Are there people who should not eat almonds? | The Times of India (2024)

Almond, the crunchy seed-shaped nut is one of the widely consumed tree nuts across the globe. Packed with the benefits of protein, fiber, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin E, almonds offer several health benefits. They help to keep your skin healthy, lower rates of heart disease, decrease the risk of cancer and reduce blood pressure levels

However, just like any other healthy food, consuming almonds in excess is not good for health as it can lead to gastrointestinal problems. But are there people who should avoid almonds? A quora user recently posted this question on the platform