Step by step guide on how to activate nuts and seeds easily at home to make them easier to digest and maximise the nutrients we absorb. Includes a full list of the benefits, uses and recipe ideas.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Information in this post and blog is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified practitioner if you have any questions regarding medical problems and before making any changes to your current diet or treatment plan. This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you I will earn commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclaimer here.
For other activated and sprouted blog posts you may find these How To Sprout Chickpeas and How To Sprout Buckwheat posts helpful.
Jump To Section:-
- What are activated nuts and seeds?
- Benefit of activating nuts and seeds
- Store bought pre activated nuts and seeds
- How to activate nuts and seeds at home
- Ingredients
- Equipment needed
- Step by step instructions
- Soaking nuts and seeds chart
- Storage
- Uses
- Frequently asked questions
- Recipes using activated nuts and seeds
- Recipe card
What Are Activated Nuts and Seeds?
Activated nuts and seeds are ones that have been soaked in warm salt water and then dehydrated and dried at low temperatures to restore their crisp texture while maintaining all the beneficial nutrients.
Benefit of Activating Nuts and Seeds
Nuts & seeds, along with grains, beans and legumes, and all products made from them, including milks, butters, flours, oils and baked goods, contain anti-nutrients and enzyme inhibitors to protect them as they’re growing (1, 2, 3, 4). However, if these aren’t neutralised and deactivated before we eat them then they can cause the following problems:-
- Prevent digestive enzymes being released, which makes them more difficult to digest, increasing the risk of nausea, bloating & gas after eating.
- Can damage the gut and cause a leaky gut, where small holes in the gut lining become larger.
- Bind to the nutrients, preventing our body from absorbing them, which over time could lead to deficiencies (1, 2, 3, 4).
Therefore, it’s recommended to activate nuts and seeds before eating them. Doing this:-
- Deactivates and reduces the antinutrients,
- Is one of 10 tips to improve digestion. Activating them releases and increases the digestive enzymes, which makes them easier to digest and reduces the risk of digestive issues after eating them.
- Releases the protein, vitamins and minerals stored in them,
Related post: 10 Tips To Improve Digestion
Store Bought Pre Activated Nuts and Seeds
For convenience, you can buy nuts and seeds already activated and sprouted which are ready to eat straight away, such as:-
How To Activate Nuts and Seeds at Home
However, it’s really easy and cheaper activating nuts and seeds at home.
Ingredients
- Raw organic nuts and seeds. Roasted nuts and seeds which have been heated kills the digestive enzymes, while non-organic regular nuts and seeds are grown using artificial chemical pesticides, both of which prevent them from being able to be activated and sprouted. Raw organic nuts and seeds are grown without these chemical pesticides and aren’t heated or cooked before being packaged.
- Raw almonds (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw Brazil nuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw cashew (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw hazelnuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw macademia nuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw peanuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw pecans (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw pine nuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw pistachios (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw pumpkin seeds (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw sesame seeds (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw sunflower seeds (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw walnuts (UK Link/US Link)
- Raw whole flaxseeds (UK Link/US Link)
- Warm filtered water. Filtered water has heavy metals and other contaminants removed that regular tap water can contain, which can prevent nuts and seeds from activating. You can easily filter your tap water at home with a water filter (UK Link/US Link). Warm water below 45 degrees optimises the deactivation of anti-nutrients and enzyme inhibitors while still preserving all of the digestive enzymes and nutrients.
- Fine sea salt (UK Link/US Link). Salt activates enzymes which neutralises and deactivates the enzyme inhibitors. Use 100% pure fine sea salt, where sea salt is the only ingredient and no anti-caking agents are included.
Equipment Needed
- Glass jar or bowl
Step By Step Instructions
1). Soaking
- Add nuts or seeds to a glass jar or bowl. Use a separate jar/bowl for each type of nut and seed.
- In a separate glass, stir the salt into enough warm filtered water to completely cover the nuts and seeds. Add 1/2 tablespoon of sea salt for every 1 cup/120 grams of nuts or seeds.
