Snacking on almonds is good for you

A new study published in the October issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that study participants eating 42g of almonds every day experienced reduced hunger and improved dietary vitamin E and monounsaturated (“good”) fat intake without increasing body weight.

Almonds have also previously been shown to increase satiety in both normal weight and overweight subjects. This may be attributed to almonds’ monounsaturated fat (13 grams/ounce), protein (6 grams/ounce) and fibre (4 grams/ounce) content. Additionally, a recent study measuring digestibility found that whole almonds contain 20% fewer calories than the Nutrition Facts Panel states, suggesting that because of their rigid cell structure, not all calories are available for absorption.

Health benefits of Almonds:

• They lower bad (LDL) cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease
• They protect against diabetes
• They help with energy production as they are high in manganese, copper and riboflavin
• They help prevent gallstones
• They are a concentrated source of protein

How to increase almond intake:

• Add some to your fruit and plain yoghurt at breakfast
• Add some to your lunch time salad
• Start using almond flour to bake with
• Grab a handful as a mid morning snack