42 43 The almond is full of highly beneficial properties since it contains a large quantity of unsaturated fat, proteins, mineral salts and vitamins. It is rich in magnesium, an element that contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, in phosphor, that helps in the normal energetic metabolism, and in copper, that helps to protect the cells from oxidative stress. The high lipid quality is a fundamental feature of almond. In fact, it contains a lot of fat, but most of it is classified as monounsaturated. Therefore, this is good fat that can reduce the levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and increase the level of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL), which brings many advantages to the cardiovascular system. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that one snack made of almonds per day, replacing a snack with a high carbohydrate content, is beneficial for consumers concerning the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal adiposity. The research, subdivided into 2 periods of 6 weeks each, involved 48 persons with high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and consisted in administering a specific diet to decrease cholesterol by using almonds (40 g per day) and an identical diet in which the almonds have been replaced by an isocaloric muffin. The amount of saturated fat and cholesterol contributed did not differ between both types of diet. The diet including almond snacks determined a decrease in ‘bad’ cholesterol, while the control diet showed a drop in ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) level. In addition, almond consumption reduced abdominal fat and fat in the legs, without interfering with the body’s total weight. From these results we can deduce that one snack of almond a day, instead of one with a high level of carbohydrates, can be a simple strategy to prevent cardiometabolic diseases in healthy individuals¹. The content of vitamin E in this fruit is exceptional: every 100 g of peeled almonds contain vitamin E equal to 198% of the nutritional value of reference, while for shelled almonds this value rises to 219%. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant, that is why sweet almond oil is very much used to prepare medicinal ointments, emulsions and soaps, and it is also widely used in perfumery and cosmetics. properties 1. J Am Heart Assoc. 2015 Jan 5;4(1):e000993. Effects of daily almond consumption on cardiometabolic risk and abdominal adiposity in healthy adults withelevated LDL-cholesterol: a randomized controlled trial. Berryman CE, West SG, Fleming JA, Bordi PL, Kris-Etherton PM. If we try to follow the tracks of the almond, we will discover that this nut has not only an essential gastronomic value as a delicious ingredient in many recipes, but also a fascinating symbolic value. The almond tree and its fruits have been celebrated and venerated for thousands of years in many places around the world, and this is a common feature that transcends borders and frontiers and unites countries ideally. The almond tree (Prunus dulcis) is a species of tree native to South-west Asia belonging to the Rosaceae family. It has a long life and grows up to 5-10 m in height. The flowers are white or pale pink with five petals. They usually blossom at the beginning of spring, and if the climate is mild, they also blossom in late January. The fruit is a drupe divided into a fleshy green exocarp, called hull, and a woody endocarp called shell inside which there is the edible seed or almond. The place of origin of the almond tree is Central Asia, where even today there are many wild species throughout the mountain areas from Tian Shan to Azerbaijan, Turkestan, Afghanistan and Iran. Domestic almonds appeared in the Early Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC) and some almond fruits were found inside Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt (around 1325 BC). The almond tree was then spread all over the Mediterranean area by Phoenicians who imported it to Sicily during their trips. Romans knew almonds under the name of ‘Greek walnut’ and it was already mentioned in the manuscripts of Virgil, Horace and Columella. The almond tree is also present on the ‘pharmacological prescriptions’ by Scribonius Largus and on Pliny’s works in the first century AD. The geographical spread of the plant was thanks to the Romans who took the almond tree to the foot of the Alps and beyond. The properties of almond, already known or intuited by Hippocrates, were recognised by the Arabs and it was them who spread them to all the countries of the Mediterranean basin in the Middle Ages, to every official pharmacopoeia and even in popular medicine. The almond tree was introduced in North America back in the sixteenth century, while the plant arrived in Chile in the second half of the seventeenth century. The almond tree is given a symbolic role and it is revered in many Asian cultures and it is even mentioned in the Bible. For example, in Syria and Israel when the almond trees flower, this marks the New Year of the Trees or Tu BiShvat, a Jewish holiday that takes place between late January and early February. No wonder the Hebrew word for almond means ‘agitated or shaken’, which recalls the laboriousness and vivacity of the tree. In the Bible, the almond is mentioned ten times; in the Book of Genesis 43:11, it is described as ‘among the best of fruits’. Due to its early flowering it is a sign of rebirth for prophet Jeremiah. In the Exodus, God tells Moses to take the flowers as a model to forge gold to make the seven-branch Jewish lampstand or menorah. In the pagan tradition, almond tree cultivation leads to the legend of beautiful Phyllis, princess of the Thracians who fell in love with Demophon. He followed the Achaeans in the Trojan War, and when survivors returned to their cities after ten years of war, Phyllis died due to the despair of not seeing her Demophon coming back. Goddess Athena, taking pity on this tragedy, wanted to turn the princess into a wonderful almond tree. When Demophon, who was not dead, returned to his homeland and found out the destiny of Phyllis, he hugged the almond tree. In return the tree blossomed with perfumed flowers on its branches. The almond tree also belongs to ancient folk traditions in Spain; according to an Arab legend, Muslim caliph Abd al-Rahman III ordered to plant some almond trees in the garden around his palace near Cordoba to see a smile back into the face of his beloved wife Azahara, who suffered from homesickness. The view of white flowers resembling the pure mantle of snow of the Sierra Nevada reminded Azahara of the view she used to admire from her own room in Granada. al nocciolo to the core
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