Almonds are recognised as one of the most nutritious nuts which on top of having a delicious taste they are also very beneficial to our health.

Almonds help strengthen bones, allow skin and hair to look healthy and moisturised, reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases, plus strengthen and protect the walls of the arteries against any damage that may occur . Almonds contain fat, but it does not harm the metabolism at all. On the contrary those people who consume almonds regularly are more prone to lose excess weight. Frequent consumption of almonds encourages the brain to have a greater activity, which reduces the risk of degenerative diseases as Alzheimers. Almonds and in general all nuts are foods of great benefit for our organism with their high amounts of fibres, abundant proteins, minerals, vitamins B and E, and also healthy fats.

The most common way to enjoy almonds is to incorporate them into the salads, in shakes, and adding them to different desserts. You can also prepare a mix of several nuts to which you can add your almonds. Another way to consume them easily and without complications is to simply eat them by themselves, in the middle of the morning or in the afternoon as a rich snack.

Here are 3 very different ways in which you can add almonds to your healthy culinary repertoire!

Organic Almond Milk

Ingredients

2 cup raw almonds- soaked overnight

8 cups pure filtered water

seeds from 1 vanilla bean (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)

4 medjool dates

Method

Soak almonds overnight

Blend almonds with pure water

Blend several minutes until smooth and creamy.

Strain mixture into a large bowl through a sprout bag, new dish cloth or kitchen towel.

Put mixture back into blender with vanilla and dates

Pour into jar store in fridge for up to one week.

Blueberry Almond Oat Cakes

A simple recipe to use up your almond pulp after making almond milk.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp chia seeds

1/3 cup water

3 medium very ripe bananas

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups almond pulp or almond meal & 1 TBL water

1 cup rolled oats

1 punnet blueberries

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius and line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease with coconut oil

In a large bowl, mix chia seeds and water.

Next add bananas and mash.

Add baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt stirring to combine.

Add almond pulp and rolled oats and stir once more.

Once combined, fold blueberries in.

Divide batter evenly into muffin tins. Smooth top smooth them before you bake.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove and let rest in pan for 5 minutes. Then cool all the way on a cooling rack.

Salted Caramel Smoothie

This recipe is so easy and delicious with the use of only wholesome, natural and healthy ingredients. It’s also a great hormone-balancing recipe for men and women with the addition of Maca.
Ingredients:

11/2 cup almond milk

1 banana

3 pitted medjool dates

2 tbsp maca powder

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch himalayan sea salt

Method:
Blend and serve!
Serves 2

Recipes by

Carrie-Anne Fields