What Happens If You Eat 4 Almonds A Day

Almonds are an excellent food to eat every day because they are full of protein, vitamins, and fiber. Eating them regularly is thought to reduce your risk of health problems like cancer, heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

And though they also have a fair amount of fat, it is mostly the healthy monounsaturated kind that actually protects your heart. Still, almonds contain quite a few calories, so it’s best to eat them in moderation.

It may sound incredible that just four daily almonds could do anything at all for your health, but it’s true! In one ounce of almonds you’ll get 3.5 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, and 9 grams of monounsaturated fat. Almonds also deliver a good amount of vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. Present in smaller yet significant amounts is copper, calcium, riboflavin, iron, zinc, and phosphorus.

So what can all that goodness do for your body? You’ll be surprised by these 7 important benefits that occur if you eat at least 4 almonds every day.

1. Healthier Cholesterol Levels

Almonds are great for reducing bad LDL cholesterol while increasing good HDL cholesterol. That’s important because high cholesterol puts you at risk for all sorts of health complications, including heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

When you substitute almonds for an unhealthy snack like chips or candy, you can reduce your bad cholesterol by up to 10%. The benefit is linked to the vitamin E content within the nutmeat, and the flavonoids contained in the papery skin of the almond. Together, they prevent the development of artery-clogging plaque

2. Stronger, Shinier Hair

Almonds are uniquely positioned to give you virtually all the vitamins and minerals necessary to improve the condition of your hair. To stimulate growth, almonds have magnesium and zinc. Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that reduce oxidative stress and make hair stronger. And finally, the vitamin B thickens strands and imparts a natural shine.

Incidentally, applying almond oil to your scalp can prevent dandruff and soften and nourish hair strands directly. Almond oil has been used as a beauty product for both hair and skin since the ancient Egyptians held almonds as one of the ultimate luxury products.

3. Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease

There are many ingredients in almonds that make them a heart smart snack. The monounsaturated fats can help control high cholesterol, for one. But the fiber, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and plant sterols all benefit heart health as well.

Almonds are also a great source of l-arginine, which has been shown to make the artery walls more flexible and thus less likely to develop blood clots that can block blood flow and cause cardiac arrest. To get all of these heart health benefits, be sure to eat the shell as well.