Almond Day: four brilliant health benefits

You'd be nuts to miss out on these

Today is Almond Day, a celebration of the delicious, nutrient packed nuts that wellness warriors and mere mortals alike are obsessed with.
We know, we know – every day is pretty much almond day, considering how much of them we scoff at our desks. But, in all fairness, the day coincides with the beginning of the almond harvest in California (where a whopping 80 per cent of the nuts are produced) so if we’re going to dedicate a day to celebrating them, today is the best bet.

In honour of the occasion, California Almonds have rounded up four brilliant health benefits of almonds:

1 Almonds love your heart

Almonds are a heart-smart, weight wise snack! Crammed full of vitamins and minerals, a recent study found eating almonds resulted in significant reductions in total cholesterol, “bad” LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, while having no significant impact on “good” HDL cholesterol levels.

2 Almonds are jam-packed with goodness

Almonds contain 15 essential nutrients (per 100 g) including iron, calcium and magnesium. With iron contributing to normal cognitive function, calcium maintaining healthy teeth and bones, and magnesium helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue – the list of nutrient benefits is impressive for these highly-portable snacking wonders.

3 A handful of almonds helps keep you strong, no matter what the day may bring

Almonds, a snack drawer must-have, are a high source of filling fibre and source of natural protein, aiding muscle recovery – perfect for packing into a gym-bag or snacking throughout a busy day.

4 Almonds can keep you beautiful both inside and out

A portion of almonds* contains 60% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin E, an antioxidant which protects from oxidative stress. Zinc and the B-vitamins niacin and riboflavin are also found in almonds and can help maintain healthy skin.