- Pour the warm salt water over the nuts or seeds so they’re covered and completely submerged.
- Leave to soak for the necessary time (see the table below for the specific soaking time for each type of nut and seed).
2). Drain & Rinse
- Once soaked, drain into a sieve, rinse them thoroughly with filtered water and then pat dry.
- The nuts and seeds are then ready to eat and be used in recipes.
3). Sprouting & Drying
- You can sprout almonds, peanuts, unhulled sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, following the same instructions as in this How To Sprout Buckwheat post, to optimise the removal of anti-nutrients and maximise the availability of nutrients.
- If not using straight away or sprouting them, then spread the nuts and seeds out in a single layer on a dehydrator tray and slowly dehydrate them for 12-24 hours at 105°F (40°C) in a dehydrator or until completely dry and crisp. Ensure they are completely dry to prevent them going mouldy. It’s important to not heat them above this temperature to preserve all the digestive enzymes and nutrients.
4). Grinding Activated Whole Flaxseeds
As our body cannot digest whole flaxseeds, after being activated and dried they need to be ground into a powder in a coffee grinder (UK Link/US Link), or high speed blender (UK Link/US Link) if you don’t have a coffee grinder.
Soaking Nuts and Seeds Chart
| Nut/Seed | Soaking Time |
|---|---|
| Almonds | 8-12 hours |
| Brazil nuts | 8 hours |
| Cashew nuts | 4 hours |
| Hazelnuts | 8 hours |
| Macademia nuts | 8 hours |
| Peanuts | 8 hours |
| Pecans | 6 hours |
| Pine nuts | 7 hours |
| Pistachios | 8 hours |
| Pumpkin seeds | 8 hours |
| Sesame seeds | 8 hours |
| Sunflower seeds | 8 hours |
| Walnuts | 8 hours |
| Whole flaxseeds* | 8 hours |
Note: *Chia seeds and ground flaxseeds are unable to be activated at home due to their gelatinous qualities. Whole flaxseeds after being activated need to be ground into a powder in a coffee grinder (UK Link/US Link), or high speed blender (UK Link/US Link) if you don’t have a coffee grinder. Hemp seeds don’t need to be soaked as they don’t contain any anti-nutrients.
Storage
- Dried dehydrated activated nuts and seeds can be stored in a glass airtight container in a cupboard for up to 4 weeks or in the fridge for up to 3 months. Ideally, keep them stored in the fridge as low temperatures prevent them going rancid and preserves more of their nutrients.
Uses
Activated nuts and seeds can be used in exactly the same way as regular nuts and seeds:-
- Enjoyed on their own as a snack,
- Sprinkled on top of porridge, like these Overnight Oats with Frozen Fruit or Grain Free Porridge With Apple & Pear.
- As a topping for smoothie bowls like this Chaga Mixed Berry Thick Smoothie Bowl or puddings and desserts like this Carrot Cake Flaxseed Pudding.
- Used to make a plant based milk alternative by blending 1 cup of nuts or seeds with 3 cups of water. The milk can then be used in recipes and to make drinks like this Pumpkin Spice Milk & Latte.
- Used to make nut and seed butters by blending them in a food processor (UK Link/US Link) until smooth and creamy.
- Grind them in a high speed blender to make flour and ground nuts and seeds which can be used as a nutritious healthy food swap for regular flour in baked goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, as heat kills the enzymes within nuts and seeds, roasted nuts and seeds cannot be activated. If you want roasted ones, then activate raw organic nuts and seeds following the above instructions and then roast them.
Activated nuts and seeds can also be dried in an oven on the lowest temperature. However, some ovens may not go as low as the required 45 degree temperature to maintain the nuts and seeds’ raw qualities to preserve all of the digestive enzymes and nutrients.
