Everyone talks about the benefits of eating nuts and seeds…but there is a big difference between naturally roasted nuts and the over-salted version. Here is a quick and easy recipe to get all the benefits of almonds without the sodium:You will need: 1 bag baking almonds (I buy the large bags down the baking aisle of the whole almond)
Preheat your oven to 350F. Divide the bag of almonds evenly to two large baking sheets. Bake almonds for 10 minutes (you should be able to smell them to know they are done and you may need more than 10 minutes depending on your oven and your pan). Halfway through cooking, give the almonds a stir. Remove the trays from the oven and allow them to sit for 10 minutes as they continue to cook. They taste as delicious as they will smell!
Almonds are filled with health benefits and nutrition for you:
Almond nuts are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals; the kind of well-balanced food ensure protection against diseases and cancers.
These nuts are rich source of energy and nutrients. They are especially, rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like oleic and palmitoleic acids that help to lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol.” Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
The nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E; contain about 25 g per100 g (about 170% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals.
Almonds are free in gluten and therefore, are a popular ingredient in the preparation of gluten free food formulas. Such formula preparations are in fact healthy alternatives in people with wheat food allergy and Celiac Disease.
These nuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. These vitamins functions as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism.
They are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
The sweet almond oil is obtained from the nuts is an excellent emollient; helps to keep skin well protected from dryness. It has also been used in cooking, and as “carrier or base oil” in traditional medicines in aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
Just a hand full of these nuts a day provides enough recommended levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein. Besides, almond oil extracted from the nuts has been used in as base or carrier oil in medicine, aromatherapy and in pharmaceuticals. (as per http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/almonds.html)