Every week in you’ll find glass bowls scattered around my kitchen full of beans, nuts, grain, etc, soaking in water. Why you ask?

In a ‘nut shell’ what we are essentially doing is mimicking nature. Nature acts to protect these little morsels of goodness until proper conditions are present, when it rains these beans, nuts, seeds and grains get wet, their skins soften and the sprouting process begins, they germinate and produce plants. Thus creating a living food.

Soaking beans promotes the elimination of phytic acid which gets in the way of mineral absorption. Not only does soaking beans promote faster cooking time, it also helps improve digestibility because the gas-causing enzymes are released into the water. I like to soak my beans for a minimum of 8 hours to a maximum of 48 hours (if soaking longer change the water daily). Beans are a great source of vegetable protein and after soaking and cooking an easily digestible plant food.

Grains are strengthening, grounding and rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein, little power houses if you ask me, but they two contain phytic acid. Phytic acid interferes with the absorption of zinc, calcium, iron and other essential minerals. Lucky for us phytic acid is water-soluble. So be sure and soak your grains for a minimum of 1 hour and probably no longer than 12 hours.

Remember Sleeping Beauty and the Prince? And how Sleeping Beauty needs to be kissed by the Prince to come alive again? That what happens when we soak nuts and seeds, they become alive. Did you also know that you can grow you own sprouts from broccoli seeds or alfalfa seeds? Sprouts are extremely nutritious, alkalizing and a fun science project in your very own kitchen, turning these dormit edibles into sprouts are easy. Check out this website on how to grow your own sprouts…Enjoy!  http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/04/how-to-grow-bean-sprouts-in-a-jar.html