The Good Seed
Soaking Seed for Enhanced Nutrition and Digestibility
by Jon Porter
[email protected] www.RealFoodsJournal.com
What is a seed, one might ask? It is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with a supply of stored food. Ah, but it is so much more. A healthy seed is a vibrant life form living in dormancy until conditions are right for germination - alive, but quietly waiting to awaken from it’s sleep. Well now - I suppose I am assuming dormant seeds are quiet
and most content. Maybe they are claustrophobic and screaming in some plant language, “Get me out of here!" Okay - back on track. The very existence of seed and the germination process is amazing and profound! Although there are other methods of propagation used in nature, seeds provide most of the food we eat, whether ingested directly or in the awakened form of plants or their fruiting bodies.
Good seed is alive and untreated
When choosing seeds to purchase for use directly as food, it is important to use only those that have been organically or biodynamically grown to insure that they have not been sprayed with a toxic herbicide, fungicide, or pesticide, or have been irradiated or pasteurized. Sadly, the FDA has approved irradiation of almonds and then they are allowed to be labeled as “raw”. Stores that sell these irradiated almonds include Costco (Kirkland brand) and Whole Foods Markets according to Dr. Lawrence Wilson*. An article from www.NaturalHub.com states, “Most supply wholesalers automatically fumigate their sacks of peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, rice and the like as part of good warehouse bug elimination practice. No-one wants to buy bags of nuts and seeds with weevils or moth larvae in them-no matter how nutritious they may be! Irradiation may be an economic alternative to fumigation"**. Well, maybe so. But we can have healthy, safe food without ingesting the damaging effects of ingesting food that has been devitalized by toxic sprays or irradiation.
So, good seed is well grown either organically or biodynamically which reasonably insures that it has not been devitalized or toxified. Good seed has a high germination rate and is grown in good soil under good conditions, and is fresh! Most varieties of seed lose their vitality over time and are therefore best when recently harvested.
Seed dormancy hampers nutrition
Dormancy in seeds (which includes nuts, grains, and all other kinds of seed) is maintained by defense mechanisms including mildly toxic substances that are removed naturally when there is enough water available to support germination. These toxic substances are enzyme inhibitors, goitrogens (can negatively effect the thyroid), phytates (phytic acid), and polyphenols (tannins). Well, then, aren’t we in a bit of a pickle if we eat seeds, nuts and grains because of their toxins? Yes, as a matter of fact, unless we prepare them properly primarily by a simple soaking process. Soaking seeds wakes them up and begins the vibrant life processes of germination!
Soaking seeds for an appropriate amount of time will:
1. Neutralize the enzyme inhibitors.
2. Reduce tannins.
3. Reduce phytic acid.
4. Encourage the production of beneficial enzymes.
5. Increase the amounts of vitamins.
6. Prepare or breakdown proteins (including gluten) to become more digestible.
7. Increase absorption of nutrients and minerals.
8. Helps to prevent mineral deficiencies and bone loss.
I make highly alive salads using fresh picked sunflower and pea microgreens with soaked organic pumpkin seeds and soaked organic almonds. The taste is absolutely astounding! I also have started to soak steel-cut organic oatmeal overnight so that I can have exceptional quality oatmeal for breakfast. Yes, even though the oatmeal grains have been processed, soaking
improves their digestibility and nutritional availability. What a treat and it is so simple to do. Check out Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions for more information on this.
Suggested soaking times and processes
Please note that different authors recommend different soaking times and variations in the soaking process. I think most agree that soaking in plastic containers is potentially harmful because of out-gassing of chemicals. I soak my seeds in half gallon mason jars.
Nuts or seeds - 10 to 18 hours. You can add 1 teaspoon of unheated salt (such as Real Salt or Himalayan Salt) per 4 cups of water to the soak water which helps to activate enzymes and deactivate enzyme inhibitors.
Soaking beans - Legumes - approximately 24 hours. Adding baking soda when you soak black beans reduces their cooking time. Rinse and change the soak water two to three times, and add a little lemon juice or vinegar each time. This helps to release the phytic acid. You may have heard the expression that “Soaking beans takes the noise out of them!”.
Grains (including rice) - 8 to 12 hours. Rinse and change soak water once or twice. Add unheated salt is optional.
I suggest that you soak walnuts in food-grade hydrogen peroxide first since they often come with fungus. I dilute 1 tablespoon of 35% hydrogen peroxide in 2 cups of water for this process and soak the walnuts for 2 hours. Then rinse and continue to soak for another 12 to 16 hours.
We can take simple steps to improve our diet, to reduce our health issues, to strengthen our immune system, and thus improve our quality of life. Purchasing vibrant living seeds and soaking them as part of our food preparation can easily become an integral part of responsibly taking care of ourselves and our families. Soaking seeds is not a new idea. Many traditional
cultures ate grains, beans, nuts and seeds for thousands of years and used soaking and fermenting to make them more digestible. And even more, we now know that soaking invigorates the seeds and increases their vitality and ours! Good food is our primary line of defense for a healthy life. Let food be our medicine.
Eat simple food, live a simple life, and be joyful in a ll things.
