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In reply to the discussion: What the fuck are "activated almonds?" [View all]Xithras
(16,191 posts)Nuts are healthy, but the nutrition in a nut comes from its endosperm, which is all starch and protein bound with a bit of oil. They also contain enzyme inhibitors that help to preserve the seeds and keep them from decaying. Unfortunately these inhibitors also block us from digesting most of the nuts proteins. By activating the nut, you begin the process of sprouting. This converts a substantial portion of those starches and proteins into glucose, enzymes, and antioxidants that are also beneficial to the body. More importantly, that activation process wipes out the enzyme inhibitors, allowing our bodies to absorb more of the proteins that remain.
I tried it out a couple of years ago. They taste good and are healthy, but who the hell has time to activate all of their nuts? It takes at least a day and a half to properly activate ONE batch of almonds...24 hours to soak, and another half day in your oven (because gas and electricity is SO cheap) to dry and activate. You can skip the oven and just let them dry for a couple hours on the counter, but ONLY if you're going to eat them the same day.
I still eat them from time to time when my local health food store has them on sale (in a half dozen flavors, no less), but that's it.