Healthy Properties of Two Almond Varieties. CEA vs. CARMEL

The cultivation of almond (Amygdalus communis L.) has always been a hallmark of the Mediterranean, representing a resource both food and economic. To traditional uses, mostly related the confectionery industry, they are added other in cosmetics.

The plant is perfectly adapted to the Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers, and is often associated to olive, carob and fig trees, species with similar climatic requirements. Almonds are a nutrient-dense food. They are high in fat (55.3%), mainly (39.4%) they consist of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Moreover, almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, fibre, riboflavin and protein. In addition, almond proteins are unusually high in arginine and possess good digestibility. Recent studies have shown that almonds also contain a diverse array of phenolic and polyphenolic.

Numerous studies correlate the moderate and regular consumption of nuts with an important role in health. In particular, habitual almond consumption does not lead to weight gain, and their inclusion in low-calorie diets appears to promote more weight loss than a comparable carbohydrate-based low-calorie diet. Also, almonds have a low glycemic index and do not adversely impact insulin sensitivity. So they reduce certain risk factors linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Almonds are an excellent source of bioavailable α-tocopherol, and increasing their intake enhances the resistance of LDL against oxidation. In addition, the polyphenolic constituents of almonds have been characterized recently and found to possess antioxidant actions. Some studies show as consumption of almonds has been shown to be associated with lower levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides thanks of their polyunsaturated fatty acids.

They are also indicated in the diet of elderly people by helping to increase bone mineral density. Important is also the antibacterial and antifungal power of almond oils shown in recent years.

Despite Mediterranean countries (particularly Spain and Italy) have dominated world trade for a long time, from the '80 years, Italy underwent a strong production crisis, mainly due to the lack of new plants conducted according to the most modern techniques of cultivation and competition from other crops considered more profitable (eg. wine, horticultural and citrus). The United States currently control more than a third of the world production of almond, using different cultivars and agronomic practices, based on more modern systems. Californian industry is characterized by much larger companies than Italian and modern mechanized harvesting systems linked to the condition of serious shortage of manpower. This allowed it to create a standardized product with no impurities, selected and beautifully packaged who conquered large segments of trade, while not offering a high standard from the point of view of the qualitative composition.

In Apulia, almond of Toritto has spread on the border between pre-Murgia and Alta Murgia which takes its name from the country where it is produced. Here various native cultivars have been developed such as "Filippo Cea", the "Antonio De Vito" and "Genco", which have resisted the invasion of the most productive varieties of California. Almond of Toritto is a product of excellence, recognized as typical Apulian product, entered in the list of Italian traditional food products of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.