Activating Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds play a very important role in our diet. There are however varied opinions on how we should eat them. Although most people love roasted nuts, the roasting actually decreases their nutritional value, others would prefer theirs raw. Even raw nuts however can cause digestive issues hence why most health experts are suggesting that activating your nuts before consuming them is truly the best way. 

Activated nuts and seeds have been made bio-active by a very simple process of soaking in salted water for a period of time, draining them and then dehydrating them at a very low temperature in the dehydrator (or ivan with door open). Nuts and seeds contain what is called phytic acid which prevents them from sprouting prematurely and stores lots of important nutrients. According to research when humans consume phytic acid it reduces our body’s ability to absorb these nutrients. They also contain enzyme inhibitors which force the body to work over time to produce the enzymes necessary for digestion.

Soaking nuts and seeds begins the process of germination thus breaking down the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors. This then makes the nutrients a lot more readily available. There is also research to suggest that soaking your nuts and seeds for long periods of time actually increases their nutritional value.

What you will need: 

• Hymalayan or celtic sea salt
• large bowls or dishes (glass if possible)
• filtered or spring water
• dehydrator or oven 

When soaking simply make sure that your nuts or seeds are covered by the water and leave them on a bench for the specified period of time (see below). If using an oven it must be on the lowest temperature possible. If using a dehydrator I believe around 40 is good if you can adjust the setting so to keep them "raw". You do not want to cook them, you simply want to dry them out. Its always best to do a heap at once because I appreciate this is a lengthy process. I fill every shelf in my dehydrator then store them in glass jars. If you store them with out dehydrating them they will go mouldy (I learnt this the hard way!)

Almonds
Soak: Salted water, overnight
Dehydrate: 15-24 hours. Until dry & crunchy

Cashews
Soak: Salted water, 3-6 hours. Keep an eye on them as they can go soft if left too long i the water
Dehydrate: 12-15 hours

Walnuts, Pecans, Hazlenuts
Soak: Salted water (1-2 teaspoons), overnight (or approximately 8 hours)
Dehydrate: 12-24 hours until dry and crunchy

Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) & Sunflower seeds
Soak: Salted water, overnight
Dehydrate: 12 -24 hours, 12 hours should be enough.

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COCONUT OIL

It's no secret that I LOVE coconut oil, and anyone that knows me will tell you that I use it for absolutely everything! Ive been using it for a few years now and I cant believe the changes it has made to my health.

I've researched the many health benefits and uses of coconut oil over the past couple of years, and it has become very clear that this oil is truly a gift from Mother Nature. It's unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits. Coconut oil has been ridiculed in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat you can get. However, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak. And the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolised differently within our body than the long chains found in animal products. The medium chains in coconut oil go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into ketone bodies, which have been shown to have therapeutic effects on the brain. Coconut oil has natural antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial properties which makes it great for such a variety of uses.

TOP 10 USES OF COCONUT OIL:

1. Moisturiser (Face & body)
2. Eye make-up remover
3. Nappy rash cream
4. massage oil
5. Hair conditioning /oil treatment
6. Lubricant
7. Increase energy levels
8. Oil Pulling [ http://fruitmumma.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/oil-pulling.html ]
9. Yeast infections
10. Cooking (coconut oil doesn’t form harmful by-products when heated like most other oils and animal fats. Use it to replace butter in recipes. Sauté, cook, bake, braise, and more using coconut oil as a healthier alternative)

As you could imagine I've used many different brands of coconut oil and I recently discovered Coconut Magic’s raw organic virgin coconut oil, and it definitely lives up to all of its claims. Coconut magic's oil is the purest on earth, its smooth like silk and smells and tastes divine. Find it here: http://www.fruitmumma.com.au/online-shop

TOP 10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL:

1. Improves digestive disorders
2. Increases energy (great for chronic fatigue)
3. Enhances Immune system (MCFA: Caprylic acid C8, Capric acid C10, Lauric acid C1, Myristic Acid C14)
4. Balances blood sugar
5. Antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial
6. Increases metabolism
7. Radiant skin (antioxidant)
8. Hormone balancing
9. Improves thyroid function
10. Sunscreen (Coconut oil has a natural SPF rating of around 4-8)

Start by taking 1-3 teaspoons per day to bring your body back into a healthy balance, you can put it in smoothies, cooking or just eat it straight off the spoon. YUM!

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