WHY soak almonds?

[Autumn]

I thought that soaking nuts was to make them softer for recipes. However, I am getting the impression (please correct me if I'm wrong) that people soak nuts just for eating/snacking. I eat the nuts unsoaked and like them that way. Is there a particular reason for the soaking? I don't have a problem digesting nuts at all.

[Revvell]

I soak them, especially almonds is, I found I have a sensitivity to them when I don't and can assimilate them better when I do.

The main reason many others do is soaking breaks down the enzyme inhibitors which interfere with digestion and best assimilation of nutrients.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[Autumn]

Hmmm, do you think I'm doing myself a disservice by eating them unsoaked? I just don't care for them after soaking, or least not as much. (which actually may be a good thing so I don't eat too many!)

[Revvell]

IMO, yes because if it's true soaking releases enzyme inhibitors, then, your body is using it's own enzymes to digest the nuts when not soaked. I absolutely love them soaked. If you like them crunchy, soak, then drain and rinse thoroughly, then let dry and the crunch will be there yet not quite so hard.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[RawTruth]

Autumn, nuts are not living until they've been soaked. Yes, they're raw, but not living (the enzymes are the key here, 'course).

As far as the soft texture, you can dehydrate them after they've been soaked to get the crunchiness back. If I'm going to be using the nuts in a recipe, I just leave them as is after they're soaked. But, if I'm going to be eating them out of hand, I dehydrate them. As long as the temp is low, the enzymes are intact.

As was explained by a raw chef at a class I took this weekend, since soaking is to get rid of the enzyme inhibitor, eating them unsoaked is similar to eating cooked food: the energy we save/create in our bodies from eating raw food is then used for digesting the unsoaked nuts.

Hope this helps!! :)

[Autumn]

I'm so disappointed, but thank you everyone for the information.

[DotfromOz]

If they digest well for you and don't tempt you to eat no-no foods, then I don't know that I'd worry that much about eating a few unsoaked nuts. I'd say that it's your choice depending upon how scrupulous you want to be about making sure everything you eat is raw and living.

I don't like the taste or texture of soaked nuts myself and use that dislike of how I really should be preparing nuts to eat as motivation not to eat them.

If told I should soak avocados, I'd be in BIG trouble. :D

[coffeesquirrel]

(If told I should soak avocados, I'd be in BIG trouble.)


shhh don't even mess with my avacado because i'd definitly be unsavored. :eek:


cheers
coffeesquirrel

[AJ Bodine]

Autumn,

When I buy almonds it's always 5 or more pounds. I take half of them and immediately soak them overnight, rinse and then spread them out on my dehydrator trays for dehydrating and then store them in jars once they are dry and crunchy again. This is handy when I have a recipe that calls for nuts or just to snack on once in while.

I like them better that way than before they were ever soaked because I think they are even crunchier!

AJ :)

[Zuzu]

I soaked some almonds last night, not sure what to expect, but they are very good, I now enjoy them more...! :)