource of information and is an essential cookbook for traditional cooking.

So the basic method of soaking nuts is pretty much the same with some slight variations. Basically, you soak the nuts in salt water (salt is necessary to help neutralize the enzymes) and then you dry them.

Be sure to fully dry your nuts or they could become moldy. You do not want to dry your nuts any higher than 150°F. You can use a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator or an oven to dehydrate your nuts.

A lot of the newer ovens do not go below 200ºF. You can most likely change the default setting of 200°F. Check your owners manual to learn how for your make and model. You can also set your oven to the lowest temperature and leave it slightly a-jarred. Use an internal thermometer to reach the desired temperature.

One last thing I want to note. Soaking the nuts not only helps with digestion but it enhances the flavor tremendously! They are slightly crispy, have a nice texture, and taste amazing. That alone encourages me to soak my nuts! If you haven’t tried to soak your nuts, give this method a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how easy and delicious soaked nuts are!

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Recipes

 

Almonds

• 4 cups almonds – shop for quality nuts here
• 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined salt here
  
• filtered water (enough to cover nuts)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp

 

Macadamia Nuts

• 4 cups raw macadamia nuts – shop for quality nuts here
• 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
• filtered water (enough to cover nuts)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)

 

Cashews

• 4 cups raw cashews – shop for quality nuts here
• 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
• filtered water (enough to cover nuts)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)

 

Pecans & Walnuts

• 4 cups raw pecans or walnuts – shop for quality nuts here
• 2 tsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
• filtered water (enough to cover nuts)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)

 

Pine Nuts & Hazelnuts

• 4 cups pine nuts or hazelnuts – shop for quality nuts here
• 1 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
• filtered water (enough to cover nuts)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12-24 hours or until crisp (do not use temperature above 150°F)

 

Pumpkin seeds

• 4 cups pumpkin seeds – shop for quality seeds here
• 2 tbsp unrefined sea salt – shop for unrefined sea salt here
• filtered water (enough to cover pumpkin seeds)

Soak overnight or a minimum of 7 hours

Dehydrate for 12 hours or overnight (do not use temperature above 150°F).

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