Almonds are great to have as a healthy snack or as part of a meal. Add almonds to your morning meal to increase your protein, fibre and energy levels. Alternatively you can mix them with other nuts, seeds and fruit to make your own trail mix. As well, they can be ground up and added to sauces or mixes. This will give the sauce more texture and increase the level of nutrients in the meal.
Some of the benefits include:
– they are high in antioxidants
-they have been linked with lowering cholesterol levels and heart health
-they contain healthy fats which actually promote weight loss and maintenance
-they have a prebiotic effect, and feed the good bacteria (probiotics) in your intestines
-they have the highest amount of protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamin E and folic acid, compared with other tree nuts
Nuts and seeds contain a protective coating called phytic acid. Unfortunately the phytic acid binds to minerals in the body and prevents mineral absorption. In order to minimize this, soak your nuts and seeds in water for a few hours prior to consumption. Experiment today with adding more almonds to your diet. I will try to add some recipes and sauces that include almonds in the next few days.
