Today I will talk about a popular nut, the almond. The almond is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of the tree.
Fortunately, the delicately flavored and versatile almond is available throughout the year. Although almonds are available all year, they are freshest in the mid summer. The almond we think of as a nut is technically the seed of thee fruit of the almond tree. It is low on the glycemic index, with 132 calories per 1/4 cup. They contain many vitamins and nutrients, as well as fiber.
Health Benefits of almonds:
1. Lower your LDL Cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. Although high in fat, it is monounsaturated fat, which has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
2. High in vitamin E, which has also been linked to cholesterol lowering.
3. High in magnesium and potassium. Magnesium helps veins and arteries breathe a sign of relief and relax, which lessens resistance and improves blood flow and oxygen. Potassium is an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and the contraction of all muscles including the heart.
4. Almonds help lessen the after sugar meal surges which helps protect against diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Almonds appear to not only decrease after meal blood sugar rises, but also provide antioxidants to clean up the smaller amounts of free radials.
5. Almonds are a fantastic source of phosphorous, which can have an impact of bones and teeth. This can help prevent age related conditions such as osteoporosis.
6. Once again they are gluten free and used in many food preparations.
These are just some of almonds health benefits. As you can see, they are worth putting in your diet on a regular basis. So go and enjoy the common, yummy nut known as the almond.
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