Sprouted Almonds And Their Health Benefits

How to get maximum nutrition from almonds 

When it comes to almonds, their tough exterior and hard centre prevents us from digesting them easily. In their raw form, they also contain a high level of antinutrients which impedes digestion and heavily reduces the levels of calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium we can absorb from them during the process. So what can we do about this?

There are two easy options to get the most out of our healthy snacks: 

• Firstly, soaking them in cool water with a pinch of salt in a sealed container overnight is one way. This will make your almonds easier to chew and allow more access to their rich nutrients. This is also the first step for many raw cooking recipes that call for a nut or seed base – just like this recipe for homemade almond milk from The Minimalist Baker
  
• Your second choice is to go for sprouted almonds: if your digestive system thinks it’s been treated with soaked almonds, then it won’t believe how much it loves the sprouted version

How to sprout almonds at home 

Photo credits: Little House On Pine

First of all, don’t worry – this process really isn’t as complicated as you might think and it’s essentially a recreation of a primary school science experiment. Here’s what to do:

• The beginning of the sprouting procedure starts with our old faithful method; soaking. Cover your almonds with water and add a teaspoon of salt 
• Leave it on the countertop for 8-12 hours overnight to start the germination process
• Next day, empty the airtight container and rinse nuts and drain
• Repeat these steps until you see your almonds begin to sprout
• Allow them to dry, again for 8-12 hours – in a dehydrator, on a sunny windowsill or in the lowest setting on your oven
• Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week

Health benefits of sprouted almonds 

We already know our digestive systems will be happier at the thought of sprouted almonds, but what are the other benefits? 

• Improves nutrient absorption, especially B vitamins
• Neutralises built-in toxins
• Neutralises enzyme inhibitors
• Removes phytic acid
• Prevents mineral deficiencies
• Promotes colon health