ALMOND RESEARCH
Debunking the myths
Almonds, Hazelnuts, Macadamias, Pecans, and Walnuts are all tree nuts
(the peanut is an exception - it's a legume), which means that their meat
is plant material . While many people have come to think of nuts as being high
in fat and cholesterol, the fact is that tree nuts have no cholesterol at all,
and are high in unsaturated, or "good" fats. Saturated fats have gotten plenty
of press in recent years, as studies have identified a diet high in saturated fat
as being a key risk factor for heart disease. Consequently, many people have tried
to avoid fats altogether. What they fail to realize, however, is that unsaturated
fats are an important part of our diets, and actually reduce LDL, or "bad,"
cholesterol levels. The majority of the fats found in nuts are unsaturated.
 |
Serving Size - 1 ounce (edible portion)
|
| |
Almonds
|
Hazelnuts
|
Macadamias
|
Pecans
|
Peanuts
(unsalted) |
Walnuts
|
| Calories |
167 |
179 |
199 |
189 |
166 |
182 |
| Total Fat (g) |
15.0 |
18.8 |
21.0 |
19.0 |
14.0 |
17.6 |
| Saturated (g) |
1.4 |
1.3 |
3.0 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
| Unsaturated (g) |
12.6 |
17.0 |
18.0 |
17.5 |
12.0 |
16.0 |
| Cholesterol (mg) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Protein (g) |
5.7 |
3.7 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
6.7 |
4.1 |
| Carbohydrates (g) |
5.8 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
5.2 |
6.1 |
5.2 |
| Dietary Fiber (g) |
3.1 |
1.7 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
| Sugars (g) |
1.6 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
0.6 |
| Sodium (mg) |
3.1 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
2.8 |
| Potassium (mg) |
208.4 |
126.0 |
104.3 |
111.0 |
186.5 |
142.3 |
Nutrition Research Program
Overview
Since inception of the Almond Board’s Nutrition Research Program in 1995 and the
establishment of a Nutrition Subcommittee to review the scientific validity of
proposals and recommend studies for funding, the program has expanded its budget
by 300 percent with an increase in the number of studies from three to more than
a dozen. This increase has enlarged the scope of relationships with top academic
institutions from three U.S. research affiliates to more than 15 scientific
organizations and universities--now including top universities around the globe.
Current areas of investigation focus on the relationship between consumption of
almonds and heart disease, weight control, and cancer. Completed research has
been submitted for publication in a variety of prestigious scientific journals.
A. ABC Scientific Partnerships
INC (International Nut Council)
FFH (Functional Foods for Health) - University of Illinois
ILSI Focal Point in China (International Life Sciences Institute)
Flavonoid Initiative
B. ABC 2001-2002 Ongoing Nutrition Research Projects
Allergens
Almond Food Allergy, Age of Onset Severity and Relationship to Pollen Allergy
Dr. Suzanne Teuber, U.S. School of Medicine
University of California, Davis, CA
Almond Composition
Structural Characteristics of Almonds in Relation to Bioavailability of Lipids
Dr. Peter Ellis, Division of Life Sciences
King’s College, London, UK
Almond Skins and Blanched Almonds Analysis by MALDI-TOF MS and HPLC
Dr. Peter Sporns, Dept. of Ag., Food and Nutritional Sciences
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Almond Nutrient Database: Label, Substantiation, and Expanded Database
Charlene Rainey, President
Food Research, Inc.
