Eat almonds for nutrition

Almonds are among the most nutrient-rich tree nuts and just a handful a day is a great way to ensure you're getting more of the good things your body needs and you want.

The first week of September this year has been named as the National Nutrition Week by various Nutrition bodies in India like the Food & Nutrition Board of India.

Almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and a good source of fiber, copper, phosphorous, and riboflavin. Plus, a one-ounce serving has 13 grams of good unsaturated fats, just 1 gram of saturated fat, and is always cholesterol free. And when compared ounce for ounce, almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, and niacin. Talk about a powerful punch in a petite package.

Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet. Nutrients are important to lead a healthy life. Vitamins and minerals you get from your diet are just as important as carbohydrates, protein and fats; however, you only need them in small amounts. Vitamins and minerals usually function as co-enzymes, which mean they help chemical reactions in the body happen a lot faster. One of the most important vitamins for the body is Vitamin E. In order for the heart to stay healthy the body needs plenty of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is also an excellent option for helping limit bad heart conditions. The body is more prone to certain diseases if it doesn't have a proper amount of Vitamin E.

The tiny almond is a storehouse of nutritional goodness. Each ounce contains 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, not to mention healthy doses of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E and array antioxidants. Snacking on almonds is a great way to help lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, and can smooth out spikes in blood sugar in diabetics. Calcium is an important nutrient found in almonds. A single serving of almonds can contain up to a quarter of one's daily calcium needs. Such high levels of calcium make almonds a tooth and bone strengthening food as well.

Our diet needs to provide adequate amounts of all of these 'little helpers'. Almonds are a power packed nut which provide you with all the good variants of nutrition like carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins and vitamins. Since time immemorial, almonds have been cherished, not only for their delicate flavour and delectable crunch, but also for their nutritional benefits. They are a simple, tasty choice that can make a big difference in the way you feel every single day, not a small feat. And that means you can feel good about what you're eating while enjoying their delicious crunchy flavour.

Almonds promote a healthy heart in many ways. The cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds can also help almond snackers maintain healthy hearts. Alpha-tocopherol vitamin E found in Almonds are one of the leading food sources of the important antioxidant, which helps neutralize harmful free radicals in your body and help you feel your best day and night. So what are free radicals? They're unstable molecules that form as your body burns oxygen. Free radicals can damage your cells, tissues, and even your DNA.

So make a healthy resolution this nutrition week and keep yourself healthy for the rest of the year. Eat almonds and make yourself stronger forever.

Source:The Times of India(12-10-2011)