Almonds come from a tree that is part of the plum family. The trees are also native to West Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa. The Latin version of the English word "Almond" is amygdalus, which translates to "tonsil plum."As almonds were first cultivated in Greece by ancient Romans, they were commonly called almonds "Greek nuts."
Technically speaking, almonds are actually a fruit.
When hanging on the tree, almond fruit looks like an elongated peach with a green husk and a gray tint. Once it matures, the almond shell is exposed when the husk splits open. California produces the most amounts of almonds in the world, and Spanish missionaries are widely credited for bringing them to the state.
Nutrition
Consuming as little as 12 almonds each day can help you add many essential nutrients to your diet. They are a rich source many nutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin E. Almonds also provide significant amounts of fiber and protein which can help improve healthy muscle mass and GI tract functions. One serving of almonds alone contains 13 grams of unsaturated fats and a gram of saturated fat. When compared to all other edible tree nuts, they rank the top of the list in terms of fiber, calcium, protein, vitamin E, niacin and riboflavin by weight. Each serving provides 160 calories worth of life-giving energy.
