“My nutritionists told me that almonds are good natural energy boosters and one of the best hunger fighting foods. What are the other health benefits of almonds?” Shelly - Lawrenceville, VA
Almonds are good for you and stimulate healthy weight lost when incorporated into one's daily diet. One serving of almonds are packed with 7 grams of protein which help fights off cravings for additional calories. Raw almonds remain fresh and crunchy and can be easily taken anywhere for you to grab on the go. With today's fast paced lifestyle it’s important your well stocked on natural energy boosters foods and not fall prey to the vending machine at work or school. It's unfortunate that people capitulate to the all natural protein bars that taste like a delicious candy bar. The rule of thumb is that if it taste great chances are it’s loaded with tons of wasted calories.
Nutrition Challenge: Shelled Raw Almonds vs. Clif Bar
Take the Clif Bar chocolate brownie energy bar, which is option for many working men and women in the United States. There are 270 calories for one serving of the 68 gram bar as opposed to one serving of 30 grams of shelled raw almonds which is 170 calories. Though it may seem that almonds are slightly elevated in calories, its significantly less than that of the Cliff Bar. People who are looking for weight loss products should choose smart calories for the foods they eat. Rather than looking for some magic weight loss potion, become more health conscious of what goes into your mouth. Besides for the high calorie count in the Cliff Bar, it's loaded with 230 mg of sodium, 22 grams of sugar, and a whopping 40 grams of total carbs. Natural raw almonds have zero grams of sodium, 1 gram of sugar, and 5 grams of total carbs. The reason why many choose to still go with the great tasting Clif Bar is because it's packed with 10 grams of protein. Don’t the dietitians say to make sure to increase your protein intake to stage off the hunger pains? That's absolutely correct, a high protein diet is highly beneficial for weight loss but why do you need all those extra calories. With just a handful of raw almonds a man or a woman gets 7 grams of protein. Choose your calories wisely and make sure to read the nutrition facts. The FDA requires these labels to be big and clear in order.
| Nutrition's Facts | Cliff Bar | Raw Almonds |
| Serving Size | 68 grams | 31 grams |
| Finger Size | 1 bar | 25 almonds |
| Calories | 250 | 170 |
| Total Fat | 8 grams | 15 grams |
| Sugars | 22 grams | 1 gram |
| Sodium | 230 grams | 0 grams |
| Protein | 10 grams | 7 grams |
Almonds Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
Many woman ask how do almonds reduce the risk of breast cancer when being added to their diet. During a six year period between 2003 and 2009 a sample size of 4,282 woman were observed with a high risk of disease. When they added 34 grams of olive oil and 30 grams of nuts to their daily diet the chances of breast cancer significantly were reduced in comparison with woman who maintained a standard diet with no tree nut supplement. In another study published by the British Journal of Cancer, when almonds were added as solution to a control of cancer cells it was twice as effective compared to other tree nuts. This lead researchers to believe that almonds reduce the chances of breast cancer.
These findings show that there is a clear correlation in between the consumption of tree nuts and its positive impact in fighting cancer. There is reason to assume that these types of nuts should work as a cancer preventative. One disclaimer on this study is that nut consumption must be in a significant volume. Just having two or three nuts once a week won't produce the same results as one who eats a handful of nuts daily. This means that your going to have to price out the cheapest almonds in bulk for you to be well stocked.
Folic Acid Rich Foods: Raw Almonds
Mothers to be, both before and after conception are advised to add folic acid to their daily diet. Most gynecologist will prescribe or advise them to go to a nutrition shop to get a small bottle of pills. The Center For Disease Control & Prevention suggest that women in their childbearing years should take 400 mcg daily. The dosage is typically that amount and varies according to size and weight of the individual. What these mothers don’t know is that with just a single serving of almonds, one gets 36 mcg. That’s just under 10% of the total amount which gynecologist prescribe to woman who are in their childbearing years.
Almonds are an excellent source of folic acid which essential for conception and healthy growth of the fetus. It also help reduce the chances of birth defects in babies. Woman who eat almonds before and during pregnancies are less likely to give birth to babies with NTS's. Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord which take place in the early stages of a pregnancy.
Almonds Are Good For Maintaining Normal Blood Sugar Levels
Besides for the amazing taste and creamy crunch, Almonds are great for the blood in your body. Blood sustains every organ, muscle, tissue, and bone. It takes up 7% of the human body and is an indicator for identifying disease and infection. In order for our blood to distribute throughout our body properly its essential that we provide it vitamins like potassium. Almonds contain approximately 208 mg of potassium which is compared to a half a cup of milk. For those who are lactose intolerance and want to get potassium from a natural source, two servings of almonds equal one cup of milk.
Foods high in magnesium like almonds are important to maintain a healthy immune system which helps combat unwanted bacteria which can lead to sickness. Magnesium is also important to sustain a robust nervous system and keeps bones strong. Diabetics can also benefit from almonds to lower blood sugar levels. For those who are unfortunate and are afflicted with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, almonds can be an essential asset to keeping normal blood glucose levels.
Almond Nuts Benefits Skin
One of the more fascinating facts are the almond health benefits for skin. This is the largest organ part of the human body and is the first line of defense. The next time you are in a commercial for a top designer and the camera gets close to your skin grab a handful of almonds. Maybe the handbook for modeling should include a guide for which foods contain vitamin E. This vitamin nourishes and maintains healthy skin and even thickens ones hair. Vitamin E, is also know to repair damaged skin and help heal the wound.
Shelled raw almonds contain many health benefits and at the same time are a nutritious snack. Leave them on the counter in your kitchen in a well sealed closed container and watch as the almond levels drop. If your having a hard time getting your kids to snack on this zipped up wonder, try roasting them. There are many videos on how to roast almonds and what ingredients to add to make them more tasteful for the younger folks. Try toasting the almonds and then sprinkling on some confectioners sugar.
Almond Flour Substitute For Gluten Free
Those who are allergic to wheat and need to maintain a gluten free diet can bake cakes and cookies from all natural almonds flour. The consistency is very similar to that of wheat and can be used as an alternative to those who need to stay away from cereal grains. Almond flour appears to be on the lighter side and no one may even pickup that the cake does not contain gluten. When Passover comes many Jews have to remove gluten from their diet and come on to using almond flour as an alternative. If you want all those nutrients to get into the tasty cakes then you have to use unblanched flour. Once the almond flour is blanched the brown skin is removed which is where all main nutrients are hosted. The inside of the cake might be a bit darker but it wont make such a difference when your kids take a bite of a delicious chocolate cake made with almond flour.
The Almonds Candy Store Right In Your Kitchen
There are a variety of ways one can candy or spice up the raw almonds at home. Only chocolate covered almonds and assorted jordan almonds can be a bit of a challenge in your kitchen. One of the favorites is cinnamon almonds which anyone that knows how to crack and egg can make. After you beat the egg white add the nuts to the bowl and make sure they are well coated with the egg white. Then mix sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a separate bowl and sprinkle of the almonds. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour and take in the amazing aroma.
So many fun things can be done with almonds for your next event of party. However if your trying to lose weight try and stay away from the additional sugar and sodium. Instead of consuming those extra calories you might as well have a hearty sandwich which will make you feel better. Dieting should not be restricting, rather it should be about eating right.
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