Raw Almonds
Description
Wonderfully delicious, almonds have long been revered as the epitome of wellness and health. The nuts are among the richest sources of health-benefiting nutrients essential for optimum health.
Nutrition Benefits
- As nuts, almonds are very beneficial for our cardio-vascular system. Research results have revealed the beneficial relationship between nuts and lower risk of coronary heart disease. This study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition by Kelly JH and Sabate J. In this study, researchers found that subjects who ate nuts 4 times a week showed a 37% reduced risk of coronary heart disease, by comparison with those who didn’t eat nuts. Each additional serving of nuts per week was associated with an average 8.3% reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
- Although nuts are known to provide a variety of cardio-protective benefits, many avoid them for fear of weight gain. A prospective study published in the journal Obesity shows such fears are groundless. In fact, people who ate nuts at least twice a week were much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never ate nuts.
- Almond nuts are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals.
- Almonds are a complete source of energy as well as nutrients. The nuts, especially, are rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like oleic, and palmitoleic acids that help in lowering LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increasing HDL or “good cholesterol” in the human body. Research studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet, which is excellent in monounsaturated fatty acids, helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
- The nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E; hold about 25 g per 100 g (about 170% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining cell membrane integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen-free radicals.
- The nuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. Altogether, these vitamins work as co-factors for enzymes during cellular metabolism.
- Furthermore, almonds are also an incredible source of minerals such as manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
- Almond oil, extracted from the nuts, can be employed as an emollient. Applied regularly, it helps keep skin well protected from dryness.
Culinary
Use in cereals, breads, protein bars, cakes, make into almond milk, almond butter or even almond flour. Crush and add to the top of desserts.