Sweet almonds are popular with both children and adults. Walnut kernels are the ingredients of many dishes, they can be eaten raw, dried or fried. How useful almonds are, how it affects the body, what diseases it helps to cope with - interesting information will be useful to everyone.
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Why almonds are good for the human body
The chemical composition rich in vitamins and microelements makes almond kernels unique. The use of nuts is an effective prevention of many diseases, thanks to the special action of the product.
Useful properties of almonds for the human body:
- improves digestion;
- serves as a prophylaxis of cancerous tumors due to the antioxidant features of vitamin E
- normalizes the emotional state, relieves insomnia;
- increases efficiency;
- lowers cholesterol due to the optimal ratio of unsaturated fats;
- activates brain activity, improves memory;
- anesthetizes, relieves muscle cramps;
- strengthens the heart and blood vessels due to the presence of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium;
- stimulates metabolic processes in the body, removes toxins and toxins;
- normalizes the acidity of gastric juice;
- improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails, strengthens bone tissue;
- improves the functioning of the nervous system, increases resistance to stress;
- relieves cough-related illnesses;
- cleanses the blood;
- increases the functionality of the kidneys;
- improves eyesight;
- accelerates growth in childhood;
- promotes the rapid healing of wounds and inflammations of the skin.
In addition, nuts quickly satisfy hunger, so they are ideal for a snack, supplying the body with useful vitamins and minerals.
Almond Benefits for Women
Separately, it is necessary to note the healing effect of nuts on the body of young ladies.
Almonds help:
- restore reproductive function;
- normalize the hormonal background, relieve irritability;
- reduce pain during menstruation;
- improve the condition of nails, hair and teeth;
- stop the aging process of the skin.
Doctors recommend that pregnant women introduce healthy nuts into their daily diet.
Folic and pantothenic acids, as well as vitamin E, have a beneficial effect on the body of the expectant mother and child:
- participate in the formation of the placenta, bone and nervous system of the fetus;
- prevent abortion;
- reduce the symptoms of toxicosis.
Eating almonds while breastfeeding helps a woman regain strength. In addition, nuts are a source of protein that improves milk quality during lactation. And trace elements in the composition of the product contribute to the normal development of infants.
Useful properties of almonds for men
For men, almonds are useful for other reasons.
- Nuts increase the physical and mental activity necessary for the stronger sex to work effectively.
- Arginine, which is part of almonds, increases sexual desire.
- Selenium and zinc help increase potency, improve sperm quality and prevent the development of prostate diseases.
- Almond oil stimulates hair growth, prevents baldness.
- Nuts eliminate the symptoms of a hangover.
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What diseases does almond help with?
In official and traditional medicine, the healing properties of nuts are used to prevent and treat various diseases.
Among them:
- headache, migraine;
- gastrointestinal tract pathology - gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastritis;
- anemia;
- decreased immunity;
- bronchial asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia;
- diabetes;
- malfunctions of the heart;
- throat diseases;
- sprain, muscle spasm;
- visual impairment;
- inflammation of the skin, boils;
- sleep disturbances.
In the absence of contraindications, without abusing the product, you can get the maximum benefit from delicious almonds.
Daily Nutritional Dose
So that instead of benefits, almonds do not harm the body, one must take into account the rate of use of delicious nuts.
This product is quite high-calorie, in 100 grams of almonds - 650 kcal. That is why they should not get involved, especially people who are prone to fullness.
Nutritionists recommend adhering to the daily norm:
- adults - 8 - 10 nuts (30 - 50 g);
- children from 3 years old - 3 - 5 nuts (10 - 20 g);
- elderly people and adolescents - 6 - 8 nuts (25 - 30 g);
- women breast-feeding - no more than 8 nuts per day.
All these recommendations apply to the use of sweet almonds.
The bitter variety of almonds is strictly forbidden to use in food due to the presence of toxic substances in its composition.
Almond milk - benefits and harms
Recently, many lovers of a healthy diet include almond milk in their diet. Such a drink is especially useful for those who are lactose intolerant and cannot drink cow or goat milk.
Another advantage of the almond drink is the ability to store it at room temperature. It does not lose its properties, so you can take such a healthy drink with you on the go.
And the benefits of almond milk are substantial:
- helps to normalize weight;
- improves skin condition, protects the dermis from ultraviolet radiation;
- cleanses blood vessels from cholesterol;
- prevents heart pathology;
- strengthens bones, tooth enamel;
- gives health to hair;
- normalizes digestion;
- strengthens muscle tissue;
- improves eyesight.
Almond milk can be bought at the store, or you can make a healthy drink yourself.
The recipe is simple:
- Sweet nuts are soaked in water overnight.
- In the morning, drain the water and add a little clean, at the rate of 1: 3.
- Grind nuts with water in a blender or coffee grinder.
- The mixture is filtered through a sieve or gauze.
True, not everyone can drink an almond drink. The only contraindication, in addition to individual intolerance, is infancy. Children should not replace traditional dairy products with this drink, as there is a high risk of allergies and scurvy.
In addition, if you buy almond milk in a store, you need to pay attention to the composition of the product. A dangerous carrageenan supplement can cause digestive problems and cancer.
Almond oil - beneficial properties
From sweet varieties of nuts, almond oil is produced by cold pressing. It is used in medicine, cosmetology and perfumery.
Medical use of the product:
- is the basis for therapeutic ointments that heal the skin;
- serves as a solvent for camphor in injections;
- ingested to improve appetite;
- relieves inflammation in the auricles;
- relieves symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, stomatitis;
- activated carbon is produced from the nutshell.
Due to its disinfecting and emollient properties, almond oil serves as a component for cosmetics: creams, masks, shampoos, balms.
Means based on it:
- moisturize the skin;
- smooth wrinkles;
- give elasticity to the dermis;
- relieve irritation;
- reduce dark circles under the eyes;
- protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation;
- prevent the appearance of blackheads;
- strengthens hair;
- eliminate stretch marks during pregnancy;
- reduce sweating.
When caring for delicate baby skin, you should carefully use this oil because of a possible allergy to almonds.
Dried, toasted almonds - what are the benefits?
Most often, dried nuts are used in food. They retain the maximum amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals. But if the almonds are fried, then it contains less vitamins B and E. Therefore, the benefits of roasted nuts are reduced.
At the same time, fried fruits are much more easily absorbed by the body. Therefore, they are recommended to be used by people with pathologies of the digestive system.
It is important for those who follow the calories eaten to remember that when frying on different types of oil, adding flavoring enhancers (honey, sugar), the calorie content of almonds increases.
Contraindications and possible harm
To protect the body from possible side effects, you need to know what contraindications exist for taking healthy nuts. There are very few of them.
Almonds should not be consumed:
- with allergies to the product;
- people with arrhythmia;
- with violations of the central nervous system;
- children under 3 years old.
Nursing mothers should carefully introduce almonds into their diet so as not to cause an allergic reaction in the baby.
High calorie nuts should take into account people who are overweight, so as not to aggravate obesity.
It is not advisable to eat almonds at bedtime, it can cause heaviness in the stomach. Also, nutritionists advise to abandon salted nuts - their use causes swelling and pressure surges.
It is important to remember that unripe almonds are not suitable for food, it contains poisonous cyanides that can trigger poisoning.
If you increase the daily dose of nuts, you can cause digestive upsets. And the use of almond oil in large quantities can lead to dizziness.
But moderate use of sweet almonds will fill the body with useful substances, increase immunity, give energy and a good mood.
