Why walnuts should be soaked before consuming in any season | The Times of India (2024)

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Why walnuts should be soaked before consuming in any season | The Times of India? ›

Walnuts, like many nuts, contain natural compounds that inhibit enzyme activity and can make them harder to digest. Soaking these nuts helps neutralize these compounds, breaking down enzymes that can interfere with nutrient absorption and digestion.

Shruti Bharadwaj, Senior Clinical Dietician, Narayana Hrudayalaya says soaking walnuts helps improve their digestibility and also remove phytic acid and tannin. "Soaking can also help prevent indigestion as it helps reduce gas forming compounds. It also reduces polyphenols and increase nutrient availability.

Soaking walnuts increases their levels of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and melatonin. It also increases their levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain health and heart health.

Soaked walnuts offer numerous health benefits, particularly in winter. They are rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other essential nutrients. Soaking enhances nutrient bioavailability, facilitates digestion, and helps maintain skin health.

You'll notice that soaked walnuts do not have that astringent, mouth-puckering taste to them. This is because when soaking walnuts, the tannins are rinsed away, leaving behind a softer, more buttery nut. The soak water from nuts and seeds should always be discarded and never used as water in a recipe.

"Soaked almonds and walnuts are healthier than having them raw, because the process of soaking makes them more digestible and more easily absorbed in the body. So, all the nutrients and vitamins that they have, almost doubled up in the bio availability of those vitamins, when they are consumed soaked.

Walnuts should be soaked because doing so makes them easier for the body to digest than eating them raw. The phytic acid found in nuts, which is reduced by soaking walnuts, contributes to increased absorption as well. Raw walnut digestion may be more difficult for those with weak gut.

Immunity building: Walnuts have antioxidant properties that improve the immune system. Especially in Summer, soaked walnuts help keep illness at bay. Reduce Inflammation: Walnuts have compounds called polyphenols that aid in combat inflammation and oxidative stress.

Research—both animal and human—reported in a 2020 study published in Nutrients showed that consuming walnuts had positive effects on memory and brain functioning. Snacking on a serving (or two) of this brain-shape nut may be the trick to reducing inflammation and keeping those free radicals at bay.

The fibre content of walnuts may cause issues for your digestive system. While moderate amounts catalyse digestion, too many walnuts can lead to gastronomical issues like diarrhoea, bloating and stomach pain. Eating too many walnuts can also cause kidney stones because of their high oxalate content.

Which is better, almonds or walnuts? ›

Clearly, almonds have the advantage when it comes to the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E, but walnuts offer a higher Omega-3 fatty acid content. The ALA Omega-3 fatty acids gained from walnuts are essential and tied to brain health, reduced inflammation, heart health, and more.

Answer. Most shoppers are not aware that it is important to store walnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness, instead of the pantry. Proper storage is important to protect the essential plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in walnuts.

Hot water shortens the soaking time, but bear in mind that heat destroys the nutrients. Ideally, make sure the water temperature is not over 50-60 C. If you use room temperature water soak the nuts in a bowl with enough water to cover them well because the walnuts will expand a bit during the soaking.

Regularly eating walnuts has been consistently shown to decrease cholesterol levels . In a small 2017 study in healthy adults, eating 1.5 oz (43 g) of walnuts daily for 8 weeks produced a 5% decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to not eating walnuts.

Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. Loosely cover with a clean cloth, this allows the contents of the bowl to breathe. If you think that it will be longer than 8 hours before you can get to them, place the bowl in the fridge, making sure to change the water every so often.

If you use room temperature water soak the nuts in a bowl with enough water to cover them well because the walnuts will expand a bit during the soaking. Soak for eight to ten hours, then rinse them well until the water is clear. Your walnuts are now activated and you can enjoy their health benefits.