Always Opt for Almonds

I want enlighten you about the magical healing powers of almonds.

Basically, in a nutshell (touché) almonds keep you young and skinny and strong! So if you drink almond milk everyday, you will be getting all of these wondrous benefits. Hurrah! Here's a quick run down:

Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, with 25g providing 70 percent of the recommended daily allowance. They also have good amounts of magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, fibre and are a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat. They contain more calcium than any other nut which makes them great for vegetarians who do not eat any dairy products. They also contain amygdalin, also known as laetrile or vitamin B17, the an anti-cancer nutrient.

Almonds contain several phytochemicals including beta-sisterol stigmasterol and campesterol which is thought to contribute to a healthy heart. A handful of almonds a day helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL, or ‘bad’ blood cholesterol by as much as ten percent.

Their high monounsaturated fat content, a key fat found in many Mediterranean diets, gives them much greater benefits than simply being cholesterol-lowering. Nearly every research study shows those who eat a traditional Mediterranean diet not only have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, they also live longer.

Weight Loss Aid

For many years almonds were considered ‘fattening’. However, studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study and the Physicians’ Follow-up Study showed those who ate the most nuts tended to have lower body mass indexes [think squirrels!]. Although almonds are high in fat and calories, eating them in moderation can actually help with weight loss.

Read more at Suite101: Health Benefits of Almonds: High Protein, Heart-Friendly and a Good Diet Aid http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/top_healthy_foods_almonds#ixzz0n0Mp4QTF

And ... here's how I get my almonds each and everyday: Almond Milk! I think I drink about 500 ml daily, which is equal to a quarter cup of almonds. You can also buy almond milks fortified with B12, A and D. My cube mate at work (we share a grey cube wall and chit-chat about natural things to eat/put on yourself/wash yourself with) just traded in cow's milk and has gone to the dark side with me! She just started buying Earth's Own Almond Fresh and she swears by it. It's on sale right now at Caper's! There's also a coupon for it on their website.

À Bientôt!