Lake Edge United Church of Christ

For Our Souls and Minds: There is no great and no small, to the Soul that maketh all… – Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Our Bodies: Oh, the not-so-humble almond. In ancient
Greece, the almond tree was indeed seen as special because it was the only tree that flowered before developing leaves. In ancient Rome, newlyweds were showered with almonds as a blessing of fertility.

But almonds are interesting in other ways, too. This nut is
actually related to stone fruits like cherries, peaches, apricots and plums. In fact, some almond extracts are made from apricot stones because the tastes are so similar. Almond trees are dormant in winter months, and harvested in the fall.

Raw or roasted, almonds are pasteurized before packaging, thus eliminating unsafe bacteria. To keep almonds fresh, all we need to do is store them in a cool, dry place; and we can freeze whole almonds for up to two years.

Almonds are the most nutrient dense of the tree nuts. They are a good source of protein, and are high in antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, calcium, copper and iron as well as vitamin E. They are also a good source of monounsaturated fat – the good fat that is needed for heart health. Also, because they are high in fiber, almonds help to satisfy our hunger, and so they are a good snack choice between meals.

Another benefit of eating almonds is their positive effect on blood cholesterol levels. A variety of studies have shown that almonds can lower cholesterol levels and potentially reduce the risk of heart disease. That’s good news for nut lovers!

To find some good almond recipe ideas, search under “almond recipes” in www.eatingwell.com for “there is no great and no small”, just a delicious and healthy tree nut waiting for us to discover its virtues.