Almonds are among the world’s most popular tree nuts.
They are highly nutritious and rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Here are 9 health benefits of almonds.
Almonds are the edible seeds of Prunus dulcis
They are native to the Middle East, but the US is now the world's largest producer.
The almonds you can buy in stores usually have the shell removed, revealing the edible nut inside. They are sold either raw or roasted.
They are also used to produce almond milk, oil, butter, flour or paste — also known as marzipan.
Almonds boast an impressive nutrient profile. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of almonds contains (1):
- Fiber:
- Protein:
- Fat:
- Vitamin E:
- Manganese:
- Magnesium:
- They also contain a decent amount of copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus.
This is all from a small handful, which supplies only 161 calories and 2.5 grams of digestible carbohydrates.
It is important to note that your body does not absorb 10–15% of their calories because some of the fat is inaccessible to digestive enzymes ( 2 , 3 ).
Almonds are also high in phytic acid, a substance that binds certain minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
While phytic acid is generally considered a healthy antioxidant, it also slightly reduces the amount of iron, zinc and calcium you get from almonds.
Summary
Almonds are a fantastic source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress, which can damage molecules in your cells and contribute to inflammation, aging and diseases like cancer ( 4 , 5 ).
The powerful antioxidants in almonds are largely concentrated in the brown layer of the skin ( 6 , 7 , 8 ).
For this reason, blanched almonds — those with skin removed — are not the best choice from a health perspective.
A clinical trial in 60 male smokers found that about 3 ounces (84 grams) of almonds per day reduced oxidative stress biomarkers by 23–34% over a four-week period ( 9 ).
These findings support those of another study which found that eating almonds with main meals reduced some markers of oxidative damage ( 10 ).
Summary
Vitamin E is a family of fat-soluble antioxidants.
These antioxidants tend to build up in cell membranes in your body, protecting your cells from oxidative damage.
Almonds are among the world's best sources of vitamin E, with just 1 ounce providing 37% of the RDI (1).
Several studies have linked higher vitamin E intake with lower rates of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ).
Summary
Nuts are low in carbs but high in healthy fats, protein and fiber.
This makes them a perfect choice for people with diabetes.
Another boon of almonds is their remarkably high amount of magnesium.
Magnesium is a mineral involved in more than 300 bodily processes, including blood sugar control ( 17 ).
The current RDI for magnesium is 310–420 mg. 2 ounces of almonds provide almost half that amount — 150 mg of this important mineral (1).
Interestingly, 25–38% of people with type 2 diabetes are deficient in magnesium. Correcting this deficiency significantly lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin function ( 18 , 19 , 20 ).
People without diabetes also see major reductions in insulin resistance when supplementing with magnesium ( 21 , 22 ).
This indicates that high-magnesium foods such as almonds may help prevent metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, both of which are major health problems.
Summary
Wednesday, August 14, 2019