Almonds are often used in various areas of human life. In addition to healing properties, they have a pleasant taste. They are often called nuts, but the definition is erroneous. Nuts belong to stone fruits, like the same peaches or cherries.

Where does almonds grow and what does it look like

Almonds are in the form of a bush or tree about eight meters high. Light pink, white fruit, with an ovule drupe. Leathery, hairy, not tasty pericarp. Almonds (Prunus subg. Amygdalus - lat.), Not a nut at all, but seeds from a stone.

A subgenus of tree plants is the Plum genus, the Pink family. Their fruits are hidden in a seed with a tasty kernel. The natural habitat of almonds is Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan in the southern part. The Crimean peninsula, the regions of Central Asia, the mountains of the Caucasus are the territories on which this culture is artificially cultivated. Common almonds are widely used in cultivation; they are bred more often.

Did you know? Peach or apricot crops are often planted on almond trunks, making them more drought tolerant. It is also bred as a decorative soil-protective plant. Almond leaves appear after the opening of flowers. Lanceolate leaves, petiolate, pointed to the top. Flowers culture about 2.5 centimeters in size. The flowers are pale pink or white petals. Plants have a short or long shoot.

The almond fruit is represented by a dry, velvety-pubescent monocot, a shape resembling an oval. Fleshy, leathery, non-edible pericarp. When they ripen, the bone separates effortlessly from them. The bones are oval, contain small dimples, grooves, 2–3.5 cm long, weighing up to 5 g.

The chemical composition and calorie content of almonds

Small almonds are a storehouse of vitamins and a variety of macro and micronutrients . They contain almost all the necessary elements for bone health. After all, bone tissues need phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, which are rich in these delicious nuts.

And also include potassium, copper, iron, zinc, selenium, sulfur, the content of which not all products can boast. Nuts contain many vitamins. These are vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, E. Important! To get a healing effect, eat a nut on an empty stomach. With this application, its properties are fully disclosed.

But forget about the content of amygdalin in the almond - a dangerous poisonous glycoside. Its splitting is accompanied by the release of hydrogen cyanide. It is destroyed only under the influence of high temperature. Eating large amounts of raw nuts is harmful to human health. After all, the danger is an amygdalin excess.

Almonds are rich in oils, enzymes, flavonoids, fiber. It contains three unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, palmitic, stearic). The amount of antioxidants in the nut is comparable to broccoli and green tea. It contains the greatest amount of calcium than other nuts, the potassium in it is slightly less than in pistachios. The amount of folic acid, zinc, magnesium, in comparison with other nuts, corresponds to the third place.

The energy value of 100 g of cores includes:

• 49.9 g of fat;
• 21.2 g of protein;
• 21.6 g of carbohydrates.

Almond kernels are high-calorie products, people who follow a strict diet should remember this. The energy value of 609 kilocalories is quite high, overweight people do not need to get involved in them.

Useful properties of almonds

Nuts strengthen the body. Daily intake increases the elasticity of the vessels of the head. It improves the activity of the cerebral cortex, normalizes the metabolic processes of the body, and prevents the development of cancer. Did you know? Avicenna was familiar with the beneficial properties of almonds when he treated them for kidney, liver, and spleen diseases. The content of tocopherol normalizes blood composition, female hormonal balance. The content of vitamins B in the nuclei helps strengthen nails, hair, bones, improve digestive processes and kidney function. In medicine and cosmetology, sweet kernels are used. Continuous use reduces blood vessel cholesterol, which makes it possible to treat heart disease.

Almonds - are widely used by chefs to make gourmet dishes. Aesthetic medicine specialists, cosmetologists use almond oil, nuts. Their tocopherol and retinol prevent aging, improve tissue regeneration and secretion by the sebaceous glands.

Important! A high level of non-enzymatic tocopherol in the nuclei minimizes spontaneous abortion. Regular use of nuclei by pregnant women reduces the risk of having a baby with gastrointestinal problems.

Cosmetics with its content increase skin elasticity, tone up, eliminate slight inflammation, regulate water-lipid balance, smooth skin tone, smooth wrinkles. Almond-based hair care products strengthen the hair structure, moisturize, and help fight dandruff and hair loss.

Contraindications to the use of almonds

Although this fruit is a useful product, like others, it has contraindications. Individual intolerance is the main factor (allergy). The use of this product is not recommended for people who are overweight. This is due to its high calorie content.

With a reduced frequency of heart muscle contractions and diseases of the thyroid gland, it is necessary to eat almonds with caution. Consumption of unripe nuts is contraindicated - a strong risk of cyanide poisoning (a lot of hydrocyanic acid).

How much almonds can I eat per day

The daily dose of the amount of nuts consumed per day is not more than 30, by weight should not exceed 50 grams. This is enough for the body to receive a dose of vital elements, and you enjoy a unique taste.

Limited almond intake is associated with a high amygdalin content. A small dose of this glycoside leads to intoxication, and an increased dose - poisoning. The lethal dose is the use of 50 pieces of nuts (bitter).

