soaking nuts and seeds/really, why do we do it?

[luvmangos]

i looked for this thread and i might have missed it so if anyone can redirect instead of answering a question again that is fine......
I know in order to activate the enzymes in seeds and nuts we soak them. I also know that this aids in digestion. Now, heres my question...Does activating the enzymes help w/ digestion or just giving us the minerals and vitamins etcetc. Why not just grind the seeds so they are easier to digest in smaller pieces? Why do you all soak your seeds and nuts?

[Veganforlife]

From what I've gathered is nuts come with a protective enzyme inhibitor. Soaking them releases that inhibitor. Grinding them you would still have the inhibitor there. If we eat nuts that the enzyme inhibitor has been released, our body doesn't have to tap into ITs supply of enzymes. Make sense?

[Lay-Lay]

ditto Lucy, LOL!

[luvmangos]

absolutely, makes sense just curious on what grinding would do thats all. It cant hurt digestion i guess though.....

[Veganforlife]

No, it's not going to HURT it per se, but you'll be taxing your body more by making it work harder when it doesn't have to.

[luvmangos]

Yes, i meant after soaking them......thanks for responses. i try not to ask the same questions all the time.

[Ertarox]

Hey, it is VERY important. In recipe videos you'll see people just "toss" some dry nuts in - this is a VERY BAD EXAMPLE.

Read ENZYME NUTRITION by Edward Howell for more. It is truly VERY HARD on the body and pancreas especially to process unsprouted nuts/seeds.

ALSO, grinding them doesn't solve the issue. Nor do nutmylks made from dry nuts. You MUST soak them to activate them.

If you wish for dry nut powder, soak the nut, then dehydrate them, THEN grind the dry sprouted nut/seed.

Erica

[luvmangos]

Your responses have def made me understand more.thanks for all the help!

[laurabfig]

So, reading this post makes me think of a new question: does this mean all of our raw almond butter (cashew butter, whatever you use) is not truly a living food? I seriously doubt that the companies that produce raw almond butter are soaking those almonds before grinding them into butter...or is that part of the process?
I might have to just start making my own.

[luvmangos]

If is says raw, doesnt it HAVE to be? I will email a few companies and let you know the results...........

[Veganforlife]

If is says raw, doesnt it HAVE to be? I will email a few companies and let you know the results...........

No, sadly, not necessarily. Somewhere along the way it could be processed.

[luvmangos]

What is the difference between your "raw" and "roasted" products?

The terms "raw" and "roasted" do not have a regulated definition of meaning. At Maranatha, and in the nut products industry, these terms are generally used in the following way:

"Raw" nut butter products are not subjected to any treatment or heat prior to the grinding process. These items are often preferred by people who are looking for minimally processed food that is "as close to Nature" as possible.

"Roasted" nut butters are baked or heated in some way to produce a desired flavor and/or color prior to grinding. Some manufacturers use oil in the roasting process. Maranatha does not use oil. Instead, they carefully dry roast the nuts at low temperatures to produce a delicious, toasty flavor.

What temperature are your raw nut butters produced at?

During the grinding process for all of our products (and for most any commercially made nut butter), there is considerable heat generated by the friction of the ingredients inside the grinder. Maranatha does not specifically monitor this temperature, but they know by their Quality Assurance tests and product safety standards that it is sufficient to eliminate any harmful or opportunistic bacteria.

Can I eat your raw products as part of a raw foods diet?

Different raw food diets use different temperature thresholds to define what is "raw" by that diet's standards. The term "raw" is not regulated and Maranatha does not wish to mislead any consumer who is following a strict raw eating plan.

With over 20 years of producing nut butters, their professional suggestion for any strict raw food eater is this: Purchase a high quality food mill or food processor and conduct your own grinding trials to monitor the temperature of the finished product. With a smaller batch you may be able to better control the friction and heat produced during the grinding.

[luvmangos]

i emailed Glaser farms, Living Tree Community, and Artisana...............

[Stina]

- it's so easy and quick to soak nuts and seeds over night. I, like many other people here have mentioned, get a gut ache from eating them unsoaked. They are Raw but not alive until soaked.

- secondly, we welcome you asking questions! You're actually doing everyone a favor, surely other newcomers are wondering the same thing and the more experienced Raw-heads hone their craft by reaching out to Raw-newbies. So ask away!

[veganman]

I always soak, sprout, and grind any nuts and seeds I eat. That way you are getting the enzymes and making them easier to digest. If you don't grind, make sure you chew reallywell!

[laurabfig]

so from what i read above, technically, the maranatha raw almond butter is not really raw. if the temp is high enough to destroy bacteria, it must be pretty high, at least over 110-120 degrees!

this may give me the motivation to try making my own...i just haven't done it yet b/c it is so convenient (although EXPENSIVE) to buy it in the jar. making it would probably be cheaper too.

