I love almonds! Like most nuts, they make for a healthy snack. Almonds are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help keep our body healthy. At first, I was skeptical about its health impact. Almonds do have fat in them, but I later found out that they are monosaturated fats (the same ones found in salmon) and are good for the heart.
In fact, almonds can effectively help increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. A handful is a good source of vitamin E and magnesium which, in respect, are great anti-oxidants and can help reduce the risk of heart attacks. The potassium in almonds can also help regulate blood pressure. Plus, almonds can offer relief from constipation and this improved food movement in the colon can lead to reduced chances of developing colon cancer.
For people on a diet, almonds can help you lose weight. The monosaturated fat and high fiber content of almonds can make you feel full right away and prevent your attempts at over-eating. They don’t also cause a rise in sugar levels making them perfect snacks for diabetics.
Almonds are filled with nutrients essential for good brain development. Instead of giving kids a lot of junk foods during their snack time, why not give them almonds? They are fantastic brain boosters.
We can get all of the above health benefits if we just eat the almonds in moderation. It is recommended that you eat a handful (some say up to around 23 pieces only) a day. You simply cannot finish off a bag or a can of almonds. Any food no matter how good when eaten in excess can have bad results.
You can eat almonds plain or soaked. As for me, I usually use them as toppings on my salad for a nutritious dinner. For a special treat, I sprinkle them on top of vanilla ice cream or have them mixed with chocolate. And, they taste heavenly!