Almond Meal: Its Importance for Gluten-Free and Low-Carb Cooking
The hype of low-fat diets may have led you to think that almonds are unhealthy. If you feel that way, here’s something you should consider: almonds contain a lot of essential nutrients, too!
“Almonds provide minerals, vitamins, fibre, and proteins, thereby offering various health benefits. A handful of these nuts covers one-eighth of a person’s regular protein requirement. Also, nuts like almonds will slash the chance of having a heart attack by half,” says Karina Wolfin, in charge of Fitness Equipment rental processing at Direct Appliance Rentals
If you want glossy hair, healthy digestion, and youthful skin, here’s everything you need to know about almond meals.
Almond Flour and Almond Meal: How Do They Differ?
Almond flour is usually made from blanched (skinless) almonds, while almond meals are made from either blanched or whole almonds. In both cases, the texture resembles cornmeal rather than wheat flour. While blanched almond flour produces a more refined and less grainy product, using almond meals and almond flours interchangeably wouldn’t cause much difference.
Gluten-free and Low-Carb Cooking with Almond Meal
Almond meal is a gluten-free flour substitute and a low-carb wheat-flour alternative. For a nutritious treat, try substituting almond meals for flour in baked goods. You can also combine almond meal, chocolate, caramelised coconut, and berries to make no-bake chocolate almond cookies. Then, either apply a generous amount of almond meal to your yogurt or oatmeal to add texture.
Health Benefits You’ll Get From Almond Meals
Thanks to their exceptional nutritional composition, almond meals have a host of health advantages worth mentioning.
1. It Helps Hold Blood Sugar Levels In Balance
Almond meals can help maintain blood sugar levels because of their low carbohydrate content. The high fat component often slows the synthesis of sugar and carbohydrates, which works to stabilise blood sugar levels.
2. It’s Good For The Heart
It’s also good to note that almonds and almond meals reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and boost HDL (good) cholesterol. High cholesterol levels are closely related to a higher risk of cardiac disease. Thus regular intake of almonds or almond meals may help lower the risk and keep your heart healthy.
3. It Is More Satisfying Than Regular Flour
Did you know that almond meal’s high protein and fibre content tend to leave you feeling satisfied longer? In other words, you’ll be likely to stop hunger pangs and feel much more satiated between meals.
4. Almond Meal Is Ideal For Those On A Gluten-free Or Low-carb Diet
If you have a gluten sensitivity or allergy, almond meals are a great addition to your home-cooked meal. Almonds are gluten-free; thus, almond meals unlock a world of opportunities, such as baked goods, that would otherwise be unavailable to gluten-free diets.
5. Complements Keto or Paleo Diet
An almond meal is best suited for those adopting keto or paleo diets. It contains only 4 grams of carbs (total carbs minus fibre) per serving, making it a better keto-friendly option. Additionally, its high saturated fat content (15 grams each serving) makes it a fat-heavy ingredient for keto dieters.
On the other hand, regular flour produces around 23 grams of net carbs per portion, which means that one scoop would satisfy a large amount of your daily carb allocation on keto.
Where To Get Your Supply of Organic Almond Meals?
Almond meals provide a host of essential nutrients and may be an excellent protein source for those who consume a plant-based diet. They are often adaptable, and people can add them to their diet in a variety of ways.
Get your supply of almond meal at Naked Foods. We are a natural food shop that looks at organic, healthy, and sustainable ways of eating as our mission—all we want is for you to enjoy food more without feeling guilty.
References:
- Ryan Raman, MS, RD (2017) Why Almond Meals Is Better Than Most Other Flours. Healthline
- Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH (2020), Health Benefits of Almond Flour. Nourish by WebMD
- Anna Hopkins (2021), The Difference Between Almond Flour and Almond Meal. PBco.
- Sylvie Tremblay, MSc, (2021), Almond Meal Nutrition. Live Strong
- Almonds:The Nutrition Source (2021) Harvard School of Public Health
- Yvette Brazier (2019), The Health Benefits of Almonds. The Medical News Today
About The Author: Kayla Cox
Kayla Cox is an experienced freelance writer. She is an avid yogini and enjoys writing about trends and developments in all areas related to health and wellbeing. In 2015, Kayla weighed 85kg and needed to lose 20 pounds or risk getting diabetes.
She lost the weight, not to be “fit’ but to be healthy. In order to understand the essence of health, she conducted extensive research and interviews with health practitioners. Writing about her journey, she helps other people who, like her are in need of a lifestyle change.
