By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV,

Almonds are a good choice for individuals who are keen on maintaining their weight, fighting cancer and having a heart healthy diet.

Botanical: Amygdalus communis (LINN.) var. dulcis / amara
Family: N.O. Rosaceae

Habitat:

The Almond tree is a native of the warmer parts of western Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa, but it has been extensively distributed over warm temperate regions.

Description:

It is a small deciduous tree with white or light pink flowers. The fruit is a 3.5-6 centimeter long drupe, with a downy outer coat.

The bitter almond is rather broader and shorter than the sweet almond, and contains about 50% of the fixed oil found in sweet almonds.

Part Used Medicinally:

Fruit

Constituents:

Almonds are high in protein; one ounce contains 12% of the daily protein need.

Almonds are also rich in vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and trace amounts of the B vitamins, thiamin and riboflavin.

Their calcium and fiber content is higher than all other nuts.

Unlike sweet almond, bitter almond contains a colorless crystalline glucoside, Amygdalin.

Medicinal Uses:

Almonds promote health, especially when they are part of a healthy diet consisting of fruit and vegetables, and low fat whole grain products.

Eating nuts and especially almonds lowers the risk of strokes, developing type-2 diabetes, dementia, advanced macular degeneration and gallstones.

Studies show individuals who consume nuts on a daily basis (30-60 grams) gain an extra five to six years of cardiac disease-free life and that regularly eating nuts increases longevity by 2 years.

Almonds are nutritionally dense. They help maintain or even lose weight as well as significantly improve risk factors associated with heart disease.

Munching on almonds helps people feel satisfied and less inclined to overeat at dinner!

Scientists believe a few almonds a day can help lower blood pressure and that they can increase the blood levels of high density lipoproteins while lowering low density lipoprotein levels.

Consuming nuts (especially almonds) lowers the risk of cancer (bladder and colon), diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Almonds are a great source of folic acid especially in pregnant women.

Folic acid lowers the levels of homocystein, the amino acid which contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries.

Almonds also help strengthen bones and teeth. Approximately one ounce of almond (roughly 20-25 nuts) has a calcium content equivalent to ¼ cup of milk, the required amount to prevent osteoporosis.

Almonds have anti-inflammatory, immunity boosting, and anti-hepatotoxicity effects.

Sweet almond

Sweet almond possesses demulcent and nutrient properties; however as its outer brown skin is sometimes allergen it is usually removed before use.

It is good for treating bronchial diseases, tickling coughs, hoarseness, costiveness and nephritic pains.

Sweet almond sometimes provides instant heartburn relief.

Sweet almond oil is extracted from the dried kernel of the plant. Massotherapists use the oil as a skin lubricant. It is also considered to be an effective emollient and is sometimes used as a laxative.

Bitter almond

The poisonous properties of bitter almond was well known to the ancients, who used it in intermittent fevers and as a vermifuge, diuretic, and a cure for hydrophobia.

The toxic compound present in bitter almond, HCN, is used in cancer treatment.

Bitter almond oil has local anesthetic and anti spasmodic effects.

Preparation:

Almond oil is prepared from either variety of almonds and is a glyceryl oleate, with a slight odor and nutty taste. It can be used as an olive oil substitute.

Caution:

Bitter almonds are poisonous and unpalatable.

PKH/HGH

Copyright 2007: Press TV