Well, whatever chunk you see that is white, didn't get chewed.  I don't see white chunks in my stool from eating nuts, fwiw. I don't always chew as much as I probably should, but I'm a pretty fanatic chewer.  It helps.

Quoted from LovetoRead

Hmmm, that's how I did it, but I didn't put them in the oven for the whole day.....just maybe several hours.  Maybe they didn't dry out enough. And I didn't try walnuts....I did pecans, pine nuts and macademia.  But even after a few hours at 150, the pecans started to turn dark, almost burnt. So I'm not sure I could do it all day.  

I always thought roasting involved putting them in a pan on the stove with oil at higher temps.   Maybe I will have to try it again.  Maybe use the bottom rack in the oven instead of the middle one.  

Thanks!

Are you using a thermometer inside of your oven?  Because my oven is almost 35-40 degrees hotter than what it shows on the dial.  I bought a cheap thermometer you hang or set on the rack and I go by that.  I wouldn't trust any dial without confirming with an "in oven" thermometer.  My guess is that's your problem.  One time I took them out and then cooked something else in the oven.  I put them back in and the temperature had not dropped back down to 150.  I think it was in the 200 or so range.  In a short amount of time, they were toast. No good.  So, yeah, even just a little bit higher than 150 is probably not good.  In fact, you could probably do a lower temperature.  But I find at 150, walnuts take about 8 hours or more.  And pecans.  It also depends on how close they are together.

And as far as killing the enzymes in the nut?  I don't know, 150 degrees is a pretty low temperature.  It's basically just drying them out and it's mimicing what ancient peoples did by setting them out on rocks to dry out.  

Quoted from strato

Yes I am, I chew my food really thoroughly and don't drink any fluids with meals. I've tried HCL supplement but I felt burning sensation which means that I have strong stomach acid, so that can't be the problem. Type Os should have a strong digestive system... I've tried enzymes as well which didn't help either so I'm not sure what's going on.

Nuts and seeds are difficult for some people to break down and absorb.  That's why I mentioned
a lot of chewing....so the nut particles mix with saliva and turn completely into a liquified
mass.  The pieces you see obviously weren't chewed enough.

People who see undigested particles in their stool have malabsorption..a common problem with
people who have celiac.  But if that were the case, you'd also see undigested grains...other foods.
If it's just the nuts and this is all that you don't seem to digest, then you might do better with
a nut butter or to do way more chewing.

I first read about this years ago, but I never quite got my act together enough to try soaking and drying nuts. I wonder if it would help DD1 digest nuts. I've never personally had a problem with "regular" nuts, but DD1 gets stomachaches from "concentrated food" such as nuts and/or dried fruit.

Before the BTD, I used to see corn in my stools.  That was the only thing I ever remember seeing.  Seeing that it's an avoid, I guess my body couldn't use it.

Are the plastic dehydrators bad, really?  I have one that I haven't used in a long time.  I don't see how it could leech into the food, if it's on such a low temp., and it's mostly air circulating, and the nuts are solid entities....

Yeah, I'm always seeing little bits of things in mine, too.  I have no doubt I have mal-absorption problems, as skinny as I am, and as much trouble with fatigue as I have.

I just finished cooking some quinoa that I've been soaking all day.  I has a nice mild flavor.  At first I just added some lemon juice for acidity, but then I added some whey from my yogurt to get some fermentation.  It smelled sort of like sourdough bread when it was done soaking.

I also soaked a big batch of almonds.  I'm letting them sit out on the counter in a cookie sheet to dry.  I'm sure they won't dry completely, but that's fine.

"I have often noticed that raw nuts have bothered my stomach slightly, and that I could not eat very many of them without getting an aversion to them. But once I started soaking and dehydrating them, I found, to my delight, that I could handle them very well. Not only that, but I found that they had a much better texture and flavor. There have been several times when I have gotten pumpkin seeds, for example, and tasted them unsoaked and thought they didn’t taste very good. But after soaking them in salt water overnight and dehydrating them, they tasted great. I was hooked.
I would like to introduce you to the concept of why you should soak you nuts and how to do it.

Why Should I Soak Nuts?
Unlike grains, nuts contain smaller amounts of phytic acid. Their real issue for us is having high amounts of enzyme inhibitors. These enzymes are useful to seeds and nuts because it prevents them from sprouting prematurely. But they can really strain your digestive system (which is probably why my body was reacting to them raw).

Pasted from <http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/07/soaking-nuts.html> "

You all have sold me on soaking. Thanks!

Think I am finally starting to get the enzyme thing.

Quoted from AKArtlover

"I have often noticed that raw nuts have bothered my stomach slightly, and that I could not eat very many of them without getting an aversion to them. But once I started soaking and dehydrating them, I found, to my delight, that I could handle them very well. Not only that, but I found that they had a much better texture and flavor. There have been several times when I have gotten pumpkin seeds, for example, and tasted them unsoaked and thought they didn’t taste very good. But after soaking them in salt water overnight and dehydrating them, they tasted great. I was hooked.
I would like to introduce you to the concept of why you should soak you nuts and how to do it.

Why Should I Soak Nuts?
Unlike grains, nuts contain smaller amounts of phytic acid. Their real issue for us is having high amounts of enzyme inhibitors. These enzymes are useful to seeds and nuts because it prevents them from sprouting prematurely. But they can really strain your digestive system (which is probably why my body was reacting to them raw).

Pasted from <http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/07/soaking-nuts.html> "

You all have sold me on soaking. Thanks!

Think I am finally starting to get the enzyme thing.

