Nutrient Database

Are almonds good for me?

When it comes to good nutrition almonds pack a real punch. They are a great source of magnesium that is needed to relax muscles, dilate blood vessels, move calcium into bones and boost energy. They also provide a good source of manganese that helps you to break down carbohydrates and cholesterol, is needed for good collagen formation and so is vital for good wound healing and for healthy cartilage and bone.

Vitamin E is also a major component of almonds and is essential to maintain good cell membranes throughout the body and acts as an antioxidant to mop up free radical damage from everyday living (caused from exercise, normal body metabolism and toxins). There is also evidence to suggest that it can help to prevent the development of chronic disease.

One of the main reasons though, that I include almonds in my diet is due to their high protein content. Protein is used for some many things and we often don’t have enough. It is needed for all muscle, connective tissue and joint repair, to produce vital enzymes used to speed up a myriad of reactions in the body, is needed to support our stress systems and is vital to help balance our blood sugar. For anyone out there with diabetes, protein is absolutely essential to help get your blood sugars under control.

Lastly, but not least almonds are a good source of healthy fats and fibre. Fibre gets your bowel moving more effectively whilst healthy fats are needed to help you digest vitamins A, D, E and K.

So, get more of these little gems into diet more often. They can be:

• Added to porridge for breakfast either whole or ground
• Added to smoothies
• Popped into homemade granola for breakfast
• Enjoyed with blueberries as a healthy snack
• Used as the protein source in a nut stir-fry or curry
• Or added to a brown rice salad with pumpkin seeds as protein

They are really versatile and with so much to offer they really are a great addition to any diet. Just make sure you eat the naked ones! Any nut that has been roasted and salted loses some of it’s nutritional value, and depending on whether they have been dry roasted or roasted in oil they may now include trans fats which are detrimental to health.

If you would like any advice on your individual nutritional needs please feel free to call us on 01337 858433 or book your session here.