Soak Nuts Before Eating Them

Almonds are the generation next superfood. Most health experts believe that raw food is the future of our food habits. And almonds are excellent sources of raw food that give you plenty of useful nutrients. Almonds have nutrients like dietary fibres, Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. All these nutrients make almonds the perfect snack for people who are on a diet. You may have noticed that most people soak almonds in water overnight before having them. This is a common practice but very few people know why almonds are soaked. In fact some people even snack on almonds dry without peeling them. This is a wrong practice as it reduces the nutrient value of almonds.

That is why, you must be made aware of why one should soak almonds before eating them.

Reasons For Soaking Almonds Nutrients: The brown peel of the almonds contain tannin acid that is a nutrient inhibitor. As almonds are tree nuts or rather seeds, they are protected by this cover from sunlight and moisture. When you soak almonds, the skin of the almond comes off easily. This releases the nutrients in the almonds more freely. Thus, soaked almonds are more nutritious than dry ones. Digestion: Soaking the almonds makes them softer and sweeter. But it is not just about taste. Almonds become easier for the human stomach to digest once they are soaked. Besides, almonds also become easier to chew for little children and older people with weak teeth.

How To Soak Almonds? Place the almonds in a large bowl and cover them with 2 cups of water per 1/2 cup of almonds. Always cover them and allow them to get soaked for at least 8 hours/overnight. Then drain away the water and peel the almonds. If you want to store the almonds after peeling, store them in the refrigerator using  plastic packets or containers. They will last for about a week after being soaked. 

Germinating Almonds The benefits of almonds can be unlocked further by taking soaking to the next level and actually sprouting your nuts. Sprouted almonds are softer, moister and sweeter as well as being easier to digest. Sprouting almonds is also the only way to release lipase, an enzyme which digests fat. To sprout almonds, soak your almonds overnight for 10 to 12 hours, rinse and place them in glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator. It generally takes between one and three days for the almonds to sprout and you can expect a 1/8-inch sprout to grow.                       http://www.boldsky.com/health/nutrition/2013/why-to-soak-almonds-before-eating-035084.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/509747-why-do-people-soak-almonds-in-water/
http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2013/08/soaking-nuts/
http://www.wikihow.com/Soak-Nuts   9 step by step with photos