How to Soak Raw Nuts & Seeds
Minerals are a vital part of our nutrition. There are two kinds of minerals, macrominerals and trace minerals. You need larger amounts of macrominerals. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur.
You only need small amounts of trace minerals. They include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, and selenium. They can be the key nutrition in our diet that gets forgotten about. Minerals play a key role in hormone, enzyme, and energy production along with neurological function and strong bones.
When deficient in trace minerals you can feel -
Fatigued easily
Extreme PMS
Irregular heart beat
Brain fog
One way we like to get a dose of trace minerals is through a variety of seaweeds such as Kombu, Kelp, and Nori.
Here’s how we eat dehydrated seaweed -
Salads
Soak them with almonds and cashews
Add to roasted vegetables after cooking
Seaweed not only offers trace minerals but they also add a salty flavor to your dish.
So, what does soaking nuts and seeds have to do with minerals? Soaking the nuts or seeds will release the protective agent in the seed known as phytic acid. When we eat grains, nuts, and seeds with phytic acid still intact, it blocks mineral absorption in our body so we do not get the full nutritional value of the food we are consuming. Essentially all grains, nuts, and seeds should be soaked to release this compound. It is how ancient cultures would properly prepare food. In our fast paced culture we forgot this important step in food preparation.
How To Soak Raw Nuts & Seeds
Source 4 cups of raw organic almonds or cashews. Aldi or Azure are some places to source organic nuts and seeds.
Cover with pure filtered spring water, 1-2 Teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt, and rough chopped dehydrated seaweed like Kombu(optional).
Let sit for 8-12 hours or even up to 24 hours depending on the size of the nut or seed. I like to do this overnight.
The water will be murky and bubbly. Strain and rinse.
Lay the nuts out on a dehydrator tray.
Dehydrate on low for 12-24 hours or until crunchy. 115 F for 20 hours and 165 F for 4-5 hours works best if soaking nuts for the full 24 hours.
Store your nuts in a glass mason jar in the refrigerator or freezer.