Soak This! ~ Why and How To Soak Grains, Nuts, Seeds and Legumes

Ever notice that after you eat certain “health” foods you feel really bloated? Or maybe you have a really hard time digesting them?

Well, there’s a good reason for that!

Whole grains (as well as nuts, seeds, beans and legumes) can cause digestive issues when prepared improperly, which unfortunately, most people do.

You may or may not have heard of lectins or the benefits of soaking. Or maybe you’ve heard about soaking but are unsure why or what you should be doing.

OK, SO WHY SOAK AND/OR BUY SPROUTED?

Just as some plants have thorns as a form of defence, nature instilled defence mechanisms on nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes in order that they are able to survive until the ideal growing conditions are present.

Ideal conditions include lots of rain, which allows the nut/grain/seed to germinate and produce a plant.

This is why we soak, to mimic nature.

When not enough rain (or soaking) occurs, the defence mechanisms stay in tact. These defence mechanisms include enzyme inhibitors and toxic substances known as anti-nutrients.

Say what?

I’ll explain.

There are two kinds of enzymes that we need, digestive and metabolic. We need digestive enzymes to help break down and digest food.

We require metabolic enzymes for the growth of new cells and the repair and maintenance of the body's organs and tissues.