The Bottom Line: Learn something new about almonds.
The Full Story:
- Almonds need really hot weather and cool winters to grow
- They are 100% reliant on wild bees and honey bees for crop pollination. In other words: bees, no almonds
- Almond growers rent bees for pollination and it’s one of the most costly issues for growers
- Bees are fussy little fellows; they don’t work in the rain, at night, in the early morning, or when there’s frost
- The immature green almond can be preserved and pickled — some consider it a delicacy
- Of the 8 major varieties of almonds, the Nonpareil are the most prized (all have the same nutritional profile)
- There are 98 published research papers to date (with 19 more in progress) on the health effects of almonds, in particular their effect on heart health, diabetes and weight management
- Almonds were one of the first foods awarded a qualified health claim in the US
- Almonds help to slow absorption of sugar and carbs
- Recent studies show almonds eaten mid-morning can help moderate your blood sugar throughout the day.