Almond Fun Facts
Before we explore in detail what are almonds good for and their great health benefits, it would be fun to know some interesting facts about them.
Peach Family
If you’re wondering which fruit family almonds belong to, they’re actually a member of the prunus family. It’s a category of stone fruit that includes trees and shrubs that produce edible fruit like cherries, plums, peaches, and nectarines. The nut that we call almond is the hard shell fruit of the almond tree.
Honey Bees
Almonds rely 100% on honey bees and wild bees for crop pollination. Without bees, there would be no almonds. So it’s very important that we help stop the extinction of bees. This is one of the ways that nature affects us all, along with other issues such as climate change. It’s real and it has dire consequences so we must do our part to help save the planet. Here is a good amount of information about why bee extinction would mean the end of humanity.
So almond growers actually rent bees for pollination and it’s one of the most expensive investments that growers need to deal with. And these bees are quite fussy. They don’t work in the rain or at night and early morning, and when there is no frost. This is a great thing to know when learning what are almonds good for.
Pickled Almonds
You can preserve almonds when they are immature and green. It is sometimes preserved and pickled. It’s considered a delicacy in some places. It’s one of the interesting things about what are almonds good for.
Almond Milk
You can make your own almond milk at home. You don’t need to look for it in the grocery or supermarket. All you need is a food processor and some water. You can also add a sweetener if you prefer. Here are the top 10 best baby food processors.
Almond Products
So aside from consuming the bare nut, there are other almond products in the market that could give you the same benefits of eating almond nuts. Here are some of them.
Almond Butter
Almond butter is made by grounding the almonds until they give off their natural oils. When the almond is pasty, they turn it into butter. You can use almond butter in place of peanut butter. It’s a lot tastier and healthier. One of the great things about what are almonds good for.
Almond Extract
You can use almond extract in baking. They produce this by combining the bitter almond oil with ethyl alcohol. This is a strong product and you only need a small amount for your baking needs.
Almond Oil
Almond oil is made from roasted almonds. It has the flavor of almonds and you can use it in baked goods, pasta, or you can drizzle it over vegetables, salads or bread.
Almond Flour
There is also almond flour which is ground from the solids that remain after the almond nuts are pressed for oil. More interesting facts about what are almonds good for. You can use this flour in baking or use it as breading for fish or chicken.
Almond Paste
This is a rich paste that is a combination of blanched ground almonds, sugar, and glycerin. You can use it in baking and candy making.
Here are some almond products that you can easily get and use for your everyday needs:
Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil
The Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil, Hexane Free for Skin and Hair is a great skin and hair softener. You can add it to your daily beauty routine in the morning or night time.
Anthony’s Goods Almond Flour Blanched
This is an excellent wheat flour substitute and it’s steam pasteurized. It’s great for quick bread style recipes.
What Are Almonds Good For?
So let us finally take a look at the great many health benefits of almonds and what are almonds good for.
Lots of Nutrients
Almonds contain fiber, protein, vitamin E, manganese, magnesium and are low in calories so it’s a great way to get nutrients without contributing much to your weight.
Antioxidants
One of the best things about what are almonds good for is that it’s a great source of antioxidants. So it helps in fighting diseases like cancer and also a great anti-aging substance.
Prevents Heart Diseases
The antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids support the health of your heart and prevent cardiovascular disease. It lowers you LDL or bad cholesterol so it’s especially great for people with high cholesterol and diabetes.
Brain Food
Another thing about what are almonds good for is that they are considered brain foods. Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine which are nutrients that affect neurological activity and prevent cognitive decline. If you have exams, it should, therefore, be your new best friend. Elderly people are also encouraged to consume several nuts per week because it reduces risks for inflammation that can cause brain disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Controls Blood Sugar Levels
Almonds have a rich supply of MUFA that helps slow down the rate that glucose is released into the bloodstream. It also prevents insulin resistance so it can lower common diabetes risks. It’s a great fact to know about what are almonds good for.
Weight Loss
Since it’s high in dietary fiber, it aids in weight loss and helps you feel full. It prevents overeating and unhealthy snacking.Aside from these great health benefits of what are almonds good for, the best part is that almonds taste so delicious. You can snack on them or include them in your recipes.