Monday, 26 November 2012

Super Foods - Almonds

Up until recently I never used to be too bothered about nuts and seeds, but after avoiding them a long time I decided that I needed to give them a chance. I started off by going with almonds as I thought 'Marzipan is made from almonds, they can't be too bad right?'. 
Assorted Almonds

Lucky I was right. While they are no way near as sweet as marzipan (though every now and again I get a really tasty one!) they are tasty, filling and nutritious!

A 30g portion of Almonds
Kcal
174
Fat
15g
Protein
6.6g
Carbs
6g
Fibre
3g
Vitamin E
7.4mg
Potassium
206mg
Calcium
65mg

The recommended daily Intake for an adult is:
Kcalories
For Men: 2500
For Women: 2000
Fat
65g
Protein
50g
Carbohydrate
300g
Fibre
25g
Vitamin E
30mg
Potassium
3500mg
Calcium
1000mg

A small portion of almonds contains nearly 1/4 of your requirement for fat, however this is mostly mono-unsaturated fats which are good for the heart and arteries. This high proportion of fat also slows down digestion allowing you to feel fuller for longer. Almonds are also high in vitamin E which is another good anti oxidant that is used in the body, as well as playing other roles within the body!

On top of this there is no cholesterol and they are relatively high in protein so its great for those trying to have a high protein diet with nearly 1/4 of the weight being protein! They are a useful snack for vegans as well as they are a good source of calcium, a mineral that is required to help bone development / maintenance as well as other actions on a more cellular level!

In terms of eating they are used in lots of different varieties of food, though almonds are used heavily in baking, though they can be eaten raw and are a great snack to have between meals (something I regularly do!). They can also be blended to add to soups or smoothies to add a more subtle flavour to things!

If you've never tried almonds give them a go, I used to doubt them but they have quickly converted me!

Cheers,

Rich

References
Nutritional information obtained from 100 Best Health Foods
Nuts For Almonds

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