Yesterday, I attended a cooking class with a homeopathic
doctor from India and learned quite a few interesting things
(and found out that I was making a well intended mistake).
Once more I felt that the more I know the less I know 
which
is great because I love learning and I am up to discovering
as much as I can when it comes to natural health and nutrition
(well, I’m a Virgo and they say that Virgos have very curious minds,
and like to learn about different things, I’ve to agree).
You may know how I favor nuts and seeds and how much I like
them as snack. I eat some each day and among my favorite are
almonds (the king of nuts), walnuts, sesame seeds and pumpkin
seeds.
Nuts have protein and are rich in fiber and antioxidants such
as vitamin E and Selenium.
Studies have found that people who eat nuts on a regular basis
and in moderation, have lower risk of heart disease.
Seeds are rich in minerals such as zinc and iron, and
sesame seeds, specifically, are rich in that mineral that
builds healthy bones.
Calcium (yeah, not only milk or dairy products contain this
vital mineral, as the media wants us to believe).
Anyway, nuts and seeds promote general good health.
They help support balanced moods, good circulation, tissue
integrity, heart health, youthful skin, active metabolism,
healthy cholesterol levels and glandular health.
BUT, and here it comes what I learned, did you know that in
order to digest raw seeds and nuts much easier and prevent a host
of health problems, you have to soak them first..
Why
Because they contain enzyme inhibitors.
These enzymes are there to prevent the seeds and nuts from
sprouting.
Eating the enzyme inhibitors can lead to digestive problems,
allergies, colitis and other health problems.
So what you do, to deactivate the enzyme inhibitors is to soak
them for 12 hours in warm water with a pinch of sea salt - or
any healthy salt you have, and then you dry them in the oven
or a dehydrator.
I tried it today (with almonds) and they taste really, really
good. They are crunchier and get an enhanced flavor that
I don’t know how to describe; you’ll see when you try it
yourself.
Nuts and seeds treated this way put less strain on the
digestive system and what’s better, their nutrients become
more readily available.
Here are some tips:
Rinse the nuts/seeds well before drying them.
You can dry them in the oven at VERY low temperature or use
a dehydrator. I used the convectional oven and dry them flat
on a tray for half an hour.
Do small batches at a time, put them in a container with no
lid and eat them within the next few days to ensure freshness.
If you think they are not dry enough or have no time to dry
them, store them in the refrigerator without a lid to prevent
mold from forming.
Well, that’s it for today. I’ll go back to munching the rest of
my crispy nuts… I invite you to give this a try, see how you
like it. Your body (and digestive system) will thank you.
To your good health, today and always,
Monica
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