4 Surprising Health Benefits of Raw Almonds

1) Good Source of Protein: Our raw almonds have 7 grams of mighty protein in every serving, to help build and maintain muscle, jumpstart your metabolism, and keep you feeling full. This also makes almonds a great pre- or post-workout snack.

2) Lower Cholesterol: Among commonly eaten nuts, almonds have the highest amount of monounsaturated fat. This is the heart-healthy “good” fat that can lower cholesterol levels. A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming almonds had the same effects on lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol levels as first generation statin drugs.

3) Control Blood Sugar: For diabetics and those keeping an eye on their blood glucose levels, snacking on almonds may be a good idea. A 2007 study published in the journal Metabolism found that eating almonds with a high-glycemic food such as white bread helped to regulate spikes in blood sugar and reduced the glycemic index of the meal overall.

4) All-Around Health Nut: If you’re looking for healthy and satisfying snack ideas, raw almonds are a perfect choice. Not only are they packed with protein, but they are also a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants. Eating almonds is a great way to help you meet your daily nutrient goals.

Our Registered Dietitian’s Top Pick

Our Registered Dietitian and Health Nut loves almonds because of their overall nutrient package including naturally occurring vitamin E, calcium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron, and magnesium. Research has linked almonds to improved overall diet quality in adults. Plus, each serving of almonds has about 4 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein, and 9 grams of monounsaturated health-helping fat that is linked to decreasing bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and increasing good (HDL) cholesterol. Enjoy a handful of almonds as a snack or mix them with your favorite dried fruit. Our Health Nut loves them with dried tart cherries.

Ways to Enjoy Raw Almonds

Our family loves snacking on these raw almonds just as they are in their natural state, but you can also use them in other ways! Try the almonds as a crunchy topper for your favorite salad, or as a healthy addition to baked treats such as cookies, biscotti or muffins. You can also enjoy them over oatmeal, or tossed with granola and trail mix. For a delicious spread to enjoy on toast or pancakes, make almond butter by blending the almonds in a food processor or high-powered blender. The possibilities are endless when it comes to ways you can use these delicious raw almonds.