ALMONDS
The almond is a tree nut native to the Mediterranean region. The edible part of the almond is actually a seed from a drupe, a fruit in which the outer shell and hull layers are typically not eaten. After extracting the almond seed, the shells and hulls are often used for livestock feed and bedding.
WHY ALMONDS?
People can eat almonds raw or toasted as a snack or add them to sweet or savory dishes. They are also available sliced, flaked, slivered, as flour, oil, butter, or almond milk. Almonds are the clear winner when it comes to fiber and protein. They’re also naturally low in sugars and are one of the lowest calorie nuts.
NUTRITION
Almonds come from a seed from a drupe. The bitterness and toxicity of wild almonds come from a compound called amygdalin. When ingested, this compound breaks down into several chemicals, including benzaldehyde, which tastes bitter, and cyanide, a deadly poison. Almonds also consist of:
Vitamins A and E,
lipids (around 50%),
proteins (around 25%)
carbohydrates (around 20%),
and have a low moisture content and diverse minor bioactive compounds.
The beneficial effects of almond consumption are associated with its composition of macro- and micronutrients.
BENEFITS
Help for better digestion
Moisturizes and helps in glowing of skin
It can help naturally lower a person’s cholesterol and lower their blood pressure
Reduce the risk of high blood sugar and diabetes
Reducing the risk of heart diseases
RISKS
Too many almonds can be the cause of constipation
Can trigger allergies for some people
Too many almonds can cause kidney stones and can also cause Vitamin E overdose.
It can make you gain weight
PROPER USAGE
The best time to eat almonds is in the morning because it helps regulate your blood pressure, keeps you satiated, and boost your metabolism throughout the day. A person can also eat almonds raw or toasted as a snack.
OTHER USES
Almonds can be used in everything from brownies to ice cream. You may include almonds into your dessert in a variety of ways, including chopped almonds, slivered almonds, almond milk, and almond sauce.
PROPER STORAGE
Store at room temperature and will generally stay at the best quality for 2 - 4 weeks
PROPER DISPOSAL
The nutritious almonds we eat grow in a shell, protected by a hull, on a tree. The trees, essential to life, remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it as wood until the end of their lives when it can be mulched back into the land to create healthier soils and help fight climate change. The hulls become livestock feed, offsetting the need to grow other crops, and the shells are used as livestock bedding. Nothing goes to waste.
