It's so important to wash your nuts before eating them – here's why

If you assumed your favorite nuts were ready to eat out of the package, you're going to have to think again. It turns out your nuts, just like your fruits and veggies, need to be washed thoroughly before you dig in.

A Modern Homestead and eHow say almonds and other nuts are usually covered in a coat of dirt and tannins, and Healthful Pursuit explains that nuts also have an outer layer of phytic acid that binds up in your digestive tract and interferes with your body's ability to break down the nuts. So instead of munching on dirt and preventing your body from getting the much-needed nutrients and protein packed in these tiny nuts, give them a wash first!

Below we've listed the best tips and tricks to easily feed you and your family healthier nuts. Check it out, and don't forget to spread the word.

Why washing your nuts helps
According to A Modern Homestead, fresh almonds are covered in a coat of dirt in the packaging — even the organic ones. Instead of munching on dirt, be sure to give them a wash.

When it comes to cashews, eHow explains that they're covered with a layer of tannins. These aren't harmful, but when you're cooking with cashews, it's not really desirable for the taste.

Finally, as mentioned, all nuts have a natural layer of phytic acid on them. Healthful Pursuit explains the acid forms in nature to help ward off insects and keep other creatures from eating the plant. But when we humans ingest this acid, it can bind up in our intestines and prevent us from digesting the nuts properly.

Always rinse your nuts
Rinsing your nuts is the quickest and easiest way to rid your nuts of dirt, tannins and unwanted chemicals and acids that might be lingering on the surface of your nuts.

A Modern Homestead suggests plopping your nuts in a bowl of water and scrubbing the nuts together to release any dirt packed onto the surface. You can also run cold water over the nuts in a sieve, as suggested by eHow.

Be thorough and soak your nuts, too
After you rinse your nuts, it's time to soak them. You might not always have time for this part of the process, but it's definitely the best option for the healthiest and cleanest nuts.

Healthful Pursuit has created a handy list to help figure out how to best clean and soak the different kinds of nuts. The site says each nut needs to be soaked for a specific amount of time, and that the nuts should also be left out to dry for a specific amount of time. You can find their instructions here.