Despite the current almond craze, almonds have been popular for millennia. Almond trees are native to North Africa, India, and the Middle East and thrive in warm, dry weather.
Almonds are a tree nut, so if you’re allergic to those, you should definitely stay away from them.
But everyone else should take advantage of what this superfood has to offer.
Why Are Almonds Healthy?
Almonds are rich in healthy fatty acids, low in carbs, and packed with protein.
The macros for 1 oz of almonds looks like this:
Calories: 164
Fat: 14g
9g of monounsaturated
3.5g of polyunsaturated
1g saturated fat
Protein: 6g
Fiber: 3.5g
Net carbs: 3g
While they may be higher in carbs than macadamias, pecans, and walnuts (by a gram or two), almonds also deliver more fiber and almost three times the protein of those other nuts.
Micronutrients are another major reason almonds should be part of your healthy diet.
In that same 1 oz. serving of almonds, you’ll find vitamins, antioxidants, and trace minerals including:
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 37% of your recommended daily intake value (RDI)
Manganese: 32% of your RDI
Magnesium: 19% of your RDI
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 17% of your RDI
Phosphorous: 14% of your RDI
Copper: 14% of your RDI
Calcium: 7% of your RDI
21 Health Benefits of Almonds
Research shows that eating almonds can lower your chances of developing a chronic disease, even for those most at risk, such as people who are already overweight or have type 2 diabetes.
With every (modest) handful of almonds, your body will soak up all the nutritional wins these super nuts have to offer.
