Benefits of Eating Almonds
All nuts are good for your health, but almonds possibly win the prize for being the most delicious and versatile of them all. This is a food with super powers – so much so, that nutritionists recommend it for athletes because almonds contain so many nutrients. Learn about the main benefits of eating almonds in this article.
Almonds are goodness in a small package
It may be surprising to learn that such a small food can contain so much goodness. Almonds are one of the best nuts that you can include in your diet, whether you’re involved in sports or your goal is to lose weight. They’re even great for pregnant women.
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Most people don’t know that a handful of almonds (about one ounce) contains 0.2 ounces of fiber, healthy fats, and 0.3 ounces of proteins. In fact, they contain 35 percent of the daily dose of vitamins that experts recommend for adults. As for minerals, they contain 20 percent of the magnesium and 30 percent of the manganese that experts recommend.
As opposed to popular belief, this nut doesn’t contain many calories. Furthermore, your body doesn’t even absorb most of the calories that almonds contain. We should also mention that this food contains phosphorous, copper, and vitamin B2.
What are the benefits of eating almonds?
With such a good quantity of vitamins, it’s not difficult to see why almonds are considered “superfoods.” These nuts have so many benefits and they’re so delicious that you just can’t ignore them. Here, we have highlighted just a few of the many positive effects gained by eating almonds:
Also read: Tomatoes are Superfoods
1. Immediate energy
The high quantity of carbohydrates contained in almonds gives us the fuel we need for the longest and most demanding work or exercise sessions. That’s why if you intend to “give it your all” in the gym, experts recommend that you eat a handful of almonds during breakfast or at some point during the morning.
2. Quality antioxidants
Almonds are one of the healthiest snacks you can have when hunger kicks in. One of the main characteristics of these nuts is that they’re high in antioxidants. What does this mean exactly? It means that they have the power to slow the aging process as well as the oxidation of the cells. As such, almonds can help reduce your risk of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or delay symptoms once they appear.
Almonds have plenty of vitamin E. This is a very potent antioxidant. Its main function is protecting the body’s cell membranes so that they stay younger for longer.
3. A strong and healthy heart
Those people who consume almonds on a daily basis have less of a risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. This is due to the fact that they strengthen the arterial walls, thanks to their amino acids.
Additionally, the magnesium within these nuts reduces blood pressure. Along the same lines, its healthy fatty acids can help lower “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
4. Strengthening the bones and teeth
Another one of the benefits of eating almonds is the fact that their magnesium and phosphorous content strengthens the bones and teeth. If you eat a handful of these delicious nuts every day, your bones are likely to become stronger. That’s why experts recommend that children, teenagers, and the elderly frequently indulge in almonds. What’s more, they have a high calcium content, which lowers your risk for osteoporosis, which is so common for women going through menopause.
5. Controlling blood sugar
Those who suffer from diabetes can consult with their doctor to confirm that almonds are great for people with this condition. Again, this is because of the magnesium that they contain. This can lower the blood sugar and improve the functioning of insulin in the body.
If you still think these almond benefits aren’t enough to get you to start eating almonds today, we’ll now tell you even more about the properties of almonds.
T hey can control anxiety, reduce your appetite, help you lose weight, are good for brain functioning, combat free radicals, strengthen the immune system, and are great for helping you recover after a hard exercise session.
Combined, all of this makes the almond worthy of being a part of your daily diet. Remember, just a handful a day is enough. You can also try adding them to your smoothies, vegetable juices, and desserts.
And don’t forget about delicious almond milk! This goes great with your coffee or tea. You can even make it yourself at home – it’s just almonds and water. If you don’t want to make this yourself, many natural food stores sell it. It’s delicious and also works well with a wide variety of dishes.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Dyner, L., Batista, M., Cagnasso, C., Rodríguez, V., & Olivera Carrión, M. (2015). CONTENIDO DE NUTRIENTES DE BEBIDAS ARTESANALES A BASE DE ALMENDRAS. Actualización En Nutrición.
