Almonds, the essence of these nuts is considered Sattvik (pure) in Ayurveda. The nut is an all-rounder, from controlling bad cholesterol to controlling hair fall, almonds help in every health problem. The benefits of almonds are immense, they are nutrient-rich, packed with antioxidants, support gut health and more.
Almonds are the tree nuts recognized as a healthy snack and also known to be a good source of protein. They have nutritious ingredients such as fatty acids, dietary fibre, lipids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Primarily, in Ayurveda, the almonds help in producing Ojas which is the finest by-product of digestion. The benefit of eating raw almonds is that they help in removing Pitta-aggravating qualities. The Pitta Dosha of Ayurveda is the energy of digestion and metabolism. Along with Vata and Kapha, Pitta helps to keep the balance of the human body’s Prakriti.
Health Benefits of Eating Almond(s):
- As they are rich in antioxidants, they reverse ageing
- The vitamin E infused nut helps to strengthen the immune system
- Eating almonds improves skin texture
- They benefit in reducing acne
- Almonds benefit in controlling excessive oil on skin, hair
- They treat dandruff and make hair stronger
- Strengthens hair follicle
- Helps with heart diseases and keeps the heart healthy
- Almonds assist with blood sugar control
- Effectively helps in weight loss
- Improves neurological activity
- Lowers bad cholesterol levels
- They bust stress and keep mood light & content
- Reduces cancer risks
Studies have shown almonds effectively lower LDL, that is, the bad cholesterol. A 16-week study in 65 people with pre-diabetes proved that a diet providing 20% of calories from almonds lowered LDL cholesterol levels by an average of 12.4 mg/dL.
Nuts are low in carbs but high in healthy fats, protein and fibre, making them the perfect choice for people with diabetes. Almonds are remarkably high in magnesium which is involved in the process of blood sugar control.
A recent study showed that consuming whole almonds reduced ‘aberrant crypt foci’ in the bowels, an early sign of colon cancer.
Many such studies conducted over the span of 3 decades have proved that almonds are one of the reasons for prolonged life and preventing gallstones.
How to Consume More and More Almonds Daily?
- Garnish the salad and cooked veggies with almonds. Use almond flour instead of bread crumbs to garnish lentil soup, spaghetti squash, hummus, etc; or use it in place of all-purpose flour to make pancakes and baked delicacies.
- Bake almond cookies, cupcakes and prepare shakes. One of the best combinations of almond is with honey when it is turned into a cake.
- Get a whole almond bowl, filled with blueberries, strawberries, pistas, raisins, walnuts and more.
- Eat 5-6 raw almonds every day in the morning with warm milk
- Soak almonds in water overnight, next morning, eat the uncoated ones.
- Consume almond in the form of butter, whip it into smoothie or oats. One can also consume almond butter as a dip for fresh fruit or as the base for energy balls with add-ins like minced dried fruit, chopped dark chocolate, spices, and seeds.
- Take raw almonds mix them with pumpkin seeds, roasted chickpeas and raisins.
- Use almond butter on bread slices, make your sandwiches healthy and replace cow milk with almond milk.
- Every day, before sleeping put 2-3 drops of almond oil in navel area of the body.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fibre, protein, magnesium and vitamin E which are essential in a human’s ‘Science of Life’ to maintain the equilibrium of the three Doshas of Ayurveda for a healthy life, mind and soul
Vitamin E in almonds helps to maintain healthy blood and as an antioxidant, helps to heal the damage that occurs to the body’s cells.
As mentioned earlier, almonds are an all-rounder nut. It is the best synonym for fulfilling food out there in the world.
