Almonds are one of the first nut species cultivated by humans. Thy have amazing exotic taste, they are rich in valuable nutrients and highly beneficial to our health. In addition, almonds are one of the favorite healthy snacks all over the world. There are two types of almonds people commonly use, sweet and bitter almonds.
Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats, similar to those found in olive oil. Numerous studies have shown that consumption of these types of fat actually lowers the risk of heart diseases and regulates cholesterol level.
Almonds are also great source of magnesium and potassium, two minerals important for blood pressure and heart rate regulation. Along with vitamin E, those minerals make an amazing mixture of valuable nutrients that prevent our heart and blood system from cardiovascular diseases.
These tasteful nuts are also rich in manganese and copper, which are important for body cells growth and development. Almonds are also rich in proteins, which makes them an excellent choice for vegans and vegetarians, especially in raw form. Almonds are regularly used in raw nutrition or paleo diet plan.
They are also good source of calcium, which makes them an ideal replacement for people who are allergic to milk and milk products. Some calculations show that 30 grams of almonds contain the same amount of calcium just as a quarter cup of milk.
Benefits of raw almonds
Almonds are used in different recipes in various forms. Sweet almonds are usually eaten raw, baked or fried, depending on the way of consumption. As a snack, we commonly consume it in all forms.
It can also be added to many different recipes, as an ingredient for cakes, cookies, muesli meals or snack, even stews, soups, salads and various salty dishes. They are also used processed in production of almond milk, butter and oil. Bitter almonds are not to be eaten and they are used only for production of essential oils. Otherwise, they are toxic and inedible.
Raw almonds are good for our health, thanks to their abundance of highly valuable elements. In raw form they provide us all essential material they contain. High temperature usually affects level of useful substances from food, and reduces its benefits for our health. On the other hand, frying in oil would make almonds a caloric bomb and turn them into pretty unhealthy snack. So, eating almonds raw is really the best way to consume these delicious flavorful nuts.
When purchasing almonds, just make sure they appear good. Nuts in shells have the longest shelf life, but we usually buy them in bulk. It is necessary to pay attention to their color and smell. Skin on raw almonds should be uniform and flexible. Fresh almonds smell sweet. If they smell sharp and bitter, that probably means almonds got rancid.
In order to keep them fresh and nice to eat, store almonds on a dry, cool and dark place. Almonds should keep their freshness for about several months if held in refrigerator and up to a year if you freeze them.
