Eating Almonds Reduces Hunger, Lowering Your Overall Calorie Intake. Almonds are low in carbs and high in protein and fiber. Both protein and fiber are known to increase feelings of fullness. Nuts contain several nutrients that your body struggles to break down and digest. A human body does not absorb about 10–15% of the calories in nuts. Additionally, some research evidence suggests that eating nuts can boost metabolism slightly. Due to their satiating properties, nuts are a great addition to an effective weight loss plan.
Food is nothing more than fuel for the body. It contains the vitamins, minerals and calories we need to survive. We only get in trouble when we eat too many calories without burning them off. The easiest way to lose weight naturally is by following an appropriate diet plan. A proper diet plan is one that is generally low in fat and contains all the essential nutrients required to build the body muscles and keep you fit and healthy. Healthy fat burning foods combine essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and low fats in adequate quantities for healthy living. Generally, these diets are designed with high complex carbohydrate content, high fibers, moderate proteins and low fats.
Basically, adding almonds to a good weight loss plan and little dedication on your part can turn your weight loss program into a huge success.
The almond tree (Prunus dulcis), also related to cherries and plums, is native to Western Asia and Southern Europe. According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Spanish missionaries brought almonds to the New World, but the nut’s popularity did not rise until the 1900s. Today, the United States is the largest supplier of almonds in the world.
A. Almonds Deliver a Massive Amount of Nutrients
A small handful, One ounce (28-gram) serving of almonds which supplies only 161 calories and 2.5 grams of digestible carbohydrates contains:
Fiber: 3.5 grams
Protein: 6 grams
Fat: 14 grams (9 of which are monounsaturated)
Vitamin E: 37% of the RDA
Manganese: 32% of the RDA
Magnesium: 20% of the RDA
(Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals; often used to plan nutritionally adequate diets for individuals)
They also contain a decent amount of copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus.
B- Good for your Heart Health
Probably almonds’ best-known quality is that they are good for your heart. “Nearly two decades of research shows that almonds can help maintain a healthy heart and healthy cholesterol levels (1). A research article looked at the evidence on nut consumption and a variety of health issues. It noted that in four large-scale studies considered major in the field — the Iowa Women’s Health Study (1996), the Adventist Health Study (1992), the Nurses’ Health Study (1998) and the Physicians’ Health Study(2002) — nut consumption was linked to a lower risk for heart disease. Together, the studies showed an average reduction in the risk of death from heart disease by 37 percent.
A growing body of evidence suggests that regularly choosing almonds in place of snacks high in refined carbohydrates is a simple dietary strategy to help support heart health, said Heap. In another evidence review, published in 1999 in Current Atherosclerosis Reports, researchers looked at the Nurses’ Health Study and estimated that eating nuts instead of an equivalent amount of carbohydrates reduced heart disease risk by 30 percent. Substituting nuts for saturated fats, such as those found in meat and dairy products, resulted in a 45 percent estimated reduced risk.
You can snack on them raw or add them to meals. Either way, you can enjoy the slimming and overall health benefits of almonds.