Adrienne Smith wrote:
 > As for raw
 >hazelnuts or any other commonly eaten tree nut  such being toxic or 
poisonous
 >unless soaked, dried etc -- people would be  dropping dead right and
 >left of nut poisoning.

No one said they were toxic or poisonous. The point is they are high 
in phytic acid, and phytic acid strongly binds to minerals like 
calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium to form insoluble salts, phytates. 
This decreases the absorption of these minerals. One solution is to 
consume your phytic acid in a meal separate from your consumption of 
these minerals.

Don.