Chandigarh
22 October 2019
DIVYA AZAD
It’s time to brighten up your home, celebrate the victory of good over evil and welcome goddess Lakshmi in all spirit. Marked by earthen diyas, colourful rangolis, twinkling fairy lights, scrumptious sweets, and a host of family get-togethers, Diwali, for many Indians is one of the most awaited festivals of the year.
Another important aspect of Diwali is tradition of exchanging gifts which embodies the essence of the festival. Though there’s nothing sweeter than spending Diwali with your loved ones, a thoughtful gift like almonds will bring a sweet smile to their faces, and will also help take care of their health in the longer run. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for your friends and family this Diwali, here are 4 reasons why almonds should be on the top of your list –
Almonds showcase thoughtfulness and care
Traditionally, almonds have featured in Indian gifting patterns for thousands of years now, owing to their reverence as an auspicious gift and also their delectable taste and crunchiness. Additionally, almonds are also a good gift that can showcase the giver’s thoughtfulness and intent to secure the good health of the receiver. They are a rich source of 15 essential nutrients including vitamin E, dietary fibre, protein, riboflavin, manganese, folate amongst others, making them a nutritious choice of gift.
Beyond this, years of global research and a large body of scientific evidence suggests that almonds can be beneficial in helping to manage heart disease risk factors. A recent study also highlighted that the inclusion of 45 gms of almonds as part of a healthy diet may help in reducing dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is a condition marked by high LDL-cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) or ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins) or ‘good’ cholesterol levels, which is also known to be one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Indians[1].
Almonds are a good snacking choice!
Diwali for many of us means a host of family get together, lunches and dinners and the much loved taash parties, but this also means binge eating on fried or unhealthy snacks which can have a larger impact on our health in the longer term. By sharing almonds with your friends and family, you will be giving them the gift of good health and offer them a healthier snacking option. They could include them in traditional festive snacks, keep a handful nearby when hunger strikes at work or munch on some while travelling or watching a movie – almonds are convenient to carry and can be eaten anytime, making them a good snack. Added to that, they have satiating properties that may promote feelings of fullness, and help avoid gorging on unhealthy snacks.
Speaking about snacking, leading Bollywood actress, Soha Ali Khan said,“Festivals are a great time to bond with the loved ones and express feelings of love, affection and care, but they are also a time when we give caution to the wind, and overindulge in food. To counter this, I remember as a kid, my mother would opt for healthier festive recipes, or hand us a boxful of nuts like almonds during snack time. She made sure we didn’t lose sight of our health while enjoying the festivities, and now as a wife and mother myself, I understand how important this was and try to do the same with my own family.”
Agreeing with Soha Ali Khan,Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head-Dietetics, Max Healthcare – Delhi mentioned, “During the Diwali festivities, a lot of us give way to our gut, and tend to indulge in sweets and other deep fried snacks. A good way to control this, is by switching to gifting healthier items like dried fruits or nuts like almonds, which also make for good snacking food. Replacing over processed snacks, with dry, roasted or salted variants of almonds will not only help in keeping you satiated through the festivities, but also aid in your overall health.”
