Almond
Edgar Cayce, a man regarded as the father of American holistic medicine, also highly favoured the almond. In his readings, Cayce often recommended that almonds be included in the diet. Claimed health benefits include improved complexion, improved movement of food through the colon and the prevention of cancer.[16] Recent research associates the inclusion of almonds in the diet with elevating the blood levels of high density lipoproteins and of lowering the levels of low density lipoproteins.[17][18]
A controlled trial showed that 73g of almonds in the daily diet reduced LDL cholesterol by as much as 9.4%, reduced the LDL:HDL ratio by 12.0%, and increased HDL-cholesterol (i.e., the good cholesterol) by 4.6%.[19][20]
In Ayurveda, an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent, almond is considered a nutritive for brain and nervous system. It is said to induce high intellectual level and longevity. Almond oil is called Roghan Badam in both Ayurveda and Unani Tibb (the Greco-Persian System of Medicine). It is extracted by cold process and is considered a nutritive aphrodisiac both for massage and internal consumption. Recent studies have shown that the constituents of almond have anti-inflammatory, immunity boosting, and anti-hepatotoxicity effects.[21]
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Cultural aspects
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This section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (February 2008) |
The almond is highly revered in some cultures.
The tree grows in Syria and Palestine, and is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. The Hebrew name, שָׁקֵד "shaked", means industrious or vigilant, which is appropriate, as the almond is one of the first trees to flower in Israel, usually in early February, coinciding with Tu Bishvat, the Jewish arbor day.
In ancient Israel, the almond was a symbol of watchfulness and promise due to its early flowering, symbolizing God's sudden and rapid punishment of His people; in Jeremiah 1:11-12, for instance. In the Bible the almond is mentioned ten times, beginning with Book of Genesis 43:11, where it is described as "among the best of fruits". In Numbers 17 Levi is chosen from the other tribes of Israel by Aaron's rod, which brought forth almond flowers. According to tradition, the rod of Aaron bore sweet almonds on one side and bitter on the other; if the Israelites followed the Lord, the sweet almonds would be ripe and edible, but if they were to forsake the path of the Lord, the bitter almonds would predominate. The almond blossom supplied a model for the menorah which stood in the Holy Temple, "Three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, were on one branch, with a knob and a flower; and three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, were on the other...on the candlestick itself were four cups, shaped like almond blossoms, with its knobs and flowers" (Exodus 25:33-34; 37:19-20). Similarly, Christian symbolism often uses almond branches as a symbol of the Virgin Birth of Jesus; paintings often include almonds encircling the baby Jesus and as a symbol of Mary.
The word "Luz", which appears in Genesis 30:37, is usually translated as "hazel", but some believe it is another name for the almond (Luz in Arabic means Almonds). In India, consumption of almonds is believed to be good for the brain, while the Chinese consider it a symbol of enduring sadness and female beauty.
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Etymology
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This section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (February 2008) |
The word "almond" comes from Old French almande or alemande, late Latin amandola, derived through a form amingdola from the Greek αμυγδαλη (cf Amygdala), an almond. The al- for a- may be due to a confusion with the Arabic article al, the word having first dropped the a- as in the Italian form mandorla; the British pronunciation ah-mond and the modern Catalan ametlla and modern French amande show a form of the word closer to the original.
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See also
- Almond milk, a milky drink made from ground almonds, similar to soy milk
- Almond Biscuit
- Almond Joy, a candy bar
- Fruit trees
- Fruit tree forms
- Fruit tree propagation
- List of edible seeds
- Marzipan
- Nougat
- Pruning fruit trees
- Turrón, a nougat-like Spanish dessert made from almonds
- History and Tradition of Jordan Almonds
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References
- ^ Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz
- ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Prunus dulcis
- ^ a b Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ^ a b Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
- ^ a b c Zohary, D., & Hopf, M. (2000). Domestication of plants in the Old World, p. 186. Third edition, Oxford University Press.
- ^ Diamond, J. (1999). Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, p. 118. New York: Norton.
- ^ Database search on Almond (Prunus dulcis)
- ^ Flora Europaea Search Results for Dulcis Prunus Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh
- ^ United States Department of Agriculture
- ^ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- ^ Marketing Order 981: California Almonds. Federal Register, Docket No. FV06-981-2 FR
- ^ Michael Pollan
- ^ Cantor, D., Fleischer, J., Green, J., & Israel, D. L. (2006). The Fruit of the Matter. mental floss 5 (4): 12.
- ^ White, G. Vitamin E and Minerals: Nutrition from Nuts. AllAboutVision.com. Retrieved August 20, 2006.
- ^ Marcona almonds
- ^ Davis, P. A., & Iwahashi, C. K. (2001). Whole almonds and almond fractions reduce aberrant crypt foci in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis. Cancer Letters 165 (1): 27-33. Available online
- ^ Almonds and cholesterol at scienceblog.com
- ^ Positive effect of almonds on blood lipids at the Journal of the Americal College of Nutrition.
- ^ Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Marchie A, et al., Dose response of almonds on coronary heart disease risk factors: blood lipids, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and pulmonary nitric oxide: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Circulation. 2002 Sep 10;106(11):1327-32.[1]
- ^ Dose Response of Almonds on Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors: Blood Lipids, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins, Lipoprotein(a), Homocysteine, and Pulmonary Nitric Oxide[2]
- ^ Puri, H.S. (2003) Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. Taylor and Francis, London, almond pages 59-63.
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External links
- The Almond Board of California
- The Almond Board of California - fact sheet
- "Almonds Are In" Health and Nutrition site (The Almond Board of California)
- "More Facts and History"
- Photo gallery - The Almond Tree And Its Beautiful Blossom
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