Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

In the natural food world, almond is the new black.

Seems like you can't trip over an issue of People magazine without reading about their benefits. Sure enough, this is one healthy food. Protein, anti-inflammatory oils-this one's got it all. WebMD calls them the new power food. (Not so new, really, but we seem to be just catching on.)

According to Ayurveda, almond is an almost ideal tonic food, and that ancient health care system goes as far as to suggest that just about everyone would do well to eat a handful of the nuts each day. The flesh of the nut is strengthening to the tissues, an aphrodisiac and a nerve nutrient. The oil provides the essential fatty acids for the brain to use, so it promotes intelligence, memory, mental clarity and learning. You can even use almond oil as skin care or massage oil, and the qualities will be absorbed through your skin.

Since the skins are very astringent and hard to digest, soak the raw nuts in water overnight to loosen the skins. Then, it's easy. Pop skin off. Pop nut in mouth.

Enjoy almonds in cereal, or make almond milk at home.

During a women's menstrual period, Ayurveda recommends sautéing 6 almonds in ghee (skins on this time, because we want to use the astringency to balance blood flow), and having them for breakfast, topped with a spoonful of honey.

Sometimes you just feel like a nut.