Health Benefits of Almonds

Almonds are often referred to as a superfood due to their nutritional value and to the many health benefits they provide. If you have been reluctant to enjoy the taste and the benefits almonds provide because of their high fat content, you don’t have to be concerned about that. Almonds contain unsaturated fats which are often referred to as “good” fat. Monounsaturated fats are part of a heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering diet. Considering all of the health benefits almonds provide, you certainly don’t want to leave the amazing, delicious and versatile almond out of your healthy eating plan.

Almonds Nutrition

Maintaining your health should be high on your priority list when you’re making food and snack choices. Almonds nutrition statistics will reveal to you that this nut deserves to be called a superfood. You’ll quickly see why it should be a key component of your healthy eating plan. The following percentages are based on one ounce of almonds. In that one ounce, you can get 14%DV of fiber. That one ounce of almonds will provide you with 9.4 g of monounsaturated fat. This is the heart-healthy fat that your body needs. You will get 12%DV of protein. An ounce of almonds will provide you with 36% DV of vitamin E and 14%DV of Riboflavin. When it comes to acquiring the minerals you need each day, almonds have a lot to offer. They are an excellent source of manganese, phosphorous, magnesium and copper. Almonds are also a good source of calcium, iron, potassium and zinc.

Health Benefits

The health benefits almonds provide are extensive. Almond facts indicate that incorporating this nut into a regular eating routine can improve your overall health as well as provide distinctive benefits regarding specific health issues and concerns. When you include almonds in your diet, you are doing something good for your heart. Almonds can help lower your blood pressure and your cholesterol level, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. The fat and fiber that almonds provide help prevent gallstones. The high vitamin E content and the numerous antioxidants found in almonds offer cancer-fighting benefits. Almond facts indicate that this nut contains many nutrients that contribute to a healthy brain. It is recommended that almonds be a regular part of a child’s diet to promote brain health and improve intellect. At the other end of the spectrum, adults and seniors should also make almonds, in some form, a regular part of their diet. Almonds contain the nutrient riboflavin and the nutrient L-carnitine which have been shown to increase brain activity and reduce to occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Almonds For Weight Control

There’s confusion among some people regarding nuts and weight loss. Many people believe that you have to avoid nuts in order to be successful with a weight loss plan. Research has shown that this is not true. In fact, eating almonds as a snack is an excellent way to keep from over-eating which typically leads to the consumption of too many calories. The fiber in the almonds will make you feel full for a longer period of time. That will reduce your urge to reach for an unhealthy snack throughout the day or to overeat at mealtime. Once you have reached your weight loss goal, you’ll want to continue to keep a supply of almonds on hand and enjoy them regularly. Studies have shown that eating almonds a few times a week can help you maintain your desired weight.

Eating Almonds For Energy

Hectic schedules keep many people busy from the time they get up until they go to bed. If that is how your day goes, almonds should definitely be a staple in your diet. A handful of almonds would be a good mid-day snack when you’re experiencing the typical afternoon slump. Any type of illness can zap your energy. The high percentage of vitamin E and the nutrient manganese found in almonds make them a powerful immune system booster. The immune boosting benefit of almonds may be one of the most important benefits as it plays a key role in preventing you from getting the dreaded common cold or flu that will hinder your normal routine.

Almonds and Special Dietary Needs

It’s often difficult for a diabetic to find a delicious snack that offers extensive benefits toward controlling blood sugar. Almonds are a great source of magnesium. Magnesium is a key factor in blood sugar control. That benefit alone make almonds an ideal snack option for someone who is looking for a diabetic-friendly snack. Almonds can be added to diabetic recipes to make a dish more flavorful without causing adverse affects on someone’s blood sugar level.

People on a gluten-free diet also have to carefully choose what type of foods they eat. Almonds are a safe and delicious choice.

Inflammation can adversely affect your health in many ways. Inflammatory issues have become a problem for many people today. Poor eating habits can be a contributing factor to inflammation. One of the first things your doctor may ask you to do to reduce inflammation is to change your dietary habits and adopt a diet that includes beneficial, inflammation-fighting foods. Almonds are considered to be one of the top inflammation-fighting foods. One of the benefits almonds provide in regard to fighting inflammation is the alpha-linoleum acid they provide. Almonds contain a high amount of beneficial unsaturated fats that reduce inflammation. Your body can’t create its own fatty acid so you must find a dietary source, such as almonds, that provides them.

Almonds For Your Skin and Hair

It’s no secret that what you put into your body can affect you internally and externally. If you are among the many people who place a high value on maintaining young looking skin, you will want to make almonds one of your frequent go-to snacks. Almonds facts indicate that these nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E. While there are vitamin E supplements readily available, research shows that acquiring vitamin E through the foods you eat is more preferable than taking supplements. Vitamin E protects the collagen and elastin proteins from free radical damage. Collagen and elastin proteins are essential for healthy, youthful skin. When you choose a handful of almonds to munch on rather than a less healthy snack that has no nutritional value, you are doing something good for your body inside and out.

In addition to helping you maintain healthy, youthful skin, almonds can enhance your hair. Many times, hair loss is due to a magnesium deficiency. Almonds provide about 25% of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium. That alone gives you good reason to make snacking on almonds a regular habit. In addition to that, eating almonds for a snack will deter you from reaching for salty or sugar-laden snacks that can actually be detrimental to your health, your skin and your hair.

If you have been overlooking almonds as a snack option and recipe ingredient, now is a good time to begin incorporating them into your diet. Whether you are single and shop just for yourself or are a parent looking for nutritional snacks for your family, you should focus your attention on foods that promote good health. If you are on a special diet such as a gluten-free diet, diabetic diet, weight loss diet or given special dietary instructions to fight inflammation or ward off heart disease, keeping a positive attitude will make the transition easier. Developing and maintaining that positive attitude will be less of a challenge if your new dietary plan includes tasty items such as almonds. You can eagerly accept the challenge of finding new ways to eat healthy. Considering all of their benefits, almonds are a great way to elevate an ordinary meal to a healthier level. Making batches of trail mix to enjoy as a snack will keep you away from the forbidden junk food. As a parent, you’ll be setting a good example for your kids and providing them with a diet that can get them on the healthy eating track early in life.