Antioxidants
The Bioavailability, Pharmacokinetics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Almond Skin Phytochemicals in Humans (Part 1 and 2)
Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
Tufts University, Boston, MA
Effect of Almonds on Antioxidant Status and Platelet Activity
Dr. Ella Haddad, Department of Nutrition
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Cancer
Dose Response Study of Three Levels of Almond Skins to Evaluate Effect on Anzoxymethane Induction of Colon Cancer in Mice
Dr. Maurice Bennink, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Michigan State University, E. Lansing
Effect of Whole Almonds and Almond Derived Fractions on the
Development of Intestinal Neoplasia in the Min-Mouse
Dr. Paul Davis, Med. Nutritionist
University of California, Davis, CA
Healthy Effects of a Protein-Fortified Almond Beverage Prototype on Cancer Patients
Dr. Yi Liu, Peking Health Sciences
Peking University, Beijing, China
Cardiovascular
Meta-Analysis of Studies Examining the Effects of Almond Consumption on Cholesterol Levels
Dr. Victor Fulgoni
Nutrition Impact, LLC, Battle Creek, MI
Effect of Almonds on Hemostasis and Implications for Cardiovascular Disease
Dr. Sujatha Rajaram/Dr. Joan Sabate
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Effectiveness of Almonds as Part of the Portfolio Diet on Serum Cholesterol Reduction
Dr. David Jenkins
University of Toronto
Diabetes
Determine the Glycemic Index of Almonds and the Effects of Acute Almond Consumption on Insulin Response and Endothelial Function
Dr. David Jenkins, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Addition of Almonds to a Low Fat Diet in Postmenopausal Women with Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Vitamin E Analysis of Plasma for Ongoing Study)
Dr. Andrea Chisholm
University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ
Health Effect of Almonds on Diabetic Patients and Rats
Dr. Yi Liu
Peking University, Beijing, China
Protein Quality
PDCAAS Rat Feeding Trials to Determine Protein Digestibility
Dr. Shridhar Sathe, Dept. of Nutrition
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Weight Reduction
Comparison of the Effects of a Hypocaloric Diet Enriched in Oleic Acid Using Almonds Versus Complex Carbohydrates on Plasma HDL-Cholesterol During Weight Reduction
Dr. Joan Sabate, Department of Nutrition
Dr. Michelle Wien, City of Hope Natl. Med. Ctr.
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
C. 1997-2001 Completed Nutrition Research Projects (Awaiting Manuscripts/Publication)
Almond Composition
Phytochemicals in Almond Components
Feridoon Shahidi,
University of Newfoundland, Canada
Exploratory Project on the Antioxidant Properties of Almonds
Dr. Paul Lachance
Rutgers State University, NJ
Antioxidants
Influence of Almond Consumption on Whole Body Oxidant Defense Systems
Dr. Carl Keen, Dr. Liz Applegate
University of California, Davis, CA
Effect of Almond consumption on Oxidant Defenses and Indices of Oxidative
Damage in Smokers
Dr. Carl Keen, Dept. of Nutrition
University of California, Davis, CA
Human Clinical Study on Almonds and Antioxidant Status
Dr. Gene Spiller
SPHERA Foundation, Los Altos, CA
Cancer
Potential of Almonds to Prevent Breast and Colon Cancer in Rats
Dr. Maurice Bennink, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Diabetes
Effect of a High-Protein, High-Monounsaturated Fat Diet on Lipids, Lipoproteins,
and Glucose in Subjects with Impaired Fasting Glucose and Dyslipidemia
Lynne Scott, Diet Modification Clinic
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Satiety
Postprandial Satiety: The Effect of Fat Availability from Various Forms of Almonds
Dr. Barbara Schneeman
University of California, Davis, CA
Weight Reduction
Assessing the Impact of Almond Supplementation on Body Weight and Diet Patterns in a Long Term Free Living Study
Dr. Gary Fraser, Dept. of Nutrition
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
D. 1997-2001 Completed Nutrition Research Projects (Reports Available on Request)
Almond Composition
Characterization of the Principle Biochemical Components of Phytonutrients/Phytotoxins
Dr. Tom Gradziel, Dept. of Pomology
University of California, Davis, CA
Tocopherol and Lipid Hydroperoxide Content of Almonds
Dr. William Stone, Dept. of Pediatrics
E. Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Antioxidants/Old Age
The Effect of Vitamin E and Monounsaturated Fatty Acid on Resisting Oxidization
Dr. Wang Huiqin
Beijing University, Beijing, China
Cancer
Anti-carcenogenic and Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Almond Protein
Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, Nutrition Dept.
