Of all the things to love about almonds, this one should really get your heart pumping: just a handful of almonds provides several key nutrients that contribute to cardiovascular health, including the essential fat linoleic acid, and the essential nutrients magnesium and calcium.And that’s good news for just about everyone as cardiovascular disease holds its spot as the leading cause of death among men and women in the EU.
California Almonds are rich in nutrients and cholesterol-free, making them a deliciously tempting option for smarter meals and snacks. And research shows that several nutrients in almonds can help support a healthy heart, including the essential fat, linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a healthy polyunsaturated fat that can help maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.
EU guidelines 3 demonstrate that almonds are a naturally high source of other additional nutrients that may help support heart health including thiamin and vitamin E by maintaining proper heart function and protecting cells against free radical damage.4
1. Linoleic acid claim: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/fr/scdocs/doc/1276.pdf
Magnesium claim: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/scdocs/doc/1216.pdf
Calcium claim: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/doc/1210.pdf
2. A handful of almonds (approximately 28 g) contains ~3.4 g of linoleic acid, which is more than 15% of the proposed labeling reference intake value of 10 g linoleic acid per day. Therefore, almonds qualify for the normal blood cholesterol claim associated with linoleic acid content.
3. Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20th December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. Official Journal of the European Union 18.1.2007, L 12/3.
4. Thiamin claim: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1222.htm#
Vitamin E claim: www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1816.pdf
