Almonds | Organic

Raw organic almonds from Greece, are a type of drupe nut, which means along with other nuts like macadamias, pecans, and walnuts, they have multiple layers that enclose a single, hard seed in the center. Almonds have been prized since ancient times and are believed to be the oldest widely grown of all nut crops.

In the medical world, almond's nutrition is most praised due to the presence of monounsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. Almonds also contain vitamins, like vitamin E and riboflavin, and trace minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.

The top nine health benefits of almonds nutrition include preventing heart disease, supporting brain function, maintaining skin health, preventing diabetes, assisting weight loss, supporting digestive health, fighting inflammation and cancer, and maintaining bone health.

The standard recommendation is to eat a small “handful,” or roughly a 1/4 cup of nuts at a time. Daily consumption of almonds in this amount is enough to help prevent the onset of cardiometabolic diseases in healthy individuals.

One step that can actually increase the nutrient content of almonds is soaking and sprouting them. Soaking and sprouting almonds removes some of their naturally occurring antinutrients that block the body from absorbing some minerals. Soak them overnight for 12–24 hours in a big bowl, cover them with water and rinse them the next morning.

Notes
◉ Should be stored in airtight glass containers -in a cool, dark, and dry area- to preserve their properties and keep their fatty acids from becoming rancid. Placing them inside a refrigerator or freezer is highly advised.
◉ Some nuts and seeds contain "anti-nutrients" that could prevent some of their nutrients from being absorbed. Therefore, it is ideal to soak nuts/seeds before consuming them, as this reduces the anti-nutrient content.
◉ Another option is to grind the seeds in a coffee grinder or blender to break up the tough outer shell before eating them. Once pulverized, the ground seeds can be used as flour in most gluten-free recipes.