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Hi Leonard and all,

"Raw nuts are best. Ideally, they should be soaked or SPROUTED".
-- It is my understanding that some holistic practitioners advice their
patients to soak almonds for up to 24 hours and then peel the skin before
they are eaten. This is because almonds' skin contains protese inhibitors.
Protese is an important enzyme, the role of which is to break down proteins
and synthesize them into amino acids.
On the other hand, it is well known that at a low level' protese inhibitors
are beneficial to ones' health. They prevent certain cencers such as: breast
(by as much as 50%), colorectal, lung, pacreas, mouth and esophagus.
They do that mainly by protecting cells from DNA mutations that are liable
to cause cancer.
Dr. Jeffery Blumberg of Tufts University, Boston MA, found a synergetic
effect between phytochemicals found in the skin and the alpha tocepherols
Vitamin E in the nut.
He also clains that the absorption of the Polyphenols in the skin offers its
own health benefits.

Dr. Peter Sporns from The University of Alberta, Edmonton Canada found 4
new, never before discovered, antioxidents in the almond skin, as well as
high level of Flavonols.

It seems to me that the crux to the debate as to the health related issue of
protese inhibitors lies in quantity. In relativly low and moderate
quantities protese inhibitors may even offer some health benefits, while in
large quantities they hinder health.

With respect to certain digestive system related cancers, I would think that
soaking nuts and taking their skin off may be beneficial, since the skin I
believe is hard to digest.

On the other hand I totaly understand the soaking of grain.
Soaking/germination (sprouting) reduces phytates [Hurrell 1997]. Soaking
under optimal conditions (55C, pH 4.5-5.0) can eliminate phytates [Sandberg
and Svanberg 1991].

Gubi