It’s amazing what whole foods can do. Whole almonds are rich with nutrients and health benefits. Besides their long list of benefits, the tree nut has become a popular ingredient in gluten-free cooking. This is one good nut you should fit into your diet.
Almonds Nutrition Value
Almonds, like most nuts, are loaded with calories. This can scare people who are trying to be weight conscious. Below we will tell you why the benefits of almonds outweigh the calorie count. As a general rule, 10-15% of the calories in nuts are not absorbed into the body.
If you look past the calorie count on the nutrition label you’ll see almonds are filled with nutrients. Almonds are a great source of monounsaturated fat, a healthy fat that is tied to many health benefits. Almonds are also a good source of fibre, which is crucial to keep you moving regularly. This tree nut is a great source of protein and magnesium, and also supplies you with vitamin B2, calcium, manganese, iron, and vitamin B-6.
Almonds take it home with high levels of Vitamin E. This is an important vitamin that is tied to improving health and disease prevention.
Almonds Health Benefits
Probably the best-known benefit of almonds is its tie to cancer prevention. This is partially because of the antioxidants found in almonds, but is also due to the high levels of vitamin E. Vitamin E is one of the vitamins we hear less about. Higher levels of vitamin E have been shown to result in decreased risks of not only cancer, but also Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. Almonds are one of the best sources of vitamin E. They pack in 37% of your recommended dietary allowance for every ounce of almond.
This good food choice is a rich source of antioxidants. In almonds, most of the antioxidants are found in the brown skin that coats the nut. That means blanched almonds (almonds without the skin) are missing out on important nutrients.
The antioxidants in almonds also help protect your body from oxidative stress. This leads to damaging of the cells. By preventing this process, these antioxidants help stop aging and reduces your risk of cancer. This powerful antioxidant, combined with the benefits of vitamin E also have a major impact on lowering your LDL levels (bad cholesterol). Not only does it lower your LDL levels, but it helps stops LDL from oxidation. In short, if you are going to eat almonds, make sure they have their skin intact.
Magnesium is another nutrient in almonds. There are many benefits to magnesium including the promotion of bone strength, nerve and muscle function, and blood sugar control. Plus magnesium deficiency can result in blood pressure problems. It keeps you feeling younger, and slows the physical effects of aging. The tie between magnesium and blood sugar control is a key benefit for anyone at risk of type 2 diabetes.
While on the topic of diabetes, the monounsaturated fat that is so prevalent in almonds also helps promote insulin sensitivity.
We’ve listed some awesome benefits from eating almonds, but there is another major benefit. Almonds are a great source of protein. Protein will send a signal to your brain saying you are full, stop cravings, and help you eat less. The protein in almonds makes this snack a perfect choice when trying to manage your weight.
Almonds are a good food choice that has too many benefits to pass up. The health benefits largely outweigh the calorie count. REMEMBER to eat almonds with their skin intact to get the full benefit.
