30 Years of Almond Nutrition Research

Legacy of Nutrition Research 

The Almond Board is committed to learning how almonds can help address public health concerns and promote healthy lifestyles. From their ground-breaking research exploring almonds’ impact on cholesterol levels to uncovering how eating almonds may affect wrinkle severity, support exercise recovery and benefit gut microbiota functionality, research has revealed that almonds are a healthy snack you should enjoy daily. 

As one of the most researched foods, almonds have over 200 peer-reviewed publications and 130 research projects from top scientists and universities globally. 

Recently, a group of leading physicians and nutrition scientists from around the world agreed that eating almonds daily can support cardiometabolic health. 

Almonds: A Nutritional Powerhouse

Almonds are one of the world’s healthiest foods. Each 1 ounce serving (or 28g) provides 6g of plant-based protein, 4g of fiber, 13g of healthy unsaturated fats (only 1g of saturated fats) and a variety of vitamins and minerals – including 50% of the Daily Value for vitamin E – that can fit in any diet including gluten-free, vegan, plant-based or keto-friendly. 

Almond Nutrition Research Through the Years

• 1992: The first almond nutrition study publishes
• 1995: ABC formally starts the nutrition research program and begins investing in heart-health research
• 1995: First study on how almonds may affect heart health published setting the foundation for decades of additional research studies
• 1998: First studies on how almonds may affect weight management, satiety and gut health publish
• 2002: Initial research on how almonds may affect diabetes published
• 2002-2006: Portfolio Diet studies published 
• 2003: Almonds receive the FDA Qualified Heart-Health Claim  
  Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
• 2005: ABC creates the Perfect Portion Tin, designed to educate dietitians on the correct portion size of almonds.
• 2011: ABC begins participating in the American Heart Association Food Certification Program
• 2014: First study on how almonds may affect skin health published
• 2016: Research finds that 20% of the calories from fat in almonds are not absorbed when consumed meaning fewer calories than on label
• 2017: According to new FDA criteria, almonds now qualify to be called “healthy”
• 2023: First study on how almonds may affect exercise recovery published
• 2025: A group of leading researchers agree that eating almonds daily can support overall heart health, weight management, and the gut microbiome – all of which are components of cardiometabolic health.
• 2025 and beyond: Using machine learning to unlock the potential of almonds and their bioactives