Home | About Natural News | Contact Us | Write for Natural News
Search our 25,000 free articles and special reports

Almonds Pack an Antioxidant Punch (press release)

Thursday, June 16, 2005 by: Mike Adams (see all articles by this author) | Key concepts: Almonds, Antioxidant and Flavonoids

Want stories like this e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

New Report: How to Build Your Financial Safety Net, by Mike Adams
Twelve ways to achieve prosperity during (and after) the global financial crisisclick here to read

• The 7 types of income streams   • 15 online resources   • The 18 basic human drivers you need to know   • Why the global financial crisis may now threaten your paycheck   • How to earn a living from doing what you LOVE!
Email this article to a friend Printable Version

Summary

It has been said that beauty is only skin deep. But for almonds, the skin is as deep as you may need to go to get a real antioxidant punch. In a study, published in this month's Journal of Nutrition, the antioxidants in almond skins and the vitamin E in almonds were shown to work together as an antioxidant team. The study was co-authored by researchers at the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Almond Board of California.

Researchers tested the brown skins of almonds to determine their antioxidant content. Almond skins have been known to contain antioxidants called flavonoids, which are a large group of plant nutrients found in wine, tea, fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids can act as antioxidants in the body protecting cells from damage. They also can protect LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, from being attacked by oxygen or oxidized, which makes LDL stickier and more likely to clog arteries. Additionally, these plant nutrients are thought to protect the body from the effects of aging.

Almonds contain a unique combination of antioxidants. Some of the 20 flavonoids identified in this analysis have been detected in other foods, such the catechins found in green tea, and naringenin, found in citrus fruit. "We have identified a unique combination of flavonoids in almonds," said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., senior scientist and director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University. "Further blood tests demonstrated that eating almonds with their skins significantly increases both flavonoids and vitamin E in the body. This could have significant health implications, especially as people age."

Almond antioxidants really make a heart healthy difference. It is one thing for a food to contain antioxidants but do they actually do anything in the body? The team at Tufts was able to test the flavonoids alone and then in combination with vitamin E, also naturally found in almonds, in the blood. The results suggest that vitamin E and the flavonoids in almond skins work synergistically to prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized. In fact, together vitamin E and almond flavonoids were more than twice as effective as when they were administered separately.

"The synergy between the flavonoids and vitamin E in almonds demonstrates how the nutrients in whole foods such as almonds can impact health," says Dr. Blumberg. "Given that almonds are among the richest sources of vitamin E in the diet and also provide an array of flavonoids, more research should be done to understand the healthful interaction of these plant nutrients in the human body and the role of almonds in aging."

Almonds have long been lauded for their heart health benefit. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (February 2005) found that eating almonds as part of a diet rich in heart healthy foods such as soy, viscous fiber and plant sterols can significantly reduce cholesterol levels as much as first generation statin drugs. And a study published this month in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that almonds, as part of that same heart healthy eating plan, can significantly reduce artery- damaging inflammation similar to statin drugs. The Food and Drug Administration recognizes the heart healthy benefit of almonds as well with a qualified health claim.

Almonds are nutritionally dense -- a quality emphasized in the government's latest Dietary Guidelines. Ounce for ounce, almonds are the most nutritionally dense nut. 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. In addition to its flavonoids, 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 protein and fiber. It also offers heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and iron.

Original source:

Details

  • Almonds Pack an Antioxidant Punch (press release)

Related Articles

Food Scam: Almond Board of California to falsely label pasteurized almonds as "raw"

Consumer groups join forces to reverse pasteurization ruling for raw almonds

The Killing of California Almonds (and why dead foods lead to dead people)

Almond Growers Sue USDA to Halt Mandatory Chemical Fumigation of Raw Almonds

Almond Board of California changes its story following NaturalNews article

Popular Topics:

Almonds, Antioxidant, Flavonoids, Diabetes, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Heart disease, Depression, High cholesterol, Osteoporosis, Vaccines, Autism, ADHD, Infertility, Weight loss, Cancer, Alzheimer's, Trans fats, Acrylamides, Fluoride, Mercury

Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com

Email this article to a friend

Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us

Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/008571.html

Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE

Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber!
  • Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more.
  • Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.
Your Email Address:
Free Subscription Code:
Enter the numbers you see:
100% free of charge. Unsubscribe anytime.
Absolutely no spam. We respect your email privacy.

Recommended Special Report:

Seven Words that can Change the World
by Joseph R. Simonetta

Read this special report now...

"Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com

More on NaturalNews.com:

Streaming Health Ranger Videos
CounterThink Cartoons
FREE Special Reports
Podcasts

Also Posted Today

New Special Report: How to Build Your Financial Safety Net

Study Suggests Vitamin D Improves Survival From Colorectal Cancer

Three Different Ways to Lower Your Risk of Heart Failure

Licorice Heals Ulcers, Inflammation, and Skin Conditions

Prescription Drugs Useless at Reducing Heart Disease Risk for the Obese

The Flavor Enhancer MSG Linked to Weight Gain, Obesity

Beat Disease With Juice Feasting!

NEW 6-CD audio set reveals amazing new protocol for reversing cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more. Click to learn more.

Own Health Ranger Report Podcasts on Audio CD

Own the first 8 Health Ranger Report audio programs on 6 CDs. Covers weight loss, ADHD, vaccinations, processed meats, bone health and more. Click to learn more.

Featured Videos

Short clip on Aspartame
A short clip on aspartame from the documentary All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive video on Aspartame
The dangers of aspartame! Exclusive interview footage from Cori Brackett of Sweet Remedy.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive Footage from All Jacked Up!
See interview footage featuring the Health Ranger in the upcoming junk food film, All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Drug Ad Parody
See the Health Ranger's satire parody of Merck's cholesterol drug ad.
Click here to view now...

Free Health Reports!

Amazon Herb Company review
The pH Nutrition Guide to Acid / Alkaline Balance
Pet Food Ingredients Revealed! (shocking)
Medicine From Fish
The Water Cure
The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D

Featured CounterThink Cartoons

The Plan for the Food Supply


The Killing of California Almonds


When doctors have nightmares


Health Product Companies We Recommend

Read recommendations on supplement companies, health food manufacturers and personal care product makers that you can trust. Our 100% independent review list tells you who to trust and who to avoid in the natural health industry. Click to read.
This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2008 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. Truth Publishing sells no health or nutritional products and earns no money from health product manufacturers or promoters. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.