I usually soak nuts, seeds, grains and beans because they have enzyme inhibitors that protects the life of the food. This natural coating makes it hard for our bodies to absorb the nutrients found in nuts and seeds. Think about how a tiny nut or seed might be able to survive in the wild if it’s eaten by a bird. The coating serves as a defense mechanism as it makes its way through an animal’s digestive tract. The food is often popped out whole. Thanks to the coating around the nut or seed, it survives to grow into a plant, which is its main role.
Ancient cultures would soak nuts and seeds in salty water overnight and then they would set them out in the sun to dry. We live in a fast pace culture and this process is not as widely taught in modern life. If you’re buying nut butter or whole grain bread, those nuts and seeds are never soaked and are not good for our digestive system. Soaking raw nuts and seeds in water gives them the right conditions to begin to grow into plants. I prefer using drinking water such as filtered water or spring water. If you soak nuts and seeds they will begin to germinate because it no longer needs to protect itself against predators; it believes it’s in the right environment to flourish. If you need to leave the nuts and seeds in water for longer than 24 hours, it’s recommended to rinse and refill your container with fresh water.
For every 4 cups of nuts and seeds you want to use a tablespoon of high quality Himalayan sea salt in the water because it adds minerals that are naturally present in the earth, creating an ideas environment for growth. It’s very good when seeds are still alive and begin to grow and when your nuts increase in size. If you’re a vegan that relies on nuts and seeds for valuable fats and proteins, then you definitely want to neutralize enzyme inhibitors and get rid of the phytic acid that’s protecting the release of nutrients and minerals. Plus, soaking nuts and seeds helps them become creamier if your recipe calls for that.
You can use a dehydrator or lay the nuts and seeds out on parchment paper in the oven on the lowest temperature until they are dry. Another health benefit is that the nuts and seeds will feel lighter in your belly, you’ll feel less bloated and your body will need less energy to digest the food. All the good nutrient will become more bioavailable. Activating food makes meal planning easier because you’ll know what’s available to you the next day.
