Almond Benefits: 10 Reasons to Snack on These Nutty Delights

Crunchy, nutty and full of goodness - almonds when included in shakes, smoothies or desserts automatically take the delectability quotient a notch up. They work wonders as natural flavour enhancers by rendering a sweet, earthy aroma to the dish.

If you like your food with added crunch, there is nothing like adding coarsely pounded almonds to your preparation. Sweet or savoury, these brown-cased nuts are versatile enough to get along with an array of preparations. Tossed in salads, baked into puddings, breads, cakes or simply added in curries, shakes, smoothies or candied - there is a world of quirky preparations that can be raked up and plated using these nutty delights.Interestingly, almonds have been an active part of Ayurveda and home remedies since centuries in India. The essential immunity boosting powder, popularly known as churans/choorna as well as chyawanprash, make use of almonds. I remember my grandmother talking about badam pak, which would be mixed in milk and given to me twice a day. She believed that it induces good health, facilitates good digestion and strengthens immunity. My father would always soak two-three almonds and give them to me first thing in the morning, he believed them to be beneficial in increasing brain power.