Almonds: Deliciously Healthy

One message that’s getting a lot of play lately is that the best way to get nutrition is through foods. Not everyone is a big fan of steamed veggies, but one food that’s hard to resist is almonds. Best of all they can be incorporated into products for every meal of the day, from breakfast foods to dinner entrées and from desserts to snacks.

One of the most important nutritional issues is eating for heart health, and almonds can help there. One recent study, “Effects of almond consumption on the reduction of LDL-cholesterol: a discussion of potential mechanisms and future research directions,” published in Nutrition Reviews, suggests that almonds promote heart health, and may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.  Almond-based products can carry a FDA-approved qualified health claim: “Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 oz. per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

In addition to cardiovascular benefits, studies indicate that almonds might contribute to weight management. And science is also uncovering their potential for prebiotic effects, which can help maintain healthy gut flora.

We all know almonds work well as snacks, and in confectionery products and breakfast cereals. But if you are looking for more unique almond-centric ideas, such as almond yogurt or almond polenta, visit this gallery of mouthwatering almond innovations. A wide range of almond ingredients makes these and other unique ideas easy to formulate.

For global markets, don’t forget almonds are popular worldwide. The California almond crop has doubled over the last ten years and it’s not just U.S. consumers looking for almond products. While the U.S. market is the world’s largest almond market, over 70% of U.S. almonds are exported to 95 countries.

For all the almond lovers out there, there’s no such thing as too many almonds. Speaking of which—I knew I’d dip into that bag of Almond Joy before Halloween—I’ll be right back.

   -Lynn A. Kuntz