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Almonds Unveiled as Beauty Superfood

Expanding on the discussion, Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta emphasized that incorporating almonds into the daily diet improves skin texture and boosts the skin’s resilience against harmful UVB rays from the sun…reports Asian Lite News

Beauty isn’t solely determined by your external appearance; what you eat also plays a big role in making you look and feel beautiful. Recognizing this, the Almond Board of California organized a panel discussion in Delhi at The Park Hotel on “Glow from Within: Nurturing a Radiant Skin.”

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, dermatologist, and skin expert Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta, along with the regional head of dietetics at Max Healthcare – Delhi, Ritika Samaddar, were part of the discussion and emphasized the significant role of dietary choices in making individuals look and feel beautiful. The panelists agreed that incorporating a handful of almonds into one’s diet is crucial for maintaining healthy skin, along with practising mindfulness techniques such as yoga and getting enough sleep.

During the discussion, Ritika Samaddar emphasized that both ancient texts and modern research have revealed the numerous benefits of including almonds in one’s daily beauty routine. She also referenced a study showing that substituting regular calorie-matched snacks with almonds improved skin tone and reduced facial wrinkles in postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II. Additionally, almonds contain healthy fats and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), providing anti-ageing properties that are advantageous for skin health.

Expanding on the discussion, Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta emphasized that incorporating almonds into the daily diet improves skin texture and boosts the skin’s resilience against harmful UVB rays from the sun. Continuing the conversation, Actress Soha Ali Khan shared her dependence on almonds and nutritious eating to maintain an active, fit, and beautiful overall well-being. She said, “As a working mother in the entertainment industry, prioritizing self-care for both me and my child is crucial. Introducing almonds into our diet and participating in regular yoga sessions has notably improved our skin and overall well-being. The presence of Vitamin E, zinc, iron, and copper in almonds has proven beneficial for enhancing skin health, boosting immunity, and contributing to our general well-being. By engaging in activities, we love and maintaining a balanced diet that includes almonds, seasonal fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, I can ensure radiant skin and improved overall wellness.”

Cosmetologist and skin expert, Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta mentioned the connection between dietary choices and the overall health of one’s skin, saying, ” Preserving the natural radiance of our skin relies on a balanced diet since our skin mirrors our internal health. As a skincare specialist, I recognize the importance of nurturing our skin from within, and almonds play a pivotal role in this journey. Almonds are packed with essential nutrients like protein, copper, zinc, vitamin E, and polyphenols, which promote skin health, combat the signs of aging, and improve skin texture. To attain healthy and radiant skin, I consistently recommend to my clients the adoption of a nutrient-rich diet and the daily habit of consuming a handful of almonds.”

Regional Head – Dietetics, Max Healthcare – Delhi, Ritika Samaddar said, “As a dietetics practitioner, I have personally observed the significant impact that almonds can have on both overall health and outward appearance. Almonds serve as an excellent addition to any holistic beauty regimen due to their abundance of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. The inclusion of almonds in your daily diet offers numerous benefits, including reducing the severity of wrinkles in postmenopausal women. Being nutrient-dense and rich in vitamin E, magnesium, protein, riboflavin, zinc, and iron, almonds contribute to nourishing the skin from within, resulting in a naturally radiant and healthy complexion. I wholeheartedly recommend incorporating almonds into your daily routine.”

The discussion concluded with a strong message from the panelists, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to beauty. They stressed how almonds and a balanced diet play a key role in achieving naturally radiant skin. Overall, the event served as a powerful reminder that real beauty isn’t just about looks; it involves taking care of our bodies and minds through mindful living, getting enough rest, and eating nutritious foods—where almonds play a vital role in promoting overall well-being.

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Food Lite Blogs Recipes

Almond-based nutritious dishes

Almond and Makhana Kheer

Serves: 2 – 3 people

Ingredients                                                          Quantity

Full cream milk                                                        2 cups

Sugar                                                                      4 tbsp

Saffron strands                                                       a pinch

Green cardamom powder                                       ½ tsp

Almond slivers                                                        ½ cup

Makhana (fox nuts)                                                1 cup

Ghee                                                                      2 tbsp

Method

•  Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan, roast makhanas and almond slivers till they are golden.

•  Heat milk and saffron strands in a heavy bottomed pan and bring it to a boil. Keep stirring the milk, so that it does not stick to the bottom.

•  Add sugar to the milk and mix well.

•  Add the whole makhana to the milk. Add the almond slivers to the mixture.

•  Keep cooking the mixture till the makhanas soften and milk thickens a bit.

•  Serve the kheer hot or chilled. Top it with roasted almond slivers and chopped roasted makhana.

Nutritional analysis

Calories                                                                   1152

Protein                                                                     28.1 gm

Total fat                                                                   88.4 gm

Saturated Fats                                                        13.1 gm

Monounsaturated Fats                                            36.9 gm

Polyunsaturated Fats                                              13.4 gm

Carbohydrates                                                        76.6 gm

Fiber                                                                       12.4 gm

Cholesterol                                                             30 mg

Sodium                                                                   452.6 mg

Calcium                                                                  816 mg

Magnesium                                                            375.4 mg

Potassium                                                             1138 mg

Vitamin E                                                               51.8 mg

Almond strawberry cream

Serves: 3-4

Almonds                                                               ½ cup

Strawberry (Fresh)                                              12-14 pcs

Whipping Cream                                                  1 cup

Holy Basil leaves (Tulsi)                                       1 tsp

Sugar (powdered)                                                3 tbsp

Method:

• Toast the almond flakes in the oven at 180°C for 4 minutes.

