Do not go into this thinking they are nuts, and they’re not, they’re a tuber – which is a good thing! Oh, and hello, chewing is also a good thing – it requires some amount of time and thinking, rather than mindless snacking. You’re not going to blow through a bag of these in one sitting, like you could with a bag of chips. They are hearty and, yes, fibrous. I think people freak out about the texture because they think it’s going to be like a almond or peanut, but it’s definitely not. It’s more like taking the first layer of an almond shell off, then eating the husky part and the almond inside.Have you heard of Tiger Nuts? They are an ancient food that our ancestors ate about 2 million years ago.
They’re considered a weed in many places. They grow under the ground with a big tuft of grass appearing above ground.
This food was first eaten in Africa and has recently been re-introduced as a superfood.
Tiger Nuts are not actually a nut – they are a starchy vegetable that is loaded with nutrients. They’re tubers, just like potatoes and sweet potatoes.
On top of being good for you, they have a sweet nutty taste. Always a plus, right?!
They are not a grain, a nut, or a seed, so they have little risk of allergy and are gluten free. They’re a great source of resistant starch (not to be mistaken with ‘normal’ starch!), which fuels the cells lining your colon. As a result, eating tigernuts improves the functioning of your gut. A few weeks ago, a guy with stomach problems told me his stomach had gotten much better after he started eating tigernuts. Your mileage may vary, but if you suffer from digestive problems, these are definitely worth a shot.
Resistant starch is a pre-biotic that helps good bacteria in your gut to thrive. High levels of resistant starch have been shown to help prevent and treat diabetes and obesity.
They’re also a great source of healthy fat. Their fat composition is 73% monounsaturated fat, 18% saturated fat and 9% polyunsaturated fat. This is similar to olive oil. The low level of polyunsaturated fat helps to fight inflammation.
8 Reasons to Eat Tiger Nuts
1. High in Omega-6
2. Gluten free
3. High in potassium
4. Good source of magnesium, iron and zinc
5. 2 grams of fiber per 1-ounce serving
6. Good source of antioxidants
7. Lower LDL cholesterol
8. High in vitamin E and oleic acid
One study showed that Tiger Nuts are a good way to fight bacteria in the body, especially E coli and salmonella. They are a powerful immune system booster.
Tiger Nuts are Very Filling
In fact, just one ounce of Tiger Nuts contains 40% of the fiber you need every day.
They’re sold in a bite-sized, crunchy form that can be eaten as a snack.
You can also add water to them and use them in recipes. To rehydrate Tiger Nuts, soak one ounce in a small bowl of water.
The process takes about 12 hours. Keep in mind that the Tiger Nuts will start out very small when they are dry, but will swell up a good deal in the water.
After the Tiger Nuts have soaked for 12 hours they will have a chewy, crunchy texture. At this point, you can drain out the rest of the liquid.
Many people will eat these hydrated Tiger Nuts for breakfast. Other people like to soak them for much longer, even as long as two full days. It’s really up to you.
There are many ways that you can add Tiger Nuts to your diet. Some people take the soaked vegetable and put it in the blender with water to make a creamy drink known as “horchata de chufa”.
Tiger Nuts are also available in a finely ground flour that can be used in place of grain flour.
Tiger Nuts are available at health food stores and can also be found online.