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Cardiovascular
Scientific Literature Related to Arginine Administration on Cardiovascular Function/Health
Dianne Hyson
University of California, Davis, CA
Effects of Almond Intake on Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease in Hyperlipemia Patients and Animals
Dr. Yi Liu
Beijing University, Beijing, China
Effect of Common Processing of Almonds on Serum Cholesterol and Selected
Lipoprotein Sub-Fractions
Dr. Gene Spiller, Health Research and Studies Center
SPHERA Foundation, Los Altos, CA ER
Hypertension
Affects of Almond Consumption on Blood Pressure
Dr. Marlene Most-Windhauser, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
E. Manuscripts Submitted for Review
Almond Composition
Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry (submitted June, 2002)
Variation in the Flavonol Glycoside Composition of Almond Seedcoats as Determined by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectroscopy
S. L. Frison-Norrie and P. Sporns
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Cardiovascular
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (submitted in May, 2002)
Dose Response Effects of Almonds on Serum Lipid Levels in Healthy Men and Women: a Randomized Feeding Trial
J. Sabate, E. Haddad, and S. Rajaram
Loma Linda University School of Public Health
F. Manuscripts Accepted for Publication In Press
Almond Phytochemicals
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Sphingolipid and Other Constituents from Almond Nuts (Prunus amygdalus Batsch)
S. Sang, H. Kikuzaki, K. Lapsley, R.T. Rosen, N. Nakatani, C.-T. Ho, Food Science Department, Rutgers University, N. Brunswick, NJ
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Biochemical Characterization of Amandin, the Major Storage Protein in Almond (Prunus dulcis L.)
S. K. Sathe, W.J. Wolf, K.H. Roux, S.S. Teuber, M. Venkatachalam, and K.W.C. Sze-Tao, Florida State University, Tallahassee, and University of California, Davis
Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society
Antiradical Activity of Extracts of Almond and Its By-Products
S.S.K.W. Sriwardahana, F. Shahidi, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Cardiovascular
Circulation
Dose Response of Almonds on Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors -- Blood Lipids, Oxidized LDL, Lp(a), Homocysteine and Pulmonary Nitric Oxide: A Randomized Controlled Cross-over Trial
C.W.C. Kendall, D.J.A. Jenkins, A. Marchie, T. Parker, P. Connelly, Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, and G. Spiller, Health Research Studies Center, Los Altos, CA
Metabolism
A Dietary Portfolio Approach to Cholesterol Reduction: Combined Effects of Plant Sterols, Vegetable Proteins and Viscous Fibers in Hypercholesterolemia”
D.J.A. Jenkins, C.W.C. Kendall, D. Faulkner, E. Vidgen, E.A. Trautwein, T.L. Parker, A. Marchie, G. Koumbridis, K.G. Lapsley, R.G. Josse, L.A. Leiter, P.W. Connelly, University of Toronto
Diabetes
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Effect of Diets Enriched in Almonds on Insulin Action and Serum Lipids in Adults with Normal Glucose Tolerance or Type 2 Diabetes
J.C. Lovejoy, M.M. Most, M. Lefevre, F.L. Greenway, and J.C. Rood, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
G. Published Papers
Allergens
Acosta, M.R., K.H. Roux, S.S. Teuber, & S.K. Sathe, 1999. Production and characterization of rabbit polyclonal antibodies to almond (Prunus amygdalus L) major storage protein. J. Agric. Food Chem. 47: 4053-4059.
Roux, K.H., S.S. Teuber, J.M. Robotham, & S.K. Sathe, 2001. Detection and stability of the major almond allergen in foods. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49: 2131-2136.
Sathe, S.K., S.S. Teuber, T.M. Gradziel, & K.H. Roux, 2001. Electrophoretic and Immunological analyses of almond (Prunus dulcis L.) genotypes and hybrids. J. Agric. and Food Chem. 49(4): 2043-2052.
