Soaking Nuts to Reduce Lectins

vodkoffee

I've read a few articles that suggest soaking nuts for greater digestibility. I definitely have a lectin sensitivity, but I am having trouble keeping in a healthy calorie range without nuts, so I want to try soaking them. Has anyone had any luck with this?

Eve23

I have not heard of this. I know people soak beans and my dad always cooked beans with a big spoonful of baking soda. I wonder if that is a similiar thing. I am curious.

vodkoffee

I just found this article. I'm going to try soaking my almonds tonight.

http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/recipes/appetizers-snacks/is-soaking-nuts-necessary-how-to-properly-soak-your-organic-raw-nuts/

Akimajuktuq

I eat a few nuts occasionally. I have heard about soaking them but need to learn more about it. I'm a bit lazy and I like raw nuts as they are so haven't been driven to try something different. I have some organic raw almonds, so maybe I should give it a try with them. But probably not my favourite; organic walnuts.

zellagrrl

Sounds vile. I eat raw nuts all the time and despite really not being happy with gluten, am otherwise fine.

skwidlund

I've never actually soaked nuts, but I did remember this recipe and info from my traditional foods days: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/04/21/how-to-make-crispy-nuts-to-reduce-phytic-acid/

I'm not sure if the salt soak and dehydrating help with lectins like they do they phytates, but you might want to do some research at The Weston Price Foundation (http://www.westonaprice.org/) - I find them to be the best source for all things related to soaking.

Edited to add: just noticed the comment about gluten in nuts. Nuts (whether they're raw or steam pasteurized) don't contain gluten unless they're packaged with added flavors or some sort of candy coating. There could be cross contamination if they're processed in a facility that also pachages flavored or coated ones, but it would probably be fairly minimal and the label will tell you if they are. Here's a little more info: http://celiac-disease.com/are-all-nuts-gluten-free/

mehaugen

This study showed a 50% reduction in lectins by soaking and irradiating. Assuming your "raw" nuts may be irradiated already, soaking may be somewhat effective.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2009.00084.x/full

Other studies I found mostly combined soaking with heat treatment, which removed most lectins, but doesn't really help in this case.

3lilkids

I've soaked them for 24 hours, then dried, both pecans and almonds. The first time I did this, I did not dry them enough, and my pecans went bad after a few days. Next time I dried them outside for quite a bit longer, and had better luck. Flavor is good. I'm a big fan of nuts, so going without is tough.

vodkoffee

Well after soaking and drying my almonds, cashews, and walnuts, and seeing the scary water that comes off of them, I definitely recommend this method. The nuts tasted better and there were no mysterious grumblings from my stomach. I have a dehydrator, which definitely makes things easier.

Whitezombiegirl

I like soaked nuts- they have a different texture. I eat both dry and soaked.