Why so nuts?!
Well, I love snacking. And nuts make a great snack! They're high in fiber, essential fats, Vitamin E, and minerals. Not to mention, they're great on salads, fabulous as pie-crust makers, delightful as yogurt toppings, super as a spread on sandwiches and wraps, and great to make milk with.
My favorite nuts:
Almonds contain heart healthy unsaturated fats, plus 3 grams of fiber per serving, and calcium. Add slivered almonds to your salad instead of croutons, or make pate! Check back tomorrow for recipe.
Walnuts offer omega-3 fatty acids; prevents blood clots and erratic heartbeats! Toss toasted walnuts on a fruit salad or low fat yogurt.
Macadamia nuts have higher levels of monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil. Add them as crumb topping to baked fish.
Soak your nuts!
Why soak? Nuts have a special enzyme that inhibit their growth unless they have all the essential things needed to thrive like sunlight and water. So when we eat raw nuts, we also ingest this enzyme inhibitor which takes a toll on our digestion because they block our in/uptake of certain minerals. Thus soaking nuts in water helps extract digestive inhibitors called phytates (organic acids)- which are present in the hulls of nuts; furthermore the nutritional value of these nuts skyrockets!
Well, I love snacking. And nuts make a great snack! They're high in fiber, essential fats, Vitamin E, and minerals. Not to mention, they're great on salads, fabulous as pie-crust makers, delightful as yogurt toppings, super as a spread on sandwiches and wraps, and great to make milk with.
My favorite nuts:
Almonds contain heart healthy unsaturated fats, plus 3 grams of fiber per serving, and calcium. Add slivered almonds to your salad instead of croutons, or make pate! Check back tomorrow for recipe.
Walnuts offer omega-3 fatty acids; prevents blood clots and erratic heartbeats! Toss toasted walnuts on a fruit salad or low fat yogurt.
Macadamia nuts have higher levels of monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil. Add them as crumb topping to baked fish.
Soak your nuts!
Why soak? Nuts have a special enzyme that inhibit their growth unless they have all the essential things needed to thrive like sunlight and water. So when we eat raw nuts, we also ingest this enzyme inhibitor which takes a toll on our digestion because they block our in/uptake of certain minerals. Thus soaking nuts in water helps extract digestive inhibitors called phytates (organic acids)- which are present in the hulls of nuts; furthermore the nutritional value of these nuts skyrockets!
It's so easy. I usually soak almonds (my fav nuts) in a bowl for 4-6 hours; the skin will start peeling off. If you have some time it's so worth it to peel off the skin completely (it comes right off after soakage). Skinned almonds are more flavorful, soft and have 3 times the nutrients!
Softer nuts and seeds like cashews, sunflower seeds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds require less time to soak. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly!
So what now?
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of Nuts for Nuts; I'll share a great Nut Pate Recipe, and further what I love to make with it!
Go nuts!
xoS
Softer nuts and seeds like cashews, sunflower seeds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds require less time to soak. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly!
So what now?
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of Nuts for Nuts; I'll share a great Nut Pate Recipe, and further what I love to make with it!
Go nuts!
xoS
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