Almonds - your best friend

Hello and Welcome back everyone!

With Valentine's day February is the month which fills our heart with romantic feelings. And, although we receive lots of cakes and chocolates, and fill our tummies with mouth smacking - tongue indulging yummies, some might wonder - what about our health. Even many might shy off from celebrating to their heart's content, anxious about their health and beauty. Well, friends - February is the month of health with taste - February is the month of soaking in the goodness of almonds. As a matter of fact 16th of February is observed as National Almond's day.

Well, I remember my childhood, when my mom used to give me a handful of almonds to munch while on my way to school or play-ground. I was aware with just two benefits of it back then - keeping your hair healthy and brain sharp. But, an ingredient which can enhance the taste of many dishes and leave you craving for more has several benefits.  So, I thought why not I share some of these with you all, so that almond becomes your best friend too.

So, read on...

1. Improve Bone Health - A rich source of phosphorous, vitamins and minerals, it helps in improving strength and durability of bones and teeth and also prevents osteoporosis and tooth decay. Tip: take three almonds regularly or soak 5 almonds in lukewarm water overnight and consume the strain with lemon and honey the next morning.

2.  Strengthens immunity - With hanging weather conditions, many get affected by flu, viral fever, infection etc. apart from cough and cold. Almonds being a rich source of anti-oxidants, alkaline material and vitamin E, it helps in not only building a strong immune system protecting our body, it also helps eradicate many harmful toxins which might have accumulated within. Further, it also helps prevent many heart diseases and fight several carcinogens – thus even preventing cancer.

3. Reduce cholesterol and inflammation -  A rich source of fatty acids, it helps reduce inflammation and LDL cholesterol, and promote healthy skin and hair.

4. Regulate Blood pressure – In this period where almost everyone has high levels of stress and anxiety, and pills which are packed with side-effects, we all would welcome a natural way to tackle fluctuations in blood pressure. Potassium present in almonds along with vitamins and minerals helps regulate blood pressure.

5. Weight loss – So, you have been thinking that almonds = fats = weight gain = obesity = bad looks = loosing fame quotient = loosing your world = etc etc etc. Well, gorging too much of almonds might not be good, but on the contrary, a controlled intake of a daily dose of almond helps reduce weight. The dietary fibre in milk helps in creating a sensation of a full tummy, thus leading us to consume less.

6. Prevents Constipation – A best friend for our tummy, almond helps prevent constipation and enhances digestion abilities due to it being rich in fibre.

7. Produce energy – Being rich in manganese, riboflavin and copper it also helps boost energy production within our body. It is far better than energy drinks as it doesn’t add extra sugar, yet works wonders for the body.

  So, you see, apart from rendering you great memory and skin and hair, it has these and several other benefits. Thus, it will help enhance both your beauty and overall health, so that you have a natural glow radiating from within. I hope with these benefits of almond, it will find a place in your diet now.

To share more with us, please write to aamiprabhasini@gmail.com or you can leave you message in the message box on the right side of the blog. If you wish to connect over twitter, follow @PranWin

For recipes with almond and more, stay tuned for the next

Till then, stay healthy, happy and safe.