To peel or not to peel: What is the best way to eat almonds?

Have you too been given a handful of almonds by your mom in order to increase the memory power? Well, from boosting memory and lowering cholesterol levels to providing healthy fats and keeping a check on blood sugar levels, almonds are associated with a number of health benefits. When it comes to consuming something, eating them in the right manner is of utmost essential in order to derive maximum benefits from it. If you too wonder what is the best way to have almonds, read on till the end.

To eat almonds with or without the skin? A lot of debate happens on the benefits of consuming almonds in a particular form. While you can safely eat raw or roasted almonds, there are some extra benefits you can get by having soaked and peeled almonds.

The skin of the almonds is difficult to digest. Moreover, almond skin contains tannins, which lowers the rate of nutrient absorption.

While raw almonds are hard to chew, soaking makes them softer and juicier. Soaking them overnight in warm water lowers the phytic acid content of almonds. A high concentration of phytic acid can lower calcium, zinc and manganese absorption. All these reasons clubbed together are good enough to prove that having soaked almonds are best for you.

Soaked almonds are also full of magnesium which is helpful for people with type 2 diabetes. A proper dose of magnesium also reduces high cholesterol which further reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The easiest way to have soaked almonds is by soaked 3-4 almonds at night and having them in the morning after peeling them. This will give you an instant energy boost which is most-needed in the morning.

You can add almonds to your cereal bowl, oats, smoothies and shakes to make breakfast more nutritious. You can also have soaked almonds as a snack by pairing them up with some raisins, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. Almonds also taste amazing in homemade barfis, laddoos, cookies, granola bars and the classic halwa.

Make sure you don’t consume more than 6-8 almonds on a daily basis, as an excess of it can lead to weight gain and can also increase body heat. To be on the safe side, 3-4 almonds on a daily basis are sufficient for you.