Contrary to popular belief, almonds are not nuts. They are the seeds of the Almond tree – Prunus amygdalus.
( pic from www.joyfulbelly.com)
Health benefits:
- Energy boosting – riboflavin, copper and manganese
- Lower cholesterol – monounsaturated fats and vitamin E
- Regulate blood pressure – rich in potassium & magnesium, low in sodium
- Cardiovascular – monounsaturated fats, vitamin E
- Antioxidant – especially when eaten with the skin, which contains more than twenty antioxidant flavanoids
- Diabetes Help – help lower the rise in blood sugar that takes place after eating – good for diabetics
- Alkalising effect – keeping your body alkaline reduces the risk of osteoporosis, weight gain, ensures high energy levels, and a strong immune system
- Nourishing the nervous system – in Ayurveda, almonds are used to increase intellectual acuity and longevity
- Strong bones and teeth – phosphorus
- Ripe with Protein
- Rich in Magnesium
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Prevention of constipation – rich in fibre (make sure to drink a good amount of water after eating almonds)
- Colon cancer prevention – almonds improve the movement of food through the digestive tract
- Prostate cancer prevention – boron
- Good in pregnancy – folic acid helps to reduce the incidence of birth defects in newborn babies
Eating almonds on an empty stomach ensures better absorbtion of nutrients.
People with kidney & gallblader issues should avoid eating large amounts of almonds.