Did you know? The presence in the tonsils of a large number of vitamins (groups B and E) strengthens the vessels of the head, increases their elasticity. It is used in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, strokes.

Children are recommended to eat small amounts of almonds (not more than 3 per day) to avoid indigestion, and the use of bitter nuts is strictly not allowed. Kernels are better not thermally processed, not salted. Then they are less high-calorie, as well as beneficial substances are destroyed during processing.

Before use, nuts are freed from the shell and left overnight in cold water. After this, the husk is easily cleaned, and nutrients are well absorbed in the body. Bitter almonds without heat treatment can decompose. This releases hydrogen cyanide, which is a strong poison. Therefore, it is not allowed to use it without heat treatment.

Learn how to soak almonds before eating.

The use of almonds in medicine

The healing qualities of almond kernels were widely used by medieval healers - Arabs. They were crushed and used to treat urological and intestinal diseases. They believed that almonds attracted prosperity, health and prosperity. These nuts have a lot of vegetable protein, vitamins and minerals.

• Medicine uses kernels for such purposes:
• prevention of malignant neoplasms;
• reduction of cholesterol plaques in the vessels;
• treatment of gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• normalization of acidity of the stomach;
• treatment of anemia, cough, anemia, headaches and migraines;
• prevention of seizures;
• elimination of toxins and various poisons;
• bone strengthening;
• lowering blood sugar;
• vision improvement;
• treatment of urolithiasis;
• improvement of potency and rejuvenation of the body;
• in women, normalizing hormonal balance, improving the condition of the skin and hair, preventing aging;
• prevention of cardiovascular diseases, to reduce the risk of heart attack.

Almonds are recommended for high mental stress, as it improves brain activity, for the prevention of senile dementia. It slows down, in the elderly, the process of brain degeneration. The use of almonds by children contributes to their healthy growth.

Important! In the treatment of gastric ulcers or gastritis, three kernels are eaten three times a day three times a day, further reducing the dose to fifteen tonsils per day.

Bitter almonds are richer in nutrients than sweet. It is used to treat. Almond oil is made from a bitter variety, it is inedible. For medicinal purposes, this type of nuts is used in folk medicine (scientific - only for laxative purposes).

The increased content of tocopherol makes it indispensable in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system, cleanses the liver, and is used in urology. It is a general strengthening agent, therefore it is recommended for use in the postoperative period or in case of chronic diseases.

• Almond oil has the following properties:
• expectorant;
• painkiller;
• normalizes the work of the stomach;
• gas reduction;
• antiseptic;
• sedative;
• anti-inflammatory.

Almonds are an excellent tool for normalizing male hormonal balance. It is used to lower testosterone, since it is actively involved in its production. Arginine - the amino acid contained in it, serves as a means of increasing libido. Almonds are recommended for men over 30 years of age to increase male strength, sexual desire and prevention of prostatitis.

In women with the use of almonds, the level of hormones normalizes, reduces pain during menstruation. High levels of vitamin E slow down aging. It is also useful for pregnant women, for the proper development of the fetus and during breastfeeding.

Strengthens or weakens

Fiber in almonds has a laxative effect. In addition to improving the digestive system, it relieves the body of harmful toxins. The body absorbs almond kernels well, without increased gas formation. With their help, stabilization of metabolic processes occurs.

For constipation, the recommended dose of almond nuts is about 60 g per day. To facilitate bowel movements, not only kernels are used, but also almond milk or butter. Milk is consumed in the evening and in the morning, no more than 2 glasses. 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil helps solve the problem of constipation. In its pure form, it is used as a salad dressing.

Almonds in cooking

Almond kernels for culinary purposes are used everywhere. This is due to the specific, delicate taste, excellent smell, fragility and sweetness. No wonder he was called the "royal nut." In the preparation of culinary masterpieces, only a sweet almond variety is used. Almond kernels are eaten raw or toasted. They can be sweetened or salted, which is delicious in both versions.

Culinary specialists use nuts for such purposes:

• the main ingredient in the preparation of marzipan, necessary for decorating cakes;
• used for the manufacture of sweets, ice cream, cakes, cookies, muffins;
• used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. What is the famous Amaretto liquor worth;
• add to all kinds of sauces, pastes, salads, ketchups and other products;
• goes well with chocolate, cottage cheese, fruits;
• basis for the preparation of oriental sweets, meat dishes with rice;
• combine with various spices;
• use breading of meat and fish dishes.

Almond milk is increasingly used by people. It is used by vegetarians as an alternative substitute for animal products. Nutritious and protein composition, in no way inferior to cow. It is used for lactose intolerance. It is used as an independent food, or as an addition to other food components.

Almonds are a healthy and nutritious product. It is used in various branches of human life. With excellent taste, it can be consumed by adults and children. Nevertheless, it is impossible to regale excessively with these nuts - it is life threatening. Subject to the norms of use of this product, you can not only enjoy the wonderful taste and aroma, but also improve your well-being, because its healing properties have been known since ancient times.