Dr. Lynn Lafferty, PharmD, ND, CNC and Jason Duarte, PharmD

The almond is closely related to the peach, apricot, and cherry (all classified as drupes). Sweet almonds are a popular nutritious food. Researchers are especially interested in their level of monounsaturated fats, as these appear to have a beneficial effect on blood lipids.  Almond oil is widely used in lotions and cosmetics.

(USDA Nutrient Library)

References to almonds are found in the Old Testament. They were prized as an ingredient in breads served to the Pharaohs in Egypt, and they have maintained religious, ethnic, and social significance throughout history.  The almond tree is native to western Asia. It was brought to California from Spain in the 1700s. 

The increasing popularity of almonds is largely due to their nutritional profile. Almonds are available whole, as flour-like almond meal, and as almond "butter" or milk. Almond oil is widely used in lotions and cosmetics, and it is often used to flavor cookies and other baked goods. (Natural Standard)

Traditional Uses

Traditionally, almonds have been used for a variety of their properties including antibacterial, aphrodisiac, bladder cancer, breast cancer, chapped lips, colon cancer, demulcent, heart disease, increasing sperm count, mild laxative, mouth and throat cancers, oropharyngeal cancers, phytoestrogen, skin care (emollient), skin moisturizer, solvent for injectable drugs, and uterine cancer. (Natural Standard)

When purchasing almonds, it is important to read the label to be sure that no additional ingredients such as sugar, corn syrup or preservatives have been added.

Since almonds have a high fat content, it is important to store them properly in order to protect them from becoming rancid. Store shelled almonds in a tightly sealed container, in a cool dry place away from exposure to sunlight. Keeping them cold will further protect them from rancidity and prolong their freshness.

Medicinal Properties

Orally, sweet almond is used as a mild laxative, and as a remedy for cancer of the bladder, breast, mouth, spleen, and uterus.  Topically, sweet almond is used as an emollient for chapped skin, to soothe mucous membranes (as a demulcent), and as a weak antibacterial.  Parenterally, sweet almond is also used as a solvent for injectable drugs. 

(Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database)

Active Ingredients

The applicable parts of sweet almond are the kernel and hull, and fixed oil from the almond kernel. Sweet almond oil contains triglycerides, largely triolein and dioleolinolein, and fatty acids such as oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, lauric, myristic and palmitoleic acids. Sweet almond kernels also contain sphingolipids, daucosterol, and beta sitosterol. The skins of the kernels contain flavonoid and phenolic antioxidant compounds including quercetin, naringenin, catechin, and vanillic acid.  Sweet almond hulls contain ursolic acid, catechins; and the terpenes betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid which are being studied for anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

(Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database)

Mechanism of Action

There are several different mechanisms responsible for the various health benefits of almonds.  There are several studies that demonstrate these various actions.  Almonds have been shown to affect blood sugar.  Teotia et al. conducted a study on rats in which almonds were found to have a highly significant hypoglycemic effect (Teotia and Singh).  Another study examined the estrogenic effects of almonds.  Clemetson et al. reported that almonds exert estrogenic activity in rats, although subsequent samples of different varieties of almonds did not confirm this finding.  Almonds have also been show to exhibit fertility effects.  Another study found that almond extracts increase sperm count and sperm motility in rats, with no evidence of spermatotoxicity.  Another health benefit of almonds is its beneficial lipid effects.  Almonds have been reported to lower low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and total cholesterol levels. It has been proposed that the most likely mechanism of LDL lowering is the enhancement of LDL receptor activity when monounsaturated fatty acids replace saturated ones in the diet. Saturated fatty acids may suppress LDL receptors. (Natural Standard)

Nutritional Profile

Note: 1. Unroasted; 2. Other phytosterols = 31 mg/100g; these include delta 5-avenasterol, sitostanol, campestanol, and other minor phytosterols.

References

Natural Standard (Accessed through NOVA library)

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (Accessed through NOVA library)

USDA Nutrient Library  

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgibin/list_nut_edit.pl. Accessed on 08/07/2010

U.S. National Library of Medicine

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-sweetalmond.html. Accessed on 08/07/2010

The World's Healthiest Foods.com

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20

Accessed on 08/10/10

Pubmed Resources

Teotia, S. and Singh, M. Hypoglycemic effect of Prunus amygdalus seeds in albino rabbits. Indian J Exp.Biol. 1997;35(3):295-296.

Clemetson, C. A., de Carlo, S. J., Burney, G. A., Patel, T. J., Kozhiashvili, N., and Taylor, R. A. Estrogens in food: the almond mystery. Int J Gynaecol.Obstet 1978;15(6):515-521.

Teotia, S., Singh, M., and Pant, M. C. Effect of Prunus amygdalus seeds on lipid profile. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1997;41(4):383-389.