We know that nuts are really good for us; packed as they are with a number of nutrients that the body requires, heart friendly fats and so on. And now a study has revealed why almonds in particular are so good for you – almonds improve immunity to certain infections, it has been found.
Eating almonds could stave off common infections such as the flu and the cold due to some of the compounds that are found in the almond skin.
It was the skins of the almond that were found to enhance the ability of the white blood cells to detect viruses and also were able to prevent the viruses from multiplying and spreading.
And even after being digested, the positive impact of the almonds appeared to continue, by boosting the immune system’s ability to repel viruses.
The study, carried out by the Institute of Food Research in Norwich and the Policlinico Universitario in Messina, Italy, found that it wasn’t just the cold and flu, but also other infections that almonds could help prevent.
While how many almonds should be eaten for optimum impact is not certain, it is probably a good idea to eat some almonds daily anyway, since they may help fight infection, and are also known to be very good for health.
