Wonderfully delicious, almonds have long been revered as symbol of wellness and health. The nuts are enriched with many health benefiting nutrients that are essential for optimum health. ...
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Wonderfully delicious, almonds have long been revered as symbol of wellness and health. The nuts are enriched with many health benefiting nutrients that are essential for optimum health.
Belonging to the tree family of Rosaceae, of Genus: Prunus, almonds are the most nutritious result of this family.
What makes almonds popular and favorite among people is the fact that they are available all the year around. So, unlike the products you have to wait for every season, they are at your service at year around. However, almonds are at their freshest and tastiest in mid-summer. Typically known as nuts, almonds are actually the seed of the fruit of the almond tree if we see it from a botanical aspect. Regarding their origin, the Mediterranean climate region of the Middle East is considered to be the native place. Almonds are attributed as “among the best of fruits” in the Bible and they still are! It’s all due to their taste and benefits they provide. Here are the various almonds health benefits.
Just one ounce of almonds fulfils 33% of our daily Vitamin E requirement. Now some of you know why our mothers gave us almonds every morning as a ritual. Just a handful can pump you with enough antioxidants that help you prevent many chronic ailments.
One of the most important almond health benefits is its ability to counter the ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol in the body. We know that almonds are attributed to containing high fat content. But these are the good fats, aka, monounsaturated fats that help reduce risk of a heart attack. In certain studies, it was revealed that when almonds were combined with a healthy diet, the results were more impressive than ever.
One smart way for weight loss is to include almonds in your daily diet. These nuts are high in fiber and protein and help to keep you feel fuller for a longer time. Till it is lunch or dinner time, you would not feel the need or temptation of munching those unhealthy ‘fast foods’ or ‘junk foods’! So, keep some of these healthy nuts at your workplace and enjoy eating them instead of binging on potato chips or cookies.
Magnesium is required by the body for undisturbed blood circulation, oxygen and several nutrients throughout the body. Most cases of heart attacks are associated with a deficiency of this important mineral. A quarter cup is all it takes to meet 25% of your body’s requirement for Magnesium. Potassium is another substance which has its role in nerve transmission and contraction of different body muscles. Normal blood pressure and proper heart function is thus dependent on an adequate quantity of this mineral. A quarter cup of almonds contains 257 mg of potassium, and beefs up your defense against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
Almonds are packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals. They also contain dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals. This kind of well balanced food offers protection against diseases and cancer.
There’s More!
We all know the well advocated use of the almond oil. It is not just great for the skin but helps reduce wrinkles, dark circles, fine lines, acne and more! The oil is a base oil which is used in many massage oils. A face pack prepared by the mixture of almond oil, honey and lemon juice does great for the skin, when applied once a week. Apart from skin, treating hair problems is also an important part of almond health benefit. A massage a day can keep dandruff and hair fall away.
Among all other remarkable almonds health benefits, is its quality to enhance brain power. For good memory, we require the brain boosting element known as nutrient riboflavin and L-carnitine. So these elements can be found in an abundant amount in almonds.
Almonds being high in folic acid, it is also immensely beneficial for expecting mothers and their new born babies. Folic acid helps in preventing any kind of abnormalities in infants.
With no lactose present in almond’s milk, it is the best alternative to cow’s milk. The milk which is derived from almonds is more suitable for people who are lactose intolerant. People who find it difficult to digest the sugar in a cow’s milk can opt for almond milk. It can also be substituted in all recipes that use cow’s milk because it works as well. It infect tastes better and is free from the antibiotics that cows are pumped with to produce milk.
Apart from being available in raw, soaked and roasted form, almonds can also be taken in butter form. Almond butter is similar to peanut butter; healthy and delicious. It is available in chunky, smooth and flavored varieties and retains all the nutritional value of the almonds it is made from. The almond butter health benefits come from its content of monounsaturated fats. As mentioned above, these fats are effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing incidents of the onset of heart diseases.
We hope you are reaching for almonds as you are reading. Keep yourself updated with all the right knowledge on your diet by subscribing to us. For detailed diet plans that work best for you, book a dietician for weight loss and great health from Urban Company!
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