• Cut the strawberries into 1 cm dices.

• Whip the cream along with sugar. Do not over whip it or the butter will separate.

• Mix the almond flakes and strawberries into the cream along with hand torn holy basil.

• Garnish with almonds and sliced strawberries.

Nutritional analysis

Calories                                                                 766

Protein                                                                   18 gm

Total fat                                                                  51 gm

Saturated Fats                                                       11.8 gm

Monounsaturated Fats                                           27.95 gm

Polyunsaturated Fats                                             8.4 gm

Carbohydrates                                                       70.5 gm

Fiber                                                                       20.5 gm

Cholesterol                                                             46 gm

Sodium                                                                   82.5 gm

Calcium                                                                  124 gm

Magnesium                                                             82.5 gm

Potassium                                                               601.5 gm

Vitamin E                                                                3.92 gm

Almond coconut burfi

Serves: 4 – 5 people

Ingredients                                                         Quantity

Freshly grated coconut                                         1/2 cup

Blanched almonds                                                 1 cup

Sugar (fine/ breakfast)                                          1 cup

Desi ghee                                                             1/3 cup

Method

•  In a non-stick pan add ghee, coconut and almond mixture on low medium heat. Stir to mix well and keep on stirring to prevent it from sticking to the pan or getting burnt, until it begins to leave the sides of the pan, lumping up as one mass. Add sugar and fold it well.

•  Apply ghee onto a baking sheet and keep aside.

•  Reduce heat to low and continue stirring for a few more minutes until the residue sticking to the sides of the pan starts to look opaque and dry, which means the consistency is nearing almost right for solidifying.

•  Remove onto the greased plate / sheet. Mix the dough with greased hands, pat it flat into a neat square with a greased rolling-pin to 1/4 inch thickness. Smooth out the surface if needed.

•  When cooled partially, cut into equal squares with a knife. Once completely cooled (about an hour or so), separate out the burfis with a flat spatula and store in an airtight container

Nutritional analysis

Calories                                                                   2234

Protein                                                                    15.1 gm

Total fat                                                                  150.1 gm

Saturated                                                                80.1 gm

Monounsaturated                                                    51 gm

Polyunsaturated                                                      14.1 gm

Carbohydrates                                                        203 gm

Fiber                                                                       19.4 gm

Cholesterol                                                             141.9 mg

Sodium                                                                    74 mg

Calcium                                                                   443 mg

Magnesium                                                             537 mg

Potassium mg                                                         2019 mg

Vitamin E                                                                25.8 IU

Spiced almond banana jaggery cake

Serves: 3 – 4 person

Ingredients                                                         Quantity

Butter, unsalted                                                     1/2 cup

Jaggery powder                                                     1/2 cup

Ground cinnamon                                                  1 ½ tsp

Nutmeg, ground                                                     1/4 tsp

Almonds, sliced                                                      1/2 cup

Sugar                                                                     3/4 cup

Eggs, large                                                            3 no

Orange zest                                                           2 tsp

Banana, ripped & mashed                                     1 1/4 cups

All-purpose flour                                                    3 cups

Baking powder                                                       1 1/2 tsp

Baking soda                                                           1 tsp

Salt                                                                         1/2 tsp

Buttermilk                                                                2/3 cup

Method:

• Melt 1/4 cup of the butter. Pour 2 tablespoons of the melted butter into an 8-cup pan. Brush the butter over pan sides and bottom. Mix the jaggery, cinnamon, nutmeg and almonds. Sprinkle the pan with half the jaggery mixture. Combine the remaining mixture with the remaining melted butter and set it aside.

• In a large bowl, beat remaining 1/4 cup butter with granulated sugar until blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until blended. Beat in mashed banana.

• Mix all-purpose baking powder, soda and salt. Add these to the banana mixture along with the buttermilk and stir until well blended.

• Pour half the batter into prepared pan. Spoon the remaining jaggery sugar mixture evenly over top. Cover with the remaining batter.

• Bake in a 180° oven until a long wood skewer inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool the cake on a rack about 5 minutes, then invert it onto a serving plate. Serve the cake warm or cool.

Nutritional Analysis

Calories                                                                 3967 gm

Protein                                                                   75.4 gm

Total fat                                                                 126.1 gm

Saturated                                                               60.8 gm

Monounsaturated                                                   41.2 gm

Polyunsaturated                                                     12.1 gm

Carbohydrates                                                       613.3 gm

Fiber                                                                      23.5 gm

Cholesterol                                                            778 mg

Sodium                                                                  3344.2 mg

Calcium                                                                 1306 mg

Magnesium                                                            678.2 mg

Potassium                                                              3392.2 mg

Vitamin E                                                               16.8 IU

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