Chia seeds and ground flax seed are unable to be activated at home as they have gelatinous qualities, meaning when they’re soaked in water they expand, absorb the liquid and form a thick texture, so are unable to be drained and dried after. However, soaking them in water still makes them easier to digest and increases the availability of the nutrients. The instructions to activate whole flaxseeds are listed above. However, you can buy ground flaxseed pre-activated and sprouted for convenience (UK Link/US Link).
Recipes Using Activated Nuts and Seeds
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I hope this post was helpful. Do you activate nuts and seeds before eating them? I’d love to hear how you get on. Leave me a message below and contact me on social media – I’m on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube.
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Recipe Card
Activate Nuts and Seeds (Instructions & Benefits)
Equipment
- Glass jar or bowl
- Coffee grinder if activating whole flaxseeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw organic nuts or seeds
- 1/2 tbsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup warm filtered water or enough to completely cover the nuts and seeds
Raw Organic Nuts & Seeds
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup Brazil nuts
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup pine nuts
- 1 cup pistachios
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup sesame seeds
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup whole flaxseeds
Instructions
- Add nuts or seeds to a glass jar or bowl. Use a separate jar/bowl for each type of nut and seed.
- Pour the warm salt water over the nuts or seeds so they’re covered and completely submerged.
- Leave to soak for the necessary time:-Almonds – 8-12 hoursBrazil nuts – 8 hoursCashew nuts – 4 hoursHazelnuts – 8 hoursMacademia nuts – 8 hoursPeanuts – 8 hoursPecans – 6 hoursPine nuts – 7 hoursPistachios – 8 hoursPumpkin seeds – 8 hoursSesame seeds – 8 hoursSunflower seeds – 8 hoursWalnuts – 8 hoursWhole flaxseeds – 8 hours
- Once soaked, drain into a sieve, rinse them thoroughly with filtered water and then pat dry.
- The nuts and seeds are then ready to eat and be used in recipes.
- You can also sprout almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, following the same instructions as in this How To Sprout Buckwheat post, to optimise the removal of anti-nutrients and maximise the availability of nutrients.
- If not using straight away or sprouting them, then spread them out in a single layer on a dehydrator tray and slowly dehydrate them for 12-24 hours at 105°F (40°C) in a dehydrator or until completely dry and crisp. Ensure they are completely dry to prevent them going mouldy. It’s important to not heat them above this temperature to preserve all the digestive enzymes and nutrients.
- As our body cannot digest whole flaxseeds, after being activated and dried they need to be ground into a powder in a coffee grinder, or high speed blender if you don’t have a coffee grinder.
Notes
Nutrition
You’re way ahead of us. I’ve never seen activated nuts for sale here in the UK. I sometimes activate mine, but have to confess I don’t do it nearly as often as I should. I think I need to get my dehydrator out. Thanks for the informative post.
You’re welcome Choclette, thanks for your comment. The only place I can buy activated nuts and seeds is online stores. I’ve never seen them in the supermarkets or shops which is a shame, although it’s a lot cheaper to do it myself at home.
I had never made activated nuts and seeds before but it was surprisingly easy! Thank you for sharing this simple process!
You’re welcome Rachel, thanks for your comment. I’m so pleased you found the process easy.
Thanks for the useful tips! I never knew activate nuts had so many benefits to gut health.
You’re welcome Nancy, thanks for your comment. I never knew either until recently but activating nuts and seeds before eating them has helped my digestion and gut so much.
I regularly eat nuts and seeds and did not know that I should activate them.
I never knew either until recently but it’s helped my digestion so much and I can now enjoy every nut and seed. I hope it helps you too James.
Wow. This was extremely informative. My daughter and sister both eat lots of almonds and both have digestive issues. I’m going to suggest this to them. Thank you!
Thank you very much Dee, I’m really pleased you found it helpful. I hope the tips help your daughter and sister.
I saved this so I can have all the times at my fingertips. Thanks so much for a great guide.
You’re welcome Megan. Thanks so much for your comment. I’m so pleased you found the post helpful.