Are Almonds actually bad for you?
If you’re an almond lover it is important for you to know the difference between eating almonds raw, eating them roasted and eating them “sprouted”. There are many nutritional benefits of almonds, (monounsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, vitamin E, Omega3, fats, magnesium, calcium, and zinc.) What is little mentioned in the medical world about almonds is that eating them too often in their dormant form can lead to many health problems down the road. Many nutritionists have even labeled almonds as “the slow death nut”.
The brown skin of almonds contains enzyme inhibitors that help keep them dormant during winter or until they have the opportunity to be soaked and sprouted. These enzyme inhibitors also make it very hard for your body to digest. So eating almonds in its raw state or cooked state can be hard on your system.
Why you should soak your nuts
Lou Corona and many other holistic health educators say that soaking and sprouting your almonds is crucial because it will break down the enzyme inhibitors so your body can digest all the nutrients. We did a comparison of a raw almond in its dormant state, to a sprouted almond side by side. Even to the naked eye, the soaked almond is plump, full, round and soft. The dormant almond is skinny, hard and small. To soak your almonds you’ll want to use raw unsalted almonds, place them in a bowl, cover with a towel and let them soak for 12 hours. Rinse them and change the water. Do this every 12 hours for up to 48 hours and soon you’ll see sprouts coming out of the pointed end of the almond. You have just created a living food that is much higher in nutrients and enzymes and much more flavorful.
The almond is a seed that has all the coding inside to grow into a big tree. The water activates the seed and turns on the code that has all the information to sprout. You have just activated the life inside the seed. This is why “Sprouted” nuts are considered live food and so much better for your body. The almonds are now soft, plump, easy to digest and awake – all the nutrients are now bio-available to your bloodstream.
Use only raw unsalted almonds. Change out the water at least every 12 hours. The almonds will need to be kept in the fridge since they now have the potential to spoil. For this reason, you should also use your soaked almonds within a few days.
Sprouted soaked almonds are plump and juicy
What are Almonds?
Almonds are actually very small stone fruits in the Amygdalus family. They are related to other fruits that contain hard pits, including “stone fruits” like cherries, plums, and peaches. Almonds are a type of drupe nut, which means along with other nuts like macadamias, pecans, and walnuts, they have multiple layers that enclose a single, hard seed in the center. Because almonds are dry drupes, they first must be extracted (which is called “shelling”) before being sold and eaten. This is why you might see the description “shelled almonds” when you purchase ready-to-eat almonds.
Are Almonds toxic?
Almonds, when consumed in excessive amounts, can slow down your nervous system, trigger breathing problems and in severe cases, can be fatal. The reason comes down to those stray bitter almonds, those nasty ones that come along normal ones and literally make you nauseous. But they are also rich in prussic acid which is the known culprit behind the above-mentioned symptoms. Prussic acid is a harmful, colorless poison that is extremely dangerous for human health.
Are Almonds Healthy to Eat?
Yes and No. No, if you eat raw, cooked or dormant almonds in excess. Yes, if you soak them and sprout them before they enter your digestive system or eat them with a multiple digestive enzyme supplement. Eating too many almonds have been known to cause stomach pain since they are a very dense food and hard to digest. Even nuts and seeds need to be consumed in moderation.
Almonds can have adverse side effects for those who have allergies or need to avoid manganese-rich foods. Almonds have a high manganese content, generally 0.6 milligrams per oz. Manganese from almonds may also interact with certain medications. If you are prescribed with laxatives, drugs for blood pressures or are using anti-psychotic drugs, almonds can easily trigger what is known as drug interactions. Simply put, they will inhibit your medications to be effective to their full potential.
Eating Almonds in excess
Do not eat almonds in excess. Eating almonds excessively can increase your daily intake of Vitamin E. If your body accumulates too much Vitamin E, it can cause flatulence, diarrhea, headaches and dizziness and even blurred vision. Almonds are rich in oxalic acid which can reduce the rate at which your body absorbs calcium as it binds itself with other minerals in our intestines. Since calcium is one of the key components of healthy bones, eating almonds can cause you to have weak and fragile bones. Eating too much can even lead to osteoporosis. Almonds can also cause kidney stones. When the oxalic acid binds itself to calcium and creates calcium oxalate, this compound can create kidney stones in the body.
Should I eat Almonds?
Lou Corona, Holistic Health Educator says you can eat unsprouted Almonds only if you take multiple digestive enzymes with them. Nuts and seeds are very hard to digest. One nut or seed is encoded with all the information needed to grow into a huge tree. That is a lot packed in there! It is only when you take seeds and nuts and soak them in water for 24 hours that they are germinated and enzyme activated. This makes it easier to digest and way easier to process; for your metabolism. Many recipes and vegan substitutes for dairy, call for almond milk, almond butter or cheese. The best recipes are made with soaked nuts first! So Conscious almond lovers, eat them after you soak them, don’t eat too many of them and if you can pay a little extra for that peace of mind, get them at Fairtrade markets and buy brands that are locally harvested. If you can’t soak them and you want to use them as they are raw or cooked supplement them with a high quality multiple digestive enzymes and you’ll be good to go.
