The Versatility of an Almond
Have you removed grain from your diet because of allergies or other health reasons? Good job. Do you now struggle with the craving for bread, a muffin, pasta, a cookie, crackers or a pastry? Unfortunately, most of us do and it’s hard to resist the craving when it comes. Maybe we can thank the Annunaki for cursing us with the gift of wheat.
There is a grain-free option for bready foods and it’s called almond flour. Coconut flour and other nut flours are also excellent but almond flour is moist, delicious and the easiest to work with.
The almond seed is not a true nut, but a drupe. The almond is actually the seed of the fruit that grows on almond trees, a medium-size tree that bears fragrant pink and white flowers. Like its cousins, the peach, cherry and apricot trees, the almond tree bears fruits with stone-like seeds (or pits) within. The seed of the almond fruit is what we refer to as the almond nut.
Found in places like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Israel, almond is a very nutritious nut. It is a rich source of vitamin E, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium. It also contains zinc, selenium, copper and niacin. Almonds contain the most nutrients in comparison to all other nuts.
Almonds are also known to have great medicinal value. Unlike wheat and other grains, almonds help in reducing the rise in sugar and insulin levels after meals. This offers protection from diabetes and prevention of hypoglycemia.
Almond is a source of many nutrients which help in development of the brain. Almond induces high intellectual level and has been considered as an essential food item for growing children.
Almonds are proven to increase dopamine levels, therefore making you happier. Not enough dopamine can be responsible for lethargy, lack of motivation and depression.
It is the best natural fat burning food. Therefore it is used for losing weight naturally as it has good fiber content. In addition to this, more fiber content helps in proper digestion as well as increases energy level. We can also find various evidences of almonds health benefits in maintain cholesterol level. Munching of almonds instead of some unhealthy snacks helps in reducing excess fat accumulated around your waist. And eating almond flour instead of wheat flour won’t increase your weight.
Magnesium content in almonds helps in reducing risks of cardiac arrests. It increases HDL and helps in reducing LDL thereby controlling cholesterol level. Another most important health benefit of almonds is improvement of memory.
Benefits of almonds are due to loads to vitamin content in it. Almonds are also rich in folic acid and vitamin B therefore when consumed during pregnancy it helps to reduce birth defects of fetus. Copper content helps in proper development of bone and improves nerve functioning.
Almond pastes have been used by people to help with dry cough, stammering, eye sight and jaundice.
Almonds also improve skin and hair texture. Vitamin B contents in almonds promote healthy growth of hair as well as nails. Almond oil is also used as skin moisturizer to make the skin glow, including the lips. A paste of almonds and rose water can minimize spots and wrinkles. Almond oil is a good hair conditioner and prevents hair fall, split ends and breakage as it moisturizes the scalp. Almond oil is the real deal, unlike so many toxic moisturizers, full of alcohol, that claim to be beneficial for the skin.
Almond oil can also be used as a lubricant.
Almond milk is an excellent flavorful replacement for milk. It tastes delicious with espresso and in baked good unlike other milk alternatives. Almond milk can be made at home or purchased at your local health food store. You won’t need to worry about antibiotics or hormones in almond milk.
Almond butter is a super choice for people with peanut allergies or legume sensitivity. Almond butter is rich like a dessert and tastes incredible on an apple or a piece of almond flour bread.
You can make almond flour at home easily by purchasing unblanched (still in their skins) almonds and grinding them in a food processor or coffee grinder until you have a medium fine texture. That’s it.
The internet is full of almond flour recipes for bread, pasta, pizza crust, muffins, cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, etc. You can also use almond flour as a replacement in your wheat flour recipes. Almond flour can even be used as a breading on meat and vegetables.
Lastly, wheat and other grain crops can be made from genetically modified seeds which are polluting organic crops and are grown with chemicals and pesticides, another big reason to avoid grain products and switch to almond flour.
From the kitchen, to the bathroom, to the bedroom, this nut is extremely versatile.
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