Venkarachalam, M., S.S. Teuber, K.H. Roux, and S.K. Sathe, 2002. Effects of roasting, blanching, autoclaving, and microwave heating on antigenicity of almonds. J. Agric. Food Chem. 50(12): 3544-3548.
Wolf, W.J., & S.K. Sathe, 1998. Ultracentrifugal and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic studies of extractability and stability of almond meal proteins. J. Sci. Food Agric. 78: 511-521.
Almond Composition
Frison-Norrie, S.L. and P. Sporns, 2002. Identification and quantification of flavonol glycosides in almond seedcoats using MALDI-TOF MS. J. Agri. Food Chem. 50: 2782-2787.
Ren, Y, K.W. Waldron, J.F. Pacy, & P.R. Ellis, 2001. Chemical and histochemical characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides in almond seeds in relation to lipid bioavailability. Biologically-active phytochemicals in food, (ed.) W. Pfannhauser, G.R. Fenwick & S. Khokhar, Royal Soc. of Chem., Cambridge, U.K. 448-452.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, W.-S. Jeong, P.A. Lachance, R.T. Rosen, C.-T. Ho, 2002. Antioxidative phenolic compounds isolated from almond skin (Prunus amygdalus Batsch). J. Agric. Food Chem. 50: 2459-2463.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, X. Cheng, H.-Y. Fu, D.-E. Shieh, N. Bai, R.T. Rosen, R.E. Stark, C.-T. Ho, 2002. New type sesquiterpene lactone from almond hulls (Prunus amygdalus Batch). Tetrahedron Letters. 43: 2547-2549.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, R.T. Rosen, C.-T. Ho, 2002. New prenylated benzoic acid and other constituents from almond hulls (Prunus amygdalus Batsch). J. Ag. and Food Chem. 50:607-609.
Cancer
Davis, P.A., & C.K. Iwahashi, 2001. Whole almonds and almond fractions reduce aberrant crypt foci in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis. Cancer Letters. 165: 27-33.
Cardiovascular
Hyson, D., B.O. Schneeman, P.A. Davis, 2002,
Almonds and almond oil have similar effects on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in healthy men and women, J. of Nutrition. 132(4) 703-707.
Kendall, Cyril W.C., David J.A. Jenkins, A. Marchie, T. Parker, P.W. Connelly, 2002.
Dose response to almonds in hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled cross-over trial. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 75 2(S): 384.
Sabate, J., E. Haddad, 2001.
Almond-rich diets simultaneously improve plasma lipoproteins and alpha-tocopherol levels in men and women. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 45(1): 596.
Sabate, J., S. Rajaram, P. Jambazian, T. Myint, E. Haddad, 2000.
Effects of almonds on serum lipids and fasting glucose levels in normocholesterolemic subjects. FASEB Journal 2000. 14(4): A293.
Sabate, J., S. Rajaram, P. Jambazian, J.S. Tanzman, E. Haddad, 2001.
Dose response effects of almonds on serum lipid levels in healthy men and women: a randomized feeding trial. FASEB Journal 2001. 15(5): A601.
Spiller et al., 1992. Effect of a diet high in monounsaturated fat from almonds on plasma cholesterol and lipoproteins. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 11: 126-30.
Spiller et al., 1998. Nuts and plasma lipids: an almond-based diet lowers LDL-C while preserving HDL-C. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 17(3): 285-90.
Weight Control
Fraser, G.E., H.W. Bennett, K.B. Jaceldo, J. Sabate, June, 2002.
Effect of body weight of a free 76 kilojoule (320 calorie) daily supplement of almonds for 6 months. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 21 (3): 275-283.
Jaceldo-Siegl, G.E. Fraser, J. Sabate, 2001.
Effect of almond supplementation on eating patterns, and micronutrient and fatty acid intake profile in free-living healthy adults. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 45(1)152.
Sabate, J., 2001. Effect of almond consumption on stool weight and stool fat.
FASEB Journal 2001: 15(5): A601. |
Almond Nutrition Bar Page
