Because of this, this nut is an excellent summertime snack!
You've probably heard about all of the well-known benefits of eating almonds regularly, such as how they can help lower cholesterol, blood sugar and even provide a vitamin E boost. While these are all excellent reasons to include almonds in your daily diet, there is a critical effect of eating almonds that you may not be aware of—but which can have a significant impact on your health. Almonds can genuinely help your skin look better and protect it from the sun.
Yes, you read that correctly. Almonds can help you maintain a youthful appearance. To us, this appears to be a significant influence! Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Diabetes Lifestyle Expert with DiabetesEveryDay, author of Diabetes Meal Planning and Nutrition for Dummies, and a representative for the Almond Board of California, gave us some nuts about this popular snack food.
"When it comes to skin health, start your day with a handful of almonds as your second layer of protection after using sunscreen," Smithson advises. "Women who ate almonds had longer periods of UVB exposure to show any telltale indications of sunburn, according to a new UCLA study."
How many almonds do you need to eat to get this fantastic skin benefit? "Munch on 1 1/2 ounces of almonds (approximately 35 almonds) before you go out in the sun," Smithson recommends.
"They're also a terrific portable snack," Smithson adds, "so you can take them with you when you go outside." "The researchers believe that the improved photoprotection against UVB rays is due to excellent mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, quercetin (a flavonoid), and other phenolic and polyphenolic substances contained in almonds."
Almonds can be a valuable addition to your skincare routine in addition to protecting your skin from the sun. Another 6-month study from the University of California found that eating 2 ounces of almonds daily can reduce wrinkle severity by 16 percent and improve overall skin pigmentation intensity (specifically on your face).
"The researchers speculate that vitamin E and niacin may play a role in these effects," Smithson adds. "However, the findings underline the importance of viewing almonds as a whole diet with various nutrient components that interact together rather than oversimplifying benefits to single elements."
So, if you're planning a day in the sun, bring a little bag of almonds with you for extra skin protection—and a tasty afternoon snack.