Have you ever noticed that you can keep raw nuts in the pantry for months and months and nothing really happens to them?
Nuts, seeds and grains all contain protective mechanisms as a method of species survival and are designed to pass straight through the gut of animals. These are chemical barriers that include phytic acid, anti-nutrients and enzyme inhibitors that reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients like magnesium, copper, iron and zinc and may also lead to digestive problems, inflammation or nausea.
Since ancient times, our ancestors have understood the limitations to gaining nutrition from grains, nuts and seeds and have practiced many techniques to prepare them for consumption. One of the simplest ways to access more of the nutrition from these foods is to try ‘activating’ them through soaking. For some people, grains and nuts may lead to inflammation and digestive issues with or without soaking and may need to be completely removed from the diet.