Nutrients In California Almonds
Almost two weeks into 2021, it is apparent that the New Year didn’t solve all of our problems. As ambitious as we can be, life comes fast, and we must prepare for it.
In more than a few articles, health and wellness have topped the resolutions made for 2021. If you’ve ever resolved that, you know how much work it takes to keep it. That got us thinking about the number one thing that gets us in trouble when trying to be healthier: Snacking!
Snacking can quickly get us into trouble because we are busy, and snacks work well with busy lifestyles. More often than not, snacks are not very healthy, which is why we decided to write a five-part series on the health benefits of Almonds.
It’s common knowledge that almonds are healthy, but we think you will be surprised to learn just how healthy they are. We think you’ll be so surprised that you might want to share this article with a friend or family member. You might even decide to order some almonds from the Stewart & Jasper Online Store.
Before we get going, this is not health advice. We are merely stating the facts about our favorite, arguably the best, snackable item known to man/women. Please seek your doctor or a certified nutritionist’s advice before making any changes to your diet. Enough! Let’s jump into the good stuff.
Almonds are a great source of Protein
Consuming healthy proteins are essential to life. WebMD says adults need between 46-56 grams of protein daily and children need between 13-34 depending on age (1). That’s a lot of protein! The article mentions that 10-35% of your daily caloric intake should be from protein, but you can find protein in just about anything. A 1-ounce serving of almonds contains 6 grams of protein (2). That is pretty close to the amount of protein per ounce in steak. When having a nice steak isn’t practical, grab a handful of almonds 😉.
There is a difference between protein and healthy protein. In the book “Eat Smarter,” Shawn Stevenson suggests that food diversity is essential (3). We are creatures of habit and gravitate towards what is easy for us, which often leads to eating the same thing repeatedly. We need to make sure that we surround ourselves with foods that provide value to our bodies. Almonds are a great addition to a healthy daily intake.
Almonds are a great source of Magnesium
Our bodies need magnesium for a multitude of reasons. Magnesium helps regulate muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure, to list a few (4).
A few stand out findings of Covid research that have come out over the last year lists healthy magnesium levels as necessary to disease prevention.
A 1-ounce serving of almonds contains 20% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of magnesium.
Need more Fiber? Almonds have that!
Did you know that our bodies can’t even digest fiber? So why do we need it? Fiber helps our bodies with digestion and encourages healthy gut microbiota. Not only that, but proper fiber intake has been shown to lower blood cholesterol and prevent constipation (5).
Almonds have 3.5 grams of fiber per ounce, and that will help you chip away at the 20-35 grams recommended daily for the average adult.
What else do Almonds have?
In a single ounce of almonds, you can also find 37% of your Vitamin E and 32% of your Manganese RDI. Almonds are also rich in Vitamin B2. So much good stuff!
Other things are healthy; why Almonds?
Almonds are among the most popular tree nuts in the world. We have shown you just how healthy they are. Over the next few days, we will unpack more reasons why they are so amazing.
Here is a sneak peek at what’s coming on the Stewart & Jasper Orchards blog:
- Almonds & Weight Loss
- Almonds & Blood Sugar
- Almonds & Cancer Risk
- Almonds & Bone Health
How to eat almonds
You can enjoy almonds in a variety of ways. At Stewart & Jasper Orchards, we produce high-quality California Almonds. We recommend having some raw almonds on hand to enjoy as a snack rather than running to the nearest vending machine. If raw almonds are too plain, we offer a variety of flavored almonds as well. We have a variety of recipes on our website that include almonds and related almond products. Please take a moment to check them out.
We hope you consider almonds as a replacement if you need to cut unhealthy snacks from your lifestyle. Remember to talk to your doctor or nutritionist when making lifestyle changes.