Almonds are a natural, nutritious snack with multiple health benefits. Perhaps most notably, they may help reduce blood cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Smokehouse almonds contain an abundance of nutrients that can help you meet your daily needs. They also are high in calories, so you should consume them in moderation.
Servings and Calories
A 1-oz. serving of smokehouse almonds, or about 28 nuts, contains 170 calories -- 140 of which are from fat. Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, this serving provides about 9 percent of your daily caloric needs.
Fats
The majority of the calories in smokehouse almonds come from their fat content. Each 1-oz. serving contains 16 g of fat. The majority of the fat in almonds is unsaturated, which is considered a "healthy" fat. Just 1 g comes from saturated fat. The USDA advises limiting your saturated fat intake to 10 percent or less of your total calories each day to avoid increased blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Smokehouse almonds are free of cholesterol.
Carbohydrates
Each 1-oz. serving of smokehouse almonds contains 5 g of carbohydrates. Most adults need about 225 to 325 g of carbohydrates each day, so almonds are a fairly negligible source of this nutrient. Smokehouse almonds contain 3 g of fiber, or about 11 percent of the daily value. Fiber is a non-digestible form of carbohydrate that can help promote colon and cardiovascular health. Just 1 g of the carbohydrates in smokehouse almonds comes from sugar.
Protein
Almonds are naturally rich in protein. Each 1-oz. serving of smokehouse almonds contains 6 g of protein, or about 12 percent of the daily value. According to the Institute of Medicine, protein should account for 10 to 35 percent of your total calories. If you consume 2,000 calories a day, you would need about 50 to 175 g of protein each day.
Minerals and Vitamins
Smokehouse almonds contain 20 percent of the daily value for magnesium, 8 percent for calcium, 6 percent for iron and 5 percent for potassium. Smokehouse almonds contain 150 mg of sodium per serving. Like other minerals, sodium serves a number of functions in the body, but diets high in sodium can result in high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. You should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium each day, according to the USDA. Smokehouse almonds contain about 35 percent of the daily value for vitamin E -- an antioxidant that can help prevent cellular damage.
References
- Almond Board of California: Heart Smart
- Blue Diamond: Smokehouse Almonds
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; Dietary Guidelines for Americans; 2010
- Institute of Medicine; Dietary Reference Intakes; Macronutrients; 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Fats; Know Which Types to Choose; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health; Feb. 4, 2011
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