Do you like almonds?
I absolutely love them! Especially in the form of almond milk, as I like to add it to my morning coffee and afternoon Chai Latte. Then I like to munch on them in their natural shell-free or blanched salted form. When I bake, I will use them as flour in some cakes, and then there is a food of my childhood chocolate-coated marzipan made of almond paste. Every time I eat it, it brings back memories of my mum, who loved chocolate-coated marzipan.
What are almonds, and why are they good for us?
I always thought almonds were nuts, but they are teardrop-shaped edible seeds that are the fruit of the almond tree. They are high in fat, but much of it is in the form of monounsaturated fats. This fat is good for us as it helps to protect our heart by maintaining levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol often referred to as” bad “cholesterol in our blood.
Almonds contain many nutrients such as dietary fiber, protein, fat (but more than half of it is monounsaturated fat), vitamin E, Magnesium, Manganese, copper, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. They are also high in phytic acid, which is considered a healthy antioxidant; it slightly reduces the amount of iron, zinc, and calcium you get from almonds. Calcium and phosphorus are good for our bone health as they can protect us from fractures.
A healthy intake is about 28 grams = max 21-23 pieces of almonds per day. Overdosing on almonds can cause some side effects.
Almonds are very versatile. At Vita Canis, we like to use them as Sweet Almond Oil. Sweet almond oil is used in some of your favourite Vita Canis products, such as Comfort Blend and Hand Butter.
Are almonds good for our doggies?
Dogs cannot properly digest the proteins present in almonds. But they can still benefit from its nutrients, such as niacin, also known as vitamin B3, which is good for your dog’s skin, hair, eyes, and liver. (Present, e.g., in almond butter). Almonds are not directly toxic if properly processed but can cause gastrointestinal distress, obesity, and pancreatitis.
If you are looking for vitamin E content, almond butter is the right choice as it has significantly higher vitamin E than peanut butter. It can be used in moderation as an occasional treat for your dog. You can spread it, for example, on a licky mat or bake doggie cookies using almond butter.
Bea xx