*Irradiation of Almonds - http://drlwilson.com/ART CLES/ALMONDS.htm
**http://www.naturalhub.com/food_issues_food_safety_treatment_irradiation.htm
http://wakeup-world.com/2012/03/04/the-benefits-of-soaking-nuts-and-seeds/
http://eatdrawlive.com/soaking-grains-legumes-nuts-and-seeds/
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats [Paperback] - Sally Fallon
by Jon Porter
[email protected] www.RealFoodsJournal.com
What is a seed, one might ask? It is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with a supply of stored food. Ah, but it is so much more. A healthy seed is a vibrant life form living in dormancy until conditions are right for germination - alive, but quietly waiting to awaken from it’s sleep. Well now - I suppose I am assuming dormant seeds are quiet
and most content. Maybe they are claustrophobic and screaming in some plant language, “Get me out of here!" Okay - back on track. The very existence of seed and the germination process is amazing and profound! Although there are other methods of propagation used in nature, seeds provide most of the food we eat, whether ingested directly or in the awakened form of plants or their fruiting bodies.
Good seed is alive and untreated
When choosing seeds to purchase for use directly as food, it is important to use only those that have been organically or biodynamically grown to insure that they have not been sprayed with a toxic herbicide, fungicide, or pesticide, or have been irradiated or pasteurized. Sadly, the FDA has approved irradiation of almonds and then they are allowed to be labeled as “raw”. Stores that sell these irradiated almonds include Costco (Kirkland brand) and Whole Foods Markets according to Dr. Lawrence Wilson*. An article from www.NaturalHub.com states, “Most supply wholesalers automatically fumigate their sacks of peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, rice and the like as part of good warehouse bug elimination practice. No-one wants to buy bags of nuts and seeds with weevils or moth larvae in them-no matter how nutritious they may be! Irradiation may be an economic alternative to fumigation"**. Well, maybe so. But we can have healthy, safe food without ingesting the damaging effects of ingesting food that has been devitalized by toxic sprays or irradiation.
So, good seed is well grown either organically or biodynamically which reasonably insures that it has not been devitalized or toxified. Good seed has a high germination rate and is grown in good soil under good conditions, and is fresh! Most varieties of seed lose their vitality over time and are therefore best when recently harvested.
Seed dormancy hampers nutrition
Dormancy in seeds (which includes nuts, grains, and all other kinds of seed) is maintained by defense mechanisms including mildly toxic substances that are removed naturally when there is enough water available to support germination. These toxic substances are enzyme inhibitors, goitrogens (can negatively effect the thyroid), phytates (phytic acid), and polyphenols (tannins). Well, then, aren’t we in a bit of a pickle if we eat seeds, nuts and grains because of their toxins? Yes, as a matter of fact, unless we prepare them properly primarily by a simple soaking process. Soaking seeds wakes them up and begins the vibrant life processes of germination!
Soaking seeds for an appropriate amount of time will:
1. Neutralize the enzyme inhibitors.
2. Reduce tannins.
3. Reduce phytic acid.
4. Encourage the production of beneficial enzymes.
5. Increase the amounts of vitamins.
6. Prepare or breakdown proteins (including gluten) to become more digestible.
7. Increase absorption of nutrients and minerals.
8. Helps to prevent mineral deficiencies and bone loss.
I make highly alive salads using fresh picked sunflower and pea microgreens with soaked organic pumpkin seeds and soaked organic almonds. The taste is absolutely astounding! I also have started to soak steel-cut organic oatmeal overnight so that I can have exceptional quality oatmeal for breakfast. Yes, even though the oatmeal grains have been processed, soaking
improves their digestibility and nutritional availability. What a treat and it is so simple to do. Check out Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions for more information on this.
Suggested soaking times and processes
Please note that different authors recommend different soaking times and variations in the soaking process. I think most agree that soaking in plastic containers is potentially harmful because of out-gassing of chemicals. I soak my seeds in half gallon mason jars.
Nuts or seeds - 10 to 18 hours. You can add 1 teaspoon of unheated salt (such as Real Salt or Himalayan Salt) per 4 cups of water to the soak water which helps to activate enzymes and deactivate enzyme inhibitors.
Soaking beans - Legumes - approximately 24 hours. Adding baking soda when you soak black beans reduces their cooking time. Rinse and change the soak water two to three times, and add a little lemon juice or vinegar each time. This helps to release the phytic acid. You may have heard the expression that “Soaking beans takes the noise out of them!”.
Grains (including rice) - 8 to 12 hours. Rinse and change soak water once or twice. Add unheated salt is optional.
I suggest that you soak walnuts in food-grade hydrogen peroxide first since they often come with fungus. I dilute 1 tablespoon of 35% hydrogen peroxide in 2 cups of water for this process and soak the walnuts for 2 hours. Then rinse and continue to soak for another 12 to 16 hours.
We can take simple steps to improve our diet, to reduce our health issues, to strengthen our immune system, and thus improve our quality of life. Purchasing vibrant living seeds and soaking them as part of our food preparation can easily become an integral part of responsibly taking care of ourselves and our families. Soaking seeds is not a new idea. Many traditional
cultures ate grains, beans, nuts and seeds for thousands of years and used soaking and fermenting to make them more digestible. And even more, we now know that soaking invigorates the seeds and increases their vitality and ours! Good food is our primary line of defense for a healthy life. Let food be our medicine.
Eat simple food, live a simple life, and be joyful in a ll things.
*Irradiation of Almonds - http://drlwilson.com/ART CLES/ALMONDS.htm
**http://www.naturalhub.com/food_issues_food_safety_treatment_irradiation.htm
http://wakeup-world.com/2012/03/04/the-benefits-of-soaking-nuts-and-seeds/
http://eatdrawlive.com/soaking-grains-legumes-nuts-and-seeds/
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats [Paperback] - Sally Fallon