Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Dr. Lynn Lafferty, PharmD, ND, CNC and Jason Duarte, PharmD
Description
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)
History
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)
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
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.
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
(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
Nutrient
Units
1 Almond
Nutrient
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Units
1 Almond
(1.2g)
(1.2g)
Proximates
Lipids
Water
g
0.06
Fatty acids, total saturated
g
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
0.045
Energy
kcal
7
16:00
g
0.037
Energy
kJ
29
18:00
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
g
0.008
Protein
g
0.25
Fatty acids, total
monounsaturated
g
0.371
Total lipid (fat)
g
0.59
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
16:1 undifferentiated
g
0.003
Ash
g
0.04
16:1 c
g
0.003
Carbohydrate, by difference
g
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
0.26
18:1 undifferentiated
g
0.367
Fiber, total dietary
g
0.1
18:1 c
g
0.367
Sugars, total
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
g
0.05
Fatty acids, total
polyunsaturated
g
0.145
Sucrose
g
0.04
18:2 undifferentiated
g
0.145
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Starch
g
0.01
18:2 n-6 c,c
g
0.145
Minerals
Beta-sitosterol
mg
2
Calcium, Ca
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
mg
3
Amino acids
Iron, Fe
mg
0.04
Tryptophan
g
0.003
Magnesium, Mg
mg
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
3
Threonine
g
0.007
Phosphorus, P
mg
6
Isoleucine
g
0.008
Potassium, K
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
mg
8
Leucine
g
0.018
Zinc, Zn
mg
0.04
Lysine
g
0.007
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Copper, Cu
mg
0.012
Methionine
g
0.002
Manganese, Mn
mg
0.027
Cystine
g
0.002
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Vitamins
Phenylalanine
g
0.013
Thiamin
mg
0.003
Tyrosine
g
0.005
Riboflavin
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
mg
0.012
Valine
g
0.01
Niacin
mg
0.041
Arginine
g
0.029
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Pantothenic acid
mg
0.006
Histidine
g
0.007
Vitamin B-6
mg
0.002
Alanine
g
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
0.012
Folate, total
mcg
1
Aspartic acid
g
0.035
Folate, food
mcg
1
Glutamic acid
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
g
0.082
Folate, DFE
mcg
1
Glycine
g
0.018
Choline, total
mg
0.6
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
Proline
g
0.012
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
mg
0.31
Serine
g
0.011
Tocopherol, gamma
mg
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
0.01
(
U.S. National Library of Medicine )
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
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Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
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.
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