Carbohydrate-Guide

Almonds are not only tasty but did you know that for if you’re watching carbs almonds are not only a good carb they are a very healthy one. Whether added to low-fat yogurt, included in a healthy trail mix, or munched on their own, almonds have a toasty crunch that’s perfect for any time of day, and for many other foods. 1) New research supports almonds’ ability to lower cholesterol. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition provides more evidence that almonds are one of the most heart-healthy foods around. The study finds that when directly compared to first-generation statins, a certain heart-healthy dietary approach including almonds is just as effective in lowering LDL, or ‘bad,” cholesterol below the recommended range for heart disease prevention.

2) Almonds are nutritionally dense — a quality emphasized in the government’s latest Dietary Guidelines. Almonds are the most nutritionally dense nut, whether compared calorie per calorie or ounce per ounce. The recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 encourage Americans to choose nutritionally dense foods — that is, to get the most nutrition possible out of the calories you eat. A one-ounce, 164-calorie serving of almonds, or about a handful, is an excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium, and a good source of fiber. It also offers heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and iron.

3) Eating almonds may help maintain or even lose weight. A recent study in the International Journal of Obesity found that adding a daily ration of almonds to a low-calorie diet enhanced weight loss, as well as significantly improved risk factors associated with heart disease, when compared to a low- fat, low-calorie diet. Researchers cited almonds’ heart-healthy monounsaturated fat as being very satiating, helping satisfy the appetite and prevent patients from overeating.

[via About]