Almond;
Almond is native to Iran, where it was born naturally, after which it spread to surrounding countries and spread to all continents except Antarctica.
The fruit of an almond is called a drupe. Almond shell (hard shell) is called endocarp.
The largest producer of almonds in the world is the United States, where the state of California has its largest plantations and produces about 2 million tons of almonds, which is about 68% of the world’s total production.
A dry warm area with mildly humid winters is suitable for growing almond trees. It takes three to five years for a plant to become a regular fruit-bearing tree and continues to bear fruit for the next 25 years.
Almond tree is pollinated by insects and its pollens are transported by insects especially bees. That is, if there is no bee, there will be no almonds. Bee hives are kept nearby where almonds are grown. Besides insects, it is also pollinated by wind.4
The almond fruit is green in colour with a bitter taste that contains raw almonds. In Arabian countries, this bitter fruit is eaten with salt. Twelve to seventy such almonds are enough to kill an adult.
Bitter almonds are harmful to health as they contain a chemical compound known as cyanide. Twelve to seventy such almonds are enough to kill an adult.
Benefits of an almond:
1. They are packed with vitamins, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.
2. Almonds a day keeps a doctor away:
It is said that if you eat an apple a day, you don’t need to go to the doctor, it may or may not be true but it is true that eating a few almonds keeps a doctor away.
3. Almonds contain an antioxidant that helps the body fight against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure. Smokers should eat enough almonds because almonds reduce the risk of cancer.
4. Almonds are an excellent source of fibre and protein. The fibre in almonds helps curb hunger, while protein forms new cells and tissue and keeps bones strong.
5. Almonds contain a lot of good fats. Fats have fatty acids that help us digest various vitamins. It lowers levels of the bad kind of cholesterol and increases levels of the good kind of cholesterol.
6. They also reduce excess fat from the body, so eating almonds for obese people can be beneficial for them. Apart from this, it is also beneficial for people who go to the gym and for athletes too.
7. Almonds Can Be Considered Brain Food
Almonds have a high level of neurotransmitter acetylcholine that is known to boost memory and prevents the brain from several diseases. The use of almonds protects people from Alzheimer’s disease. Likewise, vitamin E is effective for the eyes, so almonds are also good for eye health.
8. Almonds are low in carbohydrates and high in fibre, protein and vitamin E, so it is good for diabetics and helps in maintaining blood sugar levels. A few almonds after a meal can be beneficial.
9. Almonds are also rich in magnesium, which is not only good for bones, muscles and the heart but also controls stomach acidity, which can help with indigestion and constipation.
A few almonds daily are good but eating too much at one time can be harmful to health.