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The Alchemy of Activated Almonds – from 2die4 Live
Foods Maple Street Co-op now stocks a range of 'activated' nuts, including almonds, pecans and walnuts, from 2die4 Live Foods based in Federal, NSW. Readers of Kathryn Alexander's columns, for example, would be aware of the benefits of soaking grains, beans, pulses and nuts. These foods contain naturally occurring 'anti-nutrients' such as phytates, oligosaccharides and oxalates which are part of a plant's own immune system and have various functions such as acting as natural preservatives, delaying the rotting process and protecting the seed's germinating ability. However, these anti-nutrients aren't recommended for human consumption. They bind with minerals and render them inaccessible to the body. Phytates, for instance, prevent bacterial digestion of plants but, in turn, they can play havoc with human digestion. The ancient, alchemical art of fermentation enhances and preserves these raw, whole foods, removes or neutralises most anti-nutrients and makes these foods maximally digestible and nutritious. In effect, the fermentation process results in activated, living, pre-digested food. So many of the world’s most powerful foods are fermented: kimchi, miso, olives, sauerkraut, tamari, wine and yoghurt, for instance. These control-fermented foods have curative and preventive medicinal properties. Eating activated foods promotes healthy intestinal flora, stops the growth of harmful bacteria, enhances digestion and increases the nutrient levels in the body. There are numerous spin-off benefits in promoting better sleep, alleviating constipation, reducing cholesterol and blood sugar, activating the pancreas, lowering blood pressure, controlling asthma and allergies, boosting the immune system, and so on. We all know what it's like to eat too many raw nuts at one sitting: a heavy digestion sets in. However, the fermentation techniques used by 2die4 result in a lighter, tastier, more nourishing nut that’s free of bitterness and very more-ish. 2die4's pesticide-free almonds are long-soaked in water and sea salt, allowing a proliferating lactic acid/enzyme environment to get to work. In fermentation, the beneficial bacilli which inhabit the surfaces of the raw foods multiply and the nuts swell. The effect is that the seeds are activated and detoxified. The skins of almonds contain a unique combination of 20 bio-flavonoids which team up with the 3% vitamin E content in a powerful anti-oxidant, anti-cholesterol synergy. Fermentation not only makes the skins more digestible, it also neutralises the calcium-denying oxalic acid found in raw almonds. After this process, 2die4 long-dries the nuts at very low temperature. This stops the nutrient-enlivening transformation, which simply reactivates once the nut is popped in the mouth and mixes with the saliva. The almonds remain nearly as crunchy as the original but are far more digestible, nutritious and delicious and they don't tax the body. Almonds contain monounsaturated fats, vitamins E and B2, a range of minerals and trace elements from magnesium to selenium, and 18 amino acids. In activated form, almonds are a great vegetarian protein food, promote cardiovascular health, assist in weight loss, prevent gallstones and colon diseases, and are an efficient breast-milk stimulator. Clive Lawler of 2die4 is a 'slow food' advocate and the author of Whole Don't Mean Wholesome: A Love of Fermentation and All Things Sloooow, which we stock at the Co-op ($29.95; 5% member discount). If your pace of life is too fast for slow soaking, pick
up a pack of activated almonds, pecan nuts or walnuts from the Co-op
(prices vary for 40g and 150g packs; a 5% discount applies to members).
And remember that because nuts are vulnerable to heat, oxygenation and
fungal contamination, they need to be stored in a cool place such as
the fridge. |
| Address:
37 Maple Street, Maleny Qld 4552, Australia Telephone: (07) 5494 2088 (int'l +61 7 5494 2088) Fax: (07) 5499 9246 (int'l +61 7 5499 9246) Email: info@maplestreetco-op.com.au, or maplest.coop@serv.net.au Website: www.maplestreetco-op.com.au |