Almonds are a tasty and healthy snack. They are also considered an ideal superfood due to their beneficial properties.
Some even call it a “female nut” because it can improve appearance and influence the state of the body, of course, for the better.
It contains up to 60% healthy fats, lots of fiber and vitamins.
Product composition
The nut contains the most:
- plant proteins similar to animal proteins;
- omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids;
- saturated fats;
- antioxidants;
- amino acids;
- vitamins A, B, C, E, PP;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- iron and other trace elements.
Almonds quickly saturate the body because they have a high caloric content of 579 kcal per 100 g of product. It is convenient to take with you as a snack if you are not sure that you can have lunch on time.
Bitter or sweet almonds
Bitter – not very pleasant to taste, but aromatic. It is often added up to 10% in ground form to enhance the smell of finished products. It is most often used for making oils and in cosmetics.
It differs from sweet almonds by the presence of amygdalin, which is not very useful for digestion in its raw form. During heat treatment, this component is destroyed, but with it the amount of useful substances decreases.
Sweet almonds, on the contrary, should be eaten raw and dried. Fresh nuts, unlike roasted ones, retain their beneficial substances in their original form. But do not overuse almonds. Otherwise, allergies, nausea, or gastrointestinal upset may occur.
Benefits for women and not only
Almonds help women to normalize hormone levels. They normalize the monthly cycle and help to cope with the symptoms of menopause.
Eating 5-10 nuts a day will slow down aging and make your skin look younger.
For pregnant and nursing mothers, almonds are useful for saturated fats and proteins. Folic acid helps to bear a healthy fetus, and calcium and fluorine are essential for the formation of the baby's skeleton. In addition, fiber helps to improve bowel function and restore microflora.
Some people use almonds to treat impotence, the urinary system, hangovers, insomnia, remove sand from the kidneys and bladder, use them as a choleretic and antiviral agent, get rid of worms, and even use them in cancer prevention.
The main component of beauty
Almonds are not only useful as food. It is no coincidence that almond extracts and almond milk are used in cosmetology.
The milk is used to make serums, creams, lotions, shampoos and balms.
1. UV protection. The skin suffers from the harmful effects of the sun. But vitamin E, which is found in almond milk, can form a protective screen from ultraviolet radiation. It treats sunburn, soothes and accelerates cell regeneration.
2. Acne is a thing of the past. Fatty acids regulate the intensity of the sebaceous glands. Almond oil helps get rid of acne, clogged pores and pimples.
3. Super-hydrating. Antioxidants and fatty acids moisturize and nourish the skin.
Almond oil is perfectly absorbed, does not leave a greasy film and does not clog pores.
4. Prolongation of youth. Almond components help fight small wrinkles, smooth them out, and saturate them with vitamins. The skin becomes soft and elastic, and dark circles under the eyes become less noticeable.
5. Improvement of hair and scalp. Eating almonds will provide your hair with the vitamins it needs to grow. Hair will fall out less often and will become thicker.
If you regularly apply almond oil to your hair, its structure will become denser, the scales will be smoothed out, due to which it will look smoother and shinier. You can forget about split ends and constant dandruff.
For better results, it is better to use a scalp scrub with almond oil and ground almonds. In addition, almonds slow down the appearance of new gray hair.
The beneficial properties of almonds are actually much greater. It is obvious that it should be included in the daily diet for prevention and improvement of health.
Earlier we told you how to cut eggs without crumbs.