[Davylp25]

Has anyone read any actual studies done, or tests done about eating unsoaked nuts taxing the pancreas of those who eat only raw vegan foods? Or are all the tests done on those who eat a regular sad diet?

I eat unsoaked nuts all the time... No problems. I understand that soaking activates them and makes them easier, but easier for who? Sad's or long time raw's?

Also if I'm raw I'm eating food that's already alive with tons of enzymes etc. If I needed extra enzymes to digest NUTS OR SEEDS, I think a raw could handle it. Maybe a sad couldn't. Doesn't really make sense to me personally. I eat alive food... Why would I care if I needed to tap into a lil extra ones to digest nuts? I'm alive dammit! lol

No I'm not new either. Almost 2 years 100%.

Any links> of studies or how it effect someone who is raw and not someone cooked?

[luvmangos]

Thanks, Stina, i do ask alot of questions. I appreciete the support on. I just want to do this right and understand everything so i can support my lifestyle when people ask why i do 'crazy stuff' or 'eat crazy stuff,' which is what most poeple say to me now. All the comments are so helpful i love learning so thanks again

[dia]

Can you grind the nuts first, them soak them, or does this order not allow for them to be activated? Thanks so much for your help. ----- Dia

[laurabfig]

this thread has been so interesting to me b/c i never soaked nuts (unless indicated in a recipe) before reading this thread. i really think soaking them makes a difference, based on my own..ahem...elimination patterns... shall we say? :o much easier now that i soak them. i eat a lot of nuts b/c I'm trying to gain weight on this diet rather than lose, so i need the fats but MAN was it stopping me up! (even with all my other fruits and veggies that i ate all day long) and i never had a problem with constipation on my vegetarian SAD diet.

anyway, interesting thread. I'd be interested to see research too.

[Little Mango]

Bumping for Dia's question: post#19

:)

[laurabfig]

Can you grind the nuts first, them soak them, or does this order not allow for them to be activated? Thanks so much for your help. ----- Dia

I think maybe the reason most people don't grind them first is b/c draining them is much easier when they are whole. I would say soaking first is best, then grinding after they are already sprouted. Not sure if little pieces of nuts would activate in the same way that a whole nut does...

[dia]

I was also wondering do you have to drain the water that the nuts were soaked in or can you use this water. Is this healthier? Most of the time when I soak nuts, I make a recipe dish with them and just put in the water they were soaked in but was wondering if this is a good idea or if the water should be drained for health reasons. That is another reason why I was asking about grinding nuts (making nut meal) first because then I can just grind a bunch of nuts, store them, and soak them later when I am ready to make a recipe. Thanks ---Dia

[veganman]

I was also wondering do you have to drain the water that the nuts were soaked in or can you use this water. Is this healthier? Most of the time when I soak nuts, I make a recipe dish with them and just put in the water they were soaked in but was wondering if this is a good idea or if the water should be drained for health reasons.

Hi Dia -

you definitely want to drain and rinse them thoroughly. The water contains the enzyme inhibitors, so you don't want those in your recipe.

[dia]

Thank you very much. ---dia

[Sactown]

Another question on use after soaking. Per Alissa's book, she recommends soaking various types of nuts and rinsing but keeping them in water until used. Is that what everyone does?

I just wondered if you all kept the nuts in the water until used? Cashews seem kinda water-logged.

Thanks,
DJ

[sport]

Another question on use after soaking. Per Alissa's book, she recommends soaking various types of nuts and rinsing but keeping them in water until used. Is that what everyone does?

I just wondered if you all kept the nuts in the water until used? Cashews seem kinda water-logged.

Thanks,
DJ

I soak the entire pack and then dehydrate them and keep them that way

[veganman]

Another question on use after soaking. Per Alissa's book, she recommends soaking various types of nuts and rinsing but keeping them in water until used. Is that what everyone does?


For me, it depends on how much time will pass before I use them. I usually let them air-dry for about 12 hours (like sprouting) and then rinse them again right before using them. If it will be a few days, I will keep them in the fridge in water.

[laurabfig]

Another question on use after soaking. Per Alissa's book, she recommends soaking various types of nuts and rinsing but keeping them in water until used. Is that what everyone does?

I just wondered if you all kept the nuts in the water until used? Cashews seem kinda water-logged.

Thanks,
DJ

After I soak them for 24 hours and then rinse, I keep almonds in water in an airtight container in the fridge almost all the time. I use them enough that I go through about a pound each week. I change the water about every day or every other day, and just take out what I need when I need them.

Other nuts won't stand up to being in water that long (like cashews that you mentioned). The other nuts I use I just soak as I need them for recipes.