“Ayurveda 5”, Yoga Chuck’s Ayurveda Series.

Soak, Peel and Eat Almonds

This is a Ayurveda practice of soaking 8 - 10 raw almonds overnight in water, peeling and eating. The almond skins are difficult to digest and if they are soaked and peeled they are a little soft and easier to eat and digest getting the most nutrients from the almond. And they taste great with a little salt!
Besides soaking almonds overnight they can be blanched until the skins are ready to pop off. I don't choose this method because it's easier to soak overnight and if I forget I'll soak them in the morning and after about 5 hours there ready to peel. The skins usually pop off easily. The almond is easier to chew after soaking making it a great snack for seniors who have difficulty chewing their food.

Almonds are from fruit trees similar to plums and apricots.

Only eating 8 to 10 almonds a day will allow people worried about fat content to rest at ease since your eating them in moderation. Almonds are 20% protein. Eating 10 will give you less than 2.8 grams of protein. Almonds contain Vitamin E, magnesium, some calcium, Iron, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Eating the almonds with the peel makes it harder for these nutrients to be absorbed by the body. Soaking and peeling will allow you to get more nutrients and digest them easier. My Ayurveda Practitioner has me eating them because they are great for the immune system. And they are great for the nervous system which may help with my Multiple Sclerosis. And there are many more benefits almonds provide.

The skin of the almond is nutritious, but from the Ayurveda perspective we can get more benefits by consuming the almond after being soaked and peeled. I will still eat trail mix that contains raw almonds that have not been soaked or peeled.

The downside and I don't know how damaging they can be but if you have kidney or gallbladder problems I've read eating almonds should be avoided.

Soak, Peel and Eat your Almonds daily!

Happy & Healthy,
Yoga Chuck