Almond, Prunus dulcis is a seed of the deciduous tree that
grows widely along the Mediterranean coast, Middle East, and South Asia. Almond is the edible seed of the fruit
of almond tree. It grows 4 to 10 meters in height. The flowers are white and
pink in color and 3 to 5 cm in diameter. The seed resides in the shell and
the shell is removed for obtaining the seed. Almond seed measures 3.5
to 6 cm long. It is not typically a nut but a drupe. It is a tree
with significant cultural importance because it is seen mostly in
places where old civilizations existed in the Middle East,
The Levant, and South Asia. It
is mentioned in the Bible many times as it is a symbol of watchfulness,
promise, and prosperity.
Uses
Almonds are eaten raw and they are also used in many dishes. Almonds
are available as whole, sliced, almond butter, almond milk, and almond oil.
Sweet almond is used as a base material in many desserts and added to
cakes, cookies, sweets etc. It is also processed to a milk form called as
almond milk with the flavor, texture and color of almond.
There are two varieties of almond, the sweet
and the bitter. The fruit of Prunus dulcis is mostly of sweet
variety. There a few bitter almonds found on each tree. The bitter
almond is broader and shorter than the sweet almond. It contains 50% of the almond oil and also contains the enzyme emulsin, in the presence
of water acts on the soluble glucoside yielding glucose, cyanide, and
essential oil of bitter almonds that is pure benzaldehyde. Bitter almond
may yield 4-9 mg of hydrogen cyanide per almond. Larger doses of the bitter variety can be deadly and so
cyanide must be removed before consumption. Almonds are usually
soaked overnight in water before consuming it in the next morning.
Nutritional Value
A 100 gram of almond contains 20
g carbohydrates, 51 g of fat, and 11 g of protein. It contains vitamins
such as vitamin E 26.22 mg, niacin 4 mg, riboflavin 0.8 mg, pantothenic
acid 0.3 mg, thiamine 0.24 mg, vitamin B6 0.13 mg, folate 29 mcg etc. It also
contains minerals such as calcium 248 mg, iron 4 mg, magnesium 275 mg,
phosphorus 474 mg, potassium 728 mg, zinc 3 mg, etc.
Photo credit: naturephoto-cz.com
Health Benefits
1. Almonds are rich in vitamin E which constitutes 26
mg per 100 g. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that scavenges free
radicals. It protects oxidative damage of cells and prevents age related
illnesses. It also regulates enzymatic activity of protein kinase C that plays
a role in smooth muscle growth.
2. Almonds contain good amount of carbohydrate 20 g per
100 g and also has high dietary fiber content that is good for
absorption of food and bowel movement.
3. It has high quality protein, which is rich
in essential amino acids required for muscle buildup.
4. Almonds has high monounsaturated fats, which is an
essential fat that decreases LDL cholesterol levels and reduces the risk
for cardiovascular disease. It also contains phytosterols which has
cholesterol lowering action.
5. It protects against diabetes by decreasing the surge of
blood sugar after meals. It decreases the glycemic index of meals when taken
with meals.
6. Magnesium present in almonds decreases the resistance of
the blood vessels and improves the flow of blood through the vessels thus
reducing the incidence of heart disease. It also contains potassium in
adequate amounts, which helps in nerve transmission and contraction of muscles,
helpful in maintaining normal blood pressure and function of heart.
7. Almonds contain polyphenols on the skin in
combination with flavonols such as flavan-3-ols, hydroxybenzoic acids and
flavanones. These substances possess antioxidant properties and helps in
protecting from age-related illnesses.
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