Breakfast is an essential meal to start your day. For the right dose of energy, almonds can be a perfect solution.
The beneficial properties of almonds
There are many reasons why the daily consumption of almonds is absolutely beneficial for our health and diet. Like other types of dried fruit, they are particularly rich not only in an excellent amount of calories, but also in substances such as magnesium, vitamins and minerals, essential elements for the well-being and health of our body.
First of all, the presence of fibers and vegetable proteins guarantee the maintenance of good health of our intestine, while a fundamental role is played by magnesium, which acts to benefit different functions; it is an important element against stress, fatigue, therefore acting effectively on nervous pressure. The magnesium present in almonds allows to significantly lower blood and arterial pressure. In this way, the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure is favorably reduced. Furthermore, magnesium is a fundamental element for people suffering from diabetes; it is able to balance blood glucose levels as well as being helpful in the use of insulin.
A balanced and not excessive consumption of almonds also promotes the well-being of our cells and skin; the presence of antioxidants protects cells from oxidative damage. Furthermore, they prove to be an excellent solution for your slimming diets, in addition to the ability to reduce the feeling of hunger. Almonds have a low level of carbohydrates in favor of proteins and fibers , this causes the sense of satiety to increase after their consumption. Furthermore, for the purposes of a good diet, some studies show that almonds can significantly increase the effectiveness of the metabolism.
Properties of almonds against cholesterol and for heart health
Eating a good amount of almonds in the morning , as well as at other times of the day, can be an important aid against cholesterol and benefit heart health. They allow you to lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood thanks to two acids, oleic and palmitoleic, to the advantage of a discrete increase in good cholesterol. Vitamin E , on the other hand, helps prevent and reduce the risk of heart attack, while thanks to unsaturated fats it is possible to protect and safeguard the health of our heart.
It is important to underline how the consumption of almonds can be of great help also for anemia and for bones . The presence of calcium in fact, makes them an excellent food for people suffering from osteoporosis, while the quantity of iron present in them can be effective in case of iron deficiency anemia.
Quantity and contraindications
It is absolutely necessary to specify that, like any type of meal that brings benefits, almonds should also be eaten in moderation. It is in fact counterproductive to consume them in excessive quantities and without a true basic balance, so you should try for example to combine them with other foods or pay attention to the necessary quantity every day. In this sense, the recommended quantity is 15-20 almonds , equal to about 35 grams. It is equally important to clarify that, although they are an important nutritional element in the diet of a person suffering from diabetes, an uneven and excessive consumption is still strongly discouraged, especially for overweight people. Also pay attention to the presence of arginine, a substance that stimulates the development and activity of herpes if it is present in our body. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended to avoid bitter almonds ; if consumed raw, they can be really harmful to the body and health. In fact, they contain a glucoside, Amygdalin , which can be a serious danger to health. A high consumption of bitter almonds can in fact prove fatal, being poisonous for our organism. Obviously, we must pay close attention to any intolerances and allergies, dried fruit is one of the most common foods among allergies.
