Health benefits & cosmetic uses of almonds

In ancient times sweet almond was considered as a healing food and praised for increasing vitality, improving skin complexion and body's capabilities to resist intoxication. Systematic research led to believe that almonds are more beneficial to health than assumed to be earlier.

• Studies carried out by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund have revealed that almonds had several substances as their chemical constituents which could be useful in the prevention of cancer.

• Two flavonoids in almonds ( quercetin and kaempferol ) were found to be strong suppressors of lung and prostate tumor growth and these plant chemicals inhibited the tumor cell growth in culture in the studies at Pennsylvania State University

• Flavonoids found in almonds also suppressed breast cancer cell growth when these cells have been exposed to cancer-causing agents as evident from other research findings.

• Other health benefits included loss in weight and reduction in blood pressure and reduction in risk of recurrent coronary heart disease

• Significant improvement in blood lipid profiles among people who replaced 50% of their habitual fat intake with either whole almonds or almond oil for six weeks in a study conducted by the University of California at Davis. There was no significant difference between whole almonds or almond oil for reduction of ‘bad’ cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats as well as other lipid-related compounds present in almond oil were considered to be responsible for their cholesterol-lowering effects

• There are several other health benefits associated with almonds since almonds are rich in vitamin E, magnesium and potassium and are a good source of manganese, copper and vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

Use of almond oil

Indians believe that use of almond oil has following benfits:

• Strengthens brain and nerves, is a nutrient,

• Relieves tension

• Strengthens brain power

• Good for heart

• Keeps body warm in winter

• Nourishes skin

• Prenatal and postnatal care

• Helps build stronger bones as it contains higher content of Ca, Fe and P

• Good for infants

• Improves body strength and removes constipation in a natural way:

How to use almonds?

People use almonds in different ways in India as a remedy for following ailments:

Improves memory and weakness of the brain if:

1. 5-10 ml of almond oil is mixed with 250 ml of milk at night and consumed.
2. Applied externally on head and 2-3 drops are put inside the nose and ears.
3. rSoak 10 pieces of almond nuts overnight in water and Remove the hard covering in morning and grind with 10 g butter and sugar and eat for one or two months.
4. Alternately 5-6 pieces of almonds are ground with 10 g sugar and Saunf and taken with hot milk in night for 40 days

Improvement in eye-sight

• Make a paste of 5 almonds with water in night and use it with warm milk in the morning

  • Also heals the spots caused due to small pox
  • Tooth powder: burn coverings of few almonds and powder it in 5: 1 ratio with alumina
  Dry lips:
  • Intake of 5 grains of almonds
  Dry cough:
  • Grind 5 pieces of almonds and make a paste with sugar. It will remove cough
  Increase in weight:
  • Soak overnight 12 almonds in water and grind in morning after removing scalp. Make sandwith with bread butter and sugar and drink a glass of water for six months
  Stammering:
  • Eating with butter or black pepper corrects speech problems

  Jaundice:

  • Soak overnight 6 almonds, 3 small Ilaichi +2 Chhuare, in a earthen pot and grind in morning with 70 g mishree +50 g butter . Give it to patient and will clear urine in 3 days

  Wrinkles/spots:

• Make paste of 5 almonds soaked overnight and put it in a glass bottle. Mix 6 g rose water + 15 drops of sandal scent . Apply thrice in a day on the face and spots.