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Nutritional Choice of the Month - January 2007: Almonds
Good fat is not an oxymoron. I repeat, good fat is not an oxymoron. Unsaturated fat, the type of fat found in foods such as fish and nuts, has been proven to be beneficial for overall health. Not only do the aforementioned sources contain healthy fats that have been proven to lower “bad cholesterol,” (LDLs), but they are also good sources of protein. It should also be mentioned that nuts (i.e. almonds, cashews, and walnuts) contain no cholesterol as they are plant-based sources of protein.
Almonds are a very good source of vitamin E and manganese. Although one-quarter cup of almonds contains about 18 grams of fat, most of it (11 grams) is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.
Enjoy a handful (1/4 cup is one serving) of reduced-sodium almonds when hunger strikes in the mid-morning or late afternoon while sitting at your desk at work to tide you over until your next meal. They are a decent source of fiber and make a better choice than that bag of chips from the vending machine that is loaded with sodium and empty calories.