Since winters are close at hand, and time is there for dty fruits and nuts, i was doing this bit of a search on nutritive value of almonds and here is some of what i found:
Health benefits of Almonds
- Almond nuts are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals; the kind of well-balanced food ensure protection against diseases and cancers.
- These nuts are rich source of energy and nutrients. They are especially, rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like *oleic *and palmitoleic acids that help to lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol.” Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
- The nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E; contain about 25 g per100 g (about 170% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals.
- Almonds are free in *gluten *and therefore, are a popular ingredient in the preparation of gluten free food formulas. Such formula preparations are in fact healthy alternatives in people with wheat food allergy and celiac disease.
- These nuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. These vitamins functions as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism.
- They are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
- The sweet almond oil is obtained from the nuts is an excellent emollient; helps to keep skin well protected from dryness. It has also been used in cooking, and as “carrier or base oil” in traditional medicines in aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
Just a hand full of these nuts a day provides enough recommended levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein. Besides, almond oil extracted from the nuts has been used in as base or carrier oil in medicine, aromatherapy and in pharmaceuticals.
source: Top 7 Almonds Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
here is an extensive reading too:
now my question to you folk is: how do you consume almonds for their nutritive value? it is said they are good for memory and for that purpose they are soaked in water over night and you got to peel and eat them first thing in the morning right? what else? does anyone else used or has been using or used almonds for some other medical reason, what?
the other day a colleague was telling how they grind almonds and khashkhash and boil with milk to help better sleep. Has anyone tried that?
Please share your experience of how you used almonds and got benefited.
thank you.