The king of all nuts, almonds, is increasingly being seen as a versatile healthy snacking option, thanks to the world of natural goodness it offers.
Snacking smart with almonds is a great way to lead a healthy lifestyle. Almonds contain many essential nutrients, including protein, fibre and healthy fats, making them a nutrient-rich snack that can help keep you going throughout the day. This was demonstrated during an interactive session hosted by Almond Board of California here on Wednesday.
“We tend to indulge on high carbohydrate, heavy calorie delights, especially during snack time. This, in turn, tips the weighing scale to the wrong side and also negates any healthy eating we may have done during our bigger meals. Hence smart snacking is crucial. A handful of almonds can go a long way in cutting bad cholesterol (LDL) and also reduces risks associated with type-2 diabetes,” said Chennai based nutritionist and dietician Harini Bala.
Research has showed that almonds demonstrate powerful satiating effect. Seven clinical trials conducted during the period between 2002 and 2016 also showed its role in lowering inflammatory markers and controlling risk associated with heart diseases.
Ms Bala said having almonds with the skin intact gives the vitamin E benefits of the nut and it is also excellent for the brain development of toddlers. “Consuming 30 gms of almonds a day, in any form, can have a lasting effect in leading a healthy life,” she added.
Later, fitness expert P. Sita Ramaswamy demonstrated a few fitness techniques for strengthening back and core muscles.
For California, which produces roughly 80 % of the world’s almonds, India is a key market as it is the second largest in the world when it comes to consumption. The Almond Board of California is focussing on conducting marketing and education programmes in 14 regions in India including Visakhapatnam.