Thank you Robin. Dried seeds start out dormant, protecting themselves in nature from a potentially harsh winter. Cheers! Most grains benefit from soaking overnight in a water and apple cider vinegar solution. Leave out overnight at room temperature to soak. I’m so glad. But if these women aren’t soaking the seeds that they are eating every day couldn’t that be harmful? The article you linked above doesn’t seems to said anything about phytic acid. She says phytic acid from these sources also has proven beneficial properties, so much so that it should be considered “Vitamin P”! The seed coats that contain tannins and lectins are soluble in water. Meal, as opposed to whole seeds, can be soaked/fermented for an effective reduction of antinutrients! Good to know, over the years it does seem like most seeds can be prepared properly to reduce whatever downside risk from phytic acid or other protection chemicals the seed might have. If I soak the seeds, do they NEED to be dehydrated? Add 3-4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Healing my own family has helped me to learn about healing the gut, autoimmune diseases, supplements and how healing foods are one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. Is it really necessary to soak? With flax, chia and hemp, it would be best to put a small amount of probiotic liquid and water (like living sauerkraut juice or [even dairy-free] yogurt) with them, stir and leave out overnight. but in terms of nutrition isn’t whole soaked sesame the best? Drain them in a colander; and rinse them well. My way of eating nuts is to soak overnight: Almonds (10)+walnut(1)+Cashew(3)+(sunflower+pumpkin+sesame) seeds and a couple of hrs soaking chia+basil+ganden-cress seeds. Hi Jennifer, I’m sorry to see your question so late! Best wishes and thanks! It may take some experimenting until you get the desirable result. Definitely decide with a good functional medical doctor if you can. Hi Jill, thanks for the great questions. Anyone with endometriosis, or at higher risk for breast, uterine or ovarian cancers should avoid this herb (source). Soaking is what signals to a seed that it should become digestible, a living food. I’ve tried putting them in water in fridge overnight but couldn’t eat them they caused me pain. The easiest solution to both the phytic acid and the lignans in sesame seeds is to buy hulled tahini or hulled seeds, both of which have the majority of their antinutrients stripped off when the outer hull is removed. I’d have to see your recipe to know how to adjust yours, but many recipes are adaptable to the soaking step. In regard to soaking fenugreek seeds before making tea, if you soak them, you will be helping to release their fuller nutrition. Again, that kind of angers me!!!!! You have heard advice about soaking, sprouting or roasting nuts, seeds, legumes, grains primarily to remove the phytic acid in them which inhibits mineral absorption and to better digest these foods. Then roast. Do I need to use a similar procedure with flax and chia? Soaking. It’s a lot of trouble and money. Thank you again for information,Kind regards from the U K. My main concerns with seeds is mold. I have started eating so many chia seeds, mostly in coconut milk, but also as seed crackers with so many other seeds… sesame, pumpkin, sunflower. Soaking would remove the mucus, one step closer to the oil inside. Either approach is fine though. Hemp seeds that are hulled are fine. It serves as the main storage form of phosphorus in the seeds. I am familiar with soaking almonds to remove the phytic acid. I was wondering what the process of shop bought peanut butter wether the nuts would be soaked before hand or does roasting the nut have the same effect? is it ok the eat them that way ( there’s no soaking water to discard) ? I hope you enjoy the fermentation method. Hi Megan, thank you for sharing your guidance and recommendations I truly appreciate it beautiful soul. Similar to soaking, the longer the germination time, the more phytic acid is removed, so preferably wait until the tails are longer than just a few millimeters. Phytic acid is an antinutrient in nuts and seeds protecting them from pests and harsh weather conditions. It has also shown to have positive effects on diabetes, heart-disease, and kidney stone prevention as well as helping in the removal of toxic metals from the body. Thanks. Research shows that phytic acid targets cancer through several pathways such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing activities. I just wanted to clarify on hulled hemp seeds please. They are also very aromatic, so you will smell them wonderfully when they are ready. Tigernut flour might be a better option to consider (https://amzn.to/2zIQLzy) And the best source for omega 3s, if you consume seafood, is virgin cod liver oil (here’s one in capsule form so you don’t have to taste it: https://bit.ly/2Li1Eg4). Required fields are marked *. This signals seeds to wake up and sprout, to no longer protect themselves, to send forth a shoot. This acid produces the enzymatic response for which we’re looking. Hi thanks for theat useful information. The one great thing about seed cycling is that it’s raised many people’s awareness about the hormone altering effects of seeds. The soaking processes not only neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors but will also increase the vitamin content, particularly B vitamins.