Almonds Are a Dieter’s Best Friend

Welcome to Diet and Fitness Podcast, a free audio podcast sponsored by Diet.com. This is your fit, fun, and fabulous host, Lady Diet, ready to give you the skinny on the latest diet fitness health tips and news.

For years we’ve been hearing reports from nutrition experts saying that a handful of almonds each day can make a huge difference in your health and your diet. According to different studies, people who eat almonds tend to weigh less than people who don’t! While I’ve always been a fan of almonds, I didn’t truly understand the truth behind these studies until my recent almond addition to my morning oatmeal! Before my almond discovery, I’d often hear my stomach rumbling well before noon. With just the simple addition of almonds to my morning, I’ve been feeling full much longer and more satisfied in general each day! Therefore, in today’s podcast, I dive into some of the key reasons why almonds are the diet world’s healthy superstars!

First, almonds are nutrient rich. These little nuts have high amounts of vitamin E, an antioxidant essential for long-term health. Studies are suggesting that antioxidants like vitamin E reduce risk of heart disease and cancer. In addition, almonds contain a high percentage of magnesium and potassium which help increase blood, oxygen, and nutrient flow throughout the body.

And I can’t talk about almonds without mentioning fat. Even though nuts are high in fat, nuts like almonds contain monounsaturated fat, the “good kind” if you will. This is the fat you encounter in olive oil and avocados, the kind with heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering benefits.

When you’re searching for almonds, remember that whole almonds with their skins have the longest shelf lives. Store almonds in a sealed container either in the fridge or at least in a cool, dry place to avoid having them go rancid.

So, you know almonds are good for you, but where to go from here? Look for whole almonds with their skins to reap the most healthy benefits. But almonds can come in many different forms to make adding them to your diet easier. Like I mentioned earlier, I use slivered almonds in my oatmeal! Get almond slices to add crunch and protein to your salads. Sneak in protein by blending almonds with your next fruit smoothie. Tired of the old PB&J? Try an AB&J, or almond butter and jelly sandwich (on whole grain bread) for an energy-boosting snack.

An important note – nut allergies are common, so consult with a physician if you have a nut allergy before consuming almonds!

If you have any comments or suggestions about today’s podcast, or any fun health diet or fitness tip, please feel free to email me at LadyDietPodcast at dietdotcom.

This is Lady Diet signing off…