Training & Nutrition - The Joy of Almonds

Greetings -- I am a lurker for the most part and am impressed in all parts with the knowledge on this page. How many of you incorporate almonds into your daily or weekly diet? I see more people than ever before purchasing almonds and continue to hear snipets about the positive health benefits of consuming nuts on a regular basis. Do you agree almonds are as helpful as claimed?

I have lost many, many pounds by cutting fat and excess carbos from my diet along with a structured exercise regime. Consuming almonds or other nuts strikes me as counter-productive because of the fat content. How do other health minded folks view these tradeoffs?

Thanks very much.

I eat about a handful of almonds a day. Almonds contain mono-unsaturated fat, considered by the mainstream medical community to be beneficial in raising HDL (good cholesterol). There's no downside, unless you eat too many ;) .

You need some fat in your diet, especially if you're exercising regularly. And the fat in almonds is monounsaturated. It's a good source of energy and nutrients.

Be warned though that roasting almonds removed a great deal of the good aspects. Eat 'em raw.

Az

I soak 6-8 almonds in water every night, next morning they're plump, with a lot more amino acids (that make proteins) than if you ate them dry. Try it.

I used to have 5-10 as a snack, twice a day.

I soak 6-8 almonds in water every night, next morning they're plump, with a lot more amino acids (that make proteins) than if you ate them dry.

Explain this magical reaction to me, please.


I like almonds. They're a great source of "good" fats and some protein. They taste good too. Walnuts are also good. Most nuts! Well, unless you're allergic. Then, not so good.

If you need those fats, flaxseed oil and fish oils will do the trick.

Well its simple, when you soak them, the almond will absorb the water and the embryo inside will wake up, it will then start the protein manufacturing machinary so that the almond plant can start growing. So you will get more amino acids/proteins from the soaked almonds compared to dry ones. Also, they are easier to chew and they're great in oatmeal. My recipe:

1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup skim milk
boil for 3 minutes in microwave

add 6 overnight soaked almonds
add 1 banana
add 1 scoop whey protein
add 1 tablespoon low sugar fruit jelly

Enjoy.

Me! Me! and would rather have Almond butter (organic and raw) than peanut butter

I knew a woman that was allergic to most nuts except almonds, go figure :)

I simply despise almonds. I check the label of anything I buy to be sure that almonds are not listed as an ingredient.

If you need those fats, flaxseed oil and fish oils will do the trick.

Yes but those taste like ass and make you burp ass-tasting burps all day long.



I remain skeptical of the soaking-increases-amino-acids claim. Got a link to a reputable reference? I could see if you actually started the sprouting process, which would take some fairly carefully controlled introduction (and subsequent removal) of moisture but I don't buy overnight doing that.

I said what I know from my knowledge as a biologist. Its true for any nut or seed, once the sprouting process gets started, the proteins are made at a high rate. Maybe soaking overnight is not the perfect solution, but who has time to soak 6 almonds for 2 hours and then take them out and store in some moistened container for the rest of the time. I just think its better to have soaked ones than dry ones. But you dont' have to take my word on it. Enjoy what you like.

The reason they are plump is that they absorb some water, not that they started mass producing amino acids overnight.

Me! Me! and would rather have Almond butter (organic and raw) than peanut butter

I knew a woman that was allergic to most nuts except almonds, go figure :)

Perhaps it's because an almond is not a nut, but a fruit. And the peanut is a pea, not a nut.

Wierd, huh?

Well I'm a nut and a fruit, but that's a whole 'nother story....

Jethro, you said you've lost a lot of weight. So be aware that nuts have a lot of calories. A serving is just the amount that will fit in the palm of your hand in a single layer. If you eat much more than that, you might want to cut some other food to compensate for the calories. I do agree that nuts are good for you and I eat some almost every day. Peanut butter is my real downfall!

I wish I would eat more almonds, but THEY'RE SO STINKING EXPENSIVE! I try to sneak a handful when I'm at my gf's mom's house :)

If you have an Indian grocery store in your area, try them for almonds. I buy 14 oz packet of almonds for $5 at one such store.

Fats slow stomach-emptying and make you feel full. It's not bad to have some fats, as long as they are good fats.

Almonds make my stomach hurt, but I regularly eat pistachios. As a snack, they're pretty good. Yes, they have a lot of fat, but that helps me feel full when I'm done.

But I don't eat them all the time...

Eric
6' 2', 170#

A can a week is all we ask.;)

You can buy them at TJs fairly cheaply as well.

we don't have those yet, but they're puttin' one right down the street. Everybody's pretty excited...not sure when it's opening though

Hey, pretty tricky title: Almond Joy

Soaking almonds is essentially germinating them. Sure, they plump up because they are filled with water, which is not a bad thing. But it does start the growth process and there are a lot more enzymes. They are also much easier to digest, and they taste a lot better. Live foods are much healthier for you than not! :)

We use Trader Joes almond butter (less than $5). Occasionally I toss back a few almonds (maybe 10). Sometimes I sprinkle sliced almonds on my salads. Also use sunflower seeds, pecans, occasionally peanuts but they're the low nutritional man on the seeds & nuts totem pole (yes I know, they're not seeds nor nuts). Have flax seeds also for salads, but you need to grind them up or you don't digest them. Wife doesn't like walnuts so rarely use them. I believe it's also better to eat granola/meuseli (with nuts/seeds/dried fruits) for breakfast than cereal that is loaded in carbs with little else. Pre-ride is high-GI carb-loaded cereals though.

Soaking almonds is essentially germinating them. Sure, they plump up because they are filled with water, which is not a bad thing. But it does start the growth process and there are a lot more enzymes. They are also much easier to digest, and they taste a lot better. Live foods are much healthier for you than not! :)


but but but but...

the only proof you have that the almond is not dead when you get it
is to let it soak until it actually splits and sends a shoot

otherwise, I think you are dreaming about the amino factory

processing raw almonds for delivery as food kills lots of them