National Chocolate with Almonds Day is observed annually on July 8th. What a great combination to enjoy. It is also filled with added health benefits!
When it comes to adding almonds to chocolate, the options are plentiful. From cakes to chocolate bars, puddings to cookies we can celebrate National Chocolate with Almonds Day with snacks and desserts galore!
HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALMONDS:
- reduce the risk of heart attack
- lower ‘bad’ cholesterol
- protects artery walls from damage
- help build healthy bones and teeth
- provide healthy fats and aid in weight loss
- lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals
- help provide good brain function
- nourish the nervous system
- alkalize the body
Chocolate is a delicious substance that has been loved and lauded by every tier of society from the poorest to the richest. Kings have traded for it, and men have killed for it, and even Gods have bowed for it. The almond is equally revered, referred to in the Bible as being “among the best of fruits.” Chocolate With Almonds Day celebrates the coming together of these two substances.
- The protein in almonds is more like the proteins in human breast milk of all the seeds and nuts, which is why it is the choice of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine as the base for its baby formula.
- Almonds are the most nutrient-dense tree nut. One ounce of almonds (20-25 almonds) contains 160 calories and only 1 gram of saturated fat and no cholesterol. Almonds are also an excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium, and a good source of protein and potassium.
- The Jordan almond is a large plump variety of almond from Malaga, Spain, considered to be the finest cultivated almond. The are frequently sold with a hard colored sugar coating, or salted.
- It takes 1000 pounds of almonds to make 1 pint of almond oil.
- The world’s largest almond factory is in Sacramento, California. It processes 2 million pounds of almonds a day.
- In the mid-1700s, the Franciscan Padres planted almond trees to grace their missions along El Camino Real (The Royal Road) that stretches along the California coast from San Diego to Sonoma.
- Cinnamon-glazed almonds were President Clinton’s snack of choice at both the 1993 and the 1997 inaugurations.
- Native to the Mediterranean countries, the almond was introduced to America from Spain in 1769.
- The world’s largest almond factory is located in Sacramento, California and processes over 2 million pounds of almonds per day. California produces over 80% of the world’s supply of almonds and that chocolate manufacturers currently use about 40% of the world’s almonds and about 20% of the world’s peanuts.
- Raw Almonds contain prussic acids, the eating of more than a handful can be lethal. this is why all almonds are dried, roasted and/or pasteurized.
- The bitter taste in Almonds is derived from the 4-9 mg of hydrogen cyanide in each.
- Almonds are actually stone fruits related to cherries, peaches and plums.
- Almonds quench your thirst for having something crunchy as being the crunchiest of all the dry-fruits.
- Chocolate manufacturers use around 40 percent of world’s total almonds in making delicious and mouth-watery chocolates.
- Almonds were already cultivated in very ancient times. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, which was written around 1140 to 1400 B.C., makes mention of the almond along with another nut, the pistachio.
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