6 Reasons Why You Should Eat A Handful Of Almonds Daily

Almonds have been the poster child for healthy eating for a while now. They’re one of the most popular toppings on a healthy breakfast and work great as a quick snack Whether whole, blanched, sliced or converted to almond milk, they have some great benefits for those of us who want to give their bodies some loving care. Research shows that almonds are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Just a handful a day (which is roughly the recommended daily serving size) can do wonders for our system.¹

Benefits Of Almonds

1. Lowers Cholesterol

If you’re looking to get your lipid levels under control, almonds are the way to go. They have the potential to reduce your LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels while still maintaining healthy levels of HDL (the good cholesterol).^{2 3} They can even help you lost belly fat.⁴

2. Contains Antioxidants

Polyphenol antioxidants in the almond skin help prevent oxidation.⁵ Oxidation is good for your body to kill off old cells and renew itself, however, in excess, it can cause damage to your DNA and make you susceptible to cancer. When cholesterol gets oxidized in your arteries, heart disease also becomes likely to develop. Almonds have been known to combat this as well.⁶

3. Prevents Cell Damage

Almonds contain vitamin E which is a fat soluble antioxidant. A good amount of vitamin E in your diet is linked to lower incidence of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.^{7 8 9} Almonds are one of the best sources of vitamin E. Just one ounce gives you 37% of the recommended daily intake.¹⁰

4. Helps Weight Loss

You may have heard that almonds contain quite a large amount of fat. However, they also contain fiber and protein. These nutrients can help you feel fuller without consuming an enormous amount of calories. Studies show that regular consumption of almonds can help suppress appetite. People who do so report a significant drop in their hunger.¹¹ They can help you lose weight and reduce your waist circumference which is a great indicator of good health.¹²

5. Reduces Blood Pressure

Almonds contain a good amount of magnesium. Just one serving provides around 20% of your daily intake.¹³ Studies have linked magnesium with a decrease in blood pressure levels.¹⁴ In fact, deficiency in magnesium can cause hypertension.¹⁵ You can easily correct this by adding almonds to the equation. If you’re worried about your blood pressure hitting the roof, why not add a handful of almonds to your daily diet?

6. Helps Control Blood Sugar

The magnesium in almonds is also great for controlling blood sugar levels.¹⁶ It’s been proven that correcting a magnesium deficiency can help improve insulin function, greatly reducing blood sugar.¹⁷ Aside from this, they’re a great option because they’re low in carbs but high in protein and healthy fats

Caution: Since they are small and moreish you can easily eat a lot of them in one go. But remember, like most nuts, almonds are still high in fat so make sure you stick to the recommended daily serving size.

You don’t have to eat one serving of almonds all in one go. Instead, you can divide up the serving across the day in the form of toppings on breakfast, snacks throughout the day, or as ingredients to cook with. They make a great addition to your daily diet.