Almonds are always high on the list when it comes to nutritious no-fuss grab-and-go snacks – and for good reason. These healthy tree nuts are packed with protein, fibre and other essential vitamins and nutrients that make them one of the world’s healthiest foods.

Here’s why (and how) you should eat them more often.

Almonds are high in antioxidants which can help prevent cancer, aging and stress. (We all need a little stress relief, don’t we?)

Almonds are one of the best sources of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps keep cholesterol levels under control and therefore helps keep your heart healthy.

Almonds help improve the way your brain functions. Riboflavin and L-carnitine are two of the nutrients found in almonds that have been known to give your brain a boost as well as reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Almonds have the “good fat” we often talk about. These are the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats also found in olives, avocados, fish and tofu. Healthy fats help you maintain a healthy body weight, healthy skin and a healthy heart so it’s important to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats whenever possible.

Almonds are an easy no-recipe-required nutrition booster – so there’s really no excuse not to use them. They make a great addition to salads, yogurt, granola, muffins and oatmeal. You can also substitute almond flour, almond milk and almond butter in your cooking and baking.

Here’s a great recipe for Almond Date Truffles from one of our favourite food blogs that we included in our list of must-visit sites.

Tip: Almonds have a tendency to take on the odour of nearby foods so be sure to store them accordingly.

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Ashely Gordon