Thank you for linking this website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I'm going to be making my daughter a cake for her birthday and I was wanting different ideas.  I have a pretty good healthy cake recipe I got off of here but I didn't have good icing.  The ganache looks really good on there.  Oh Man.  I think I found a new favorite website.  I'll be looking through all of the recipes.  Is that your website????

Maybe you need to try nut butter which has no form of "white pieces'

Quoted from JJR

Thank you for linking this website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

... Is that your website????

Nope, just poking around.

Duh, I should've figured that out with how your post was worded.  It's a really good website though!!!!

Would someone please tell me if the plastic dehydrators leech into the nuts being dried?

Quoted from narnia

Would someone please tell me if the plastic dehydrators leech into the nuts being dried?

That's a contentious subject.  Personally, I don't think it makes much, if any difference, but many others here disagree.  You will need to make you own analysis of the costs and benefits of using a plastic dehydrator!

  I just looked up stainless and it was so expensive compared to the plastic ones!!  Well...I can see how if I were to make jerky or dry moist fruits and such, it may make a diff, but for now, since all I'll be doing are nuts, I guess I'll just stick with the plastic one that I have.

Yes!  I have been convinced now that I need to soak and dry my nuts now.  Thanks, all , for your input!

Quoted from narnia

Would someone please tell me if the plastic dehydrators leech into the nuts being dried?

I have no idea either.
I went with an Excalibur without stainless. I got silicone sheets. I'm using it for superlow temperatures anyway. I have heard that stainless cookware can leach as well. Nickel and ??? Some nickel showed up in my urine challenge. Don't know how. Wore cheap earrings when I was younger as well, so maybe...

Our bodies are amazing, they deal with so much. I always do my best to remember how powerful the human mind and body are--sometimes it's too easy to get caught up in all the negative things man has done that is abusive to himself. Especially when you learn things that you can't unlearn, you know?

I do my best to be a good steward of what I've been blessed with. The rest I take on faith.

Very helpful thread, and so many great posts!  Thanks, everyone!  It all finally makes sense.  

I use the silpat sometimes and other times I just use a large serving plate.  Ceramic.  I think that's probably the safest.  I personally wouldn't want to use a plastic thingy. But then again, silicone? (another thread  )   So.....  You make your choices and do your best.  I don't get rid of metals and toxins very easily, so I'm kind of a fanatic on those issues.  I get weird looks when I'm out in public with a glass container of water.  I reuse the ones that I bought that good organic juice in.  

I like the ceramic idea. Simple. Free.
Now I have to go hunt down a silicone thread? Don't tease me like that...

I bought some "Fuze" bottles a long time ago when they were glass just to use for water.
My mom downed one I hadn't open the other day even after I told her they were over a year old and lost all their artificial coloring.

Had to laugh to myself. She'll get it when she gets it.

The irony-- that I am concerned about what I am drinking my water out of and she is happily oblivious.

Get tired of wasting my breath sometimes. Letting it go. May as well laugh.

Relationship dynamics.

strato, it could be something else... maybe mucous or old toxins that you are passing. When I was going through a pretty intense detox period, I had what I thought were almond pieces in my stool, ! But nowadays when I eat the same soaked almonds, I don't have the same problem. I'm still curious as to what was in my stool back then, but am just glad it's not there anymore.

I do have a question about soaking seeds and nuts. I do soak almonds but do not dehydate them. Just eat them directly after peeling. I usually put pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds and walnuts in my salad. With all this talk about soaking and drying nuts, I wonder if there is actually any serious harm if I eat the seeds without soaking. I already spend quite a long time shopping for and preparing food, and can't afford to spend more time with this long and slow procedure. Can someone enlighten me please?

I think the issue is that the unsoaked nuts have enzyme inhibitors (that prevent the nut from sprouting) that can interfere with digestion. (Which is really stinky if you are already having digestive issues.)

When they are soaked, they "wake up" or begin the sprout process. Just like if it was out in the ground. The seed begins it's growth. I think this may activate certain enzymes in the nuts that could be really good...I would have to research this more. Rinsing away the enzyme inhibitors after soaking makes them easier to digest.

The dehydrator is for quick drying so the nuts do not grow mold. If you were making a sauce or nut butter, or eating right away (if you like the texture), you would not dry them.

As far as if it is harmful to eat without soaking...personal choice.

This is my current take on it.

I guess a nuts discussion is a place to bring this up even if it has been brought up before.
Raw almonds, even organic, made in the US are either irradiated or sprayed with a chemical.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17215.cfm

A lot of the organic imports come from Spain.

Hope this is helpful.

Quoted from AKArtlover

I think the issue is that the unsoaked nuts have enzyme inhibitors (that prevent the nut from sprouting) that can interfere with digestion. (Which is really stinky if you are already having digestive issues.)

Oh, I see! Maybe that's why I sometimes pass stinky gas after my salad  

I guess I can just soak the amount I plan to eat the next day, and then rinse them and put them in my salad. I don't have a dehydarting machine nor the time to stay home and keep an eye on the oven all day long.

Quoted from AKArtlover

Raw almonds, even organic, made in the US are either irradiated or sprayed with a chemical.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17215.cfm

Really? I didn't know that! I import most of my raw nuts from the U.S., and the brand of raw almonds I buy is NOW. Maybe I should go back to the more expensive, German imports that I find in my grocery store.

Quoted from balletomane

Maybe that's why I sometimes pass stinky gas after my salad  

Oops! I didn't mean physically stinky. I meant "no fun" but I would think things that aren't digested well could be real stinky too.