How to Unlock The Secret Nutritional Benefits of Almonds Print 10 LikeDislike By Ashley Nickelsen Almonds. We’ve all heard they’re good for you: good for your heart, good for losing weight, and just plain good thanks to their healthy fats. But, while we’ve all been smearing almond butter across rice crackers, guzzling almond milk, and popping nut after nut at our desks, the almond has kept a secret from us: its nutrient content is not fully available to us. That is, unless they are soaked! Why Soaked? It’s important to soak almonds because this process increases their digestibility by deactivating a special enzyme inhibitor. Put simply: almonds are safe to eat raw, and un-soaked, but you won’t gather all the nutrients they have to offer unless you soak them. Think about it this way, an almond contains everything it needs to make a tree, except water. When you plant an almond seed, into the ground, you water it to make it grow! Once you add the water, then seed “activates,” and comes to life. Why should you care about enzymes? Enzymes are proteins that are necessary for mediating chemical reactions, such as those involved in breaking down foods. Almonds naturally block the enzyme function in your body! These inhibitors are developed by mother nature to protect the almond from pests, like bugs. As a result, almonds will not fully break down during digestion and you won’t get the full nutrition that an almond has to offer! So, have you ever heard that when you eat almonds you actually absorb fewer calories than they are estimated to have? That is because of that enzyme inhibitor. When you eat a raw almond the nutrients are limited, as are the calories.How to Soak Almonds So, how do you maximize on the power of this little nut? Soak it! Pour cold water over your raw almonds, and leave in the fridge for 8 hours, or overnight. This will increase their digestibility by deactivating that famous enzyme inhibitor. And guess what? This trick isn’t just for almonds; it works for any tree nut, such as cashews, pecans, walnuts etc. In sum, it’s fine to eat almonds raw and unsoaked, but you won’t be taking full advantage of the tree nut’s nutritional benefits. Plus, you might have a harder time digesting the nut in its raw form. So, if you’re worried about calories, don’t soak your almonds, and you won’t absorb all the real calories this nut has to offer. But, you’ll also miss out on some important, health-supportive vitamins and minerals!Take a look at the following heart-healthy almond recipes!Almond Strawberry ShortbreadLemon Almond Bliss Balls Protein Packed Breakfast SmoothieNote: PLEASE consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Why Mushroom Beta Glucans Are So Good For You Mushrooms are some of the most nutritionally dense and healthiest foods you can eat! One of the main reasons that mushrooms are so healthy is due to their high concentration of mushroom beta glucans. Mushroom beta glucans provide a lot of benefits, ...
A Healthy Approach to Rewarding Yourself for Losing Weight There is nothing more rewarding than losing and maintaining weight. That is why some individuals set their sights on healthy weight loss. They do so not only for aesthetic purposes but also for healthy living. Why? Obesity is a concerni...
How We’re Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at Further Food Each year since 1990, for the duration of May, the US recognizes the contributions and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) on the history, culture, and achievements of our country. AAPI Heritage Month is a time to pay tribute to t...
Acupuncture 101: How Acupuncture Works & What You Need to Know Before Trying It Yourself Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of energy healing that has been practiced for thousands of years. As a Doctor of Acupuncture who has been treating patients for over 20 years, I’ve witnessed the amazing healing and balancing benefits of acup...
How to Use Ancient Chinese Medicine to Improve Your Memory Are you dealing with forgetfulness or having trouble focusing? You may want to consider incorporating some natural remedies for focus and concentration. As a board-certified acupuncturist and clinical herbalist, I’ve successfully used Chines...
How To Find A Great Chinese Medicine Practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on centuries old philosophies and principles that use acupuncture and herbs to help treat and heal a variety of health conditions.Today, there are thousands of TCM practitioners (alternatively known as a C...