Deb Cardinale asked:
Why raw almonds and not roasted almonds?
>I prefer the taste of roasted.   Is there a good
>reason why one is ok and the other is not?
>

Deb,
Some people on paleo diets eat lightly roasted almonds; we do.  Some eat
only raw ones because they think that that that's closer to how ancient man
ate.  Naked with a sharp stick...... Personally, I think it's more important
to focus on the wholesome foods and the nutrient profile early man would
have eaten.  You can cook veggies and meat and lightly toast nuts and still
be eating a paleo diet and reaping the benefits.

I eat some raw and some lightly dry roasted nuts.  The ones you buy in the
stores are either roasted in highly refined oils, soy oil, or partially
hydrogenated oil, often with sugars and starches added and/or MSG, refined
(cheap) salt.  They are usually over-roasted as well; which destroys good
fatty acids in the nuts.

If you roast them yourself, you can do them lightly and without oil.  I pour
raw almonds on a cookie sheet.  Set them in a 325š to 350š F oven for 12-18
minutes (stay close so you don't burn them--it's easy to do!!)  You want
them lightly roasted, light gold and aromatic, not dark brown. Another
option is to soak raw nuts in warm water with unrefined mineral rich sea
salt over night, drain them, then dry them in a dehydrator for about 2 days
until crispy.  These are very delicious but more involved than the oven
roasting method.

Hope that helps.

Rachel