Raw organic almonds are often underestimated. This is the sort of snack that you can have sitting in your drawer in the office or at work and whenever you feel like it you can have a few at anytime. Not only are they a great snack but the health benefits are significant.
A healthy snack has to be healthy when it is an as grown, unmodified whole food. For diabetics this is a great snack choice that is 100% safe. Once you understand the health benefits you will no doubt have some handy all the time.
- Almonds lower the rise in blood sugar levels and insulin after meals.
- They lower bad blood cholesterol. When almonds are added to one’s diet they have a positive effect on blood cholesterol levels.
- They protect the artery walls from damage. Flavaniods in almond skins work together with vitamin E reducing the risk of heart disease.
- They reduce heart attack risk. People who consume nuts at least five times a week have a 50% reduction in the risk of heart attack according to the Loma Linda School of Public Health.
- They provide healthy fats and aid in weight loss. It has been shown that nut eaters are thiner on average than those who never consume nuts. It has been also shown that those who eat nuts at least twice a week were 31% percent less likely to gain weight than those who ate no nuts.
- They provide nourishment to the nervous system.
- They help provide improved brain function. Almonds contain riboflavin and L-carnitine. These nutrients have been shown to boost brain activity and may also reduce the risk of Alzheimers’s disease.
- The phosphorus in almonds helps build strong bones and teeth.
- Almonds contain proteins that are alkaline forming. If your body is acidic you are at risk of osteoporosis, low energy, a compromised immune system and weight gain.
Next time you feel like a snack, why not have a handful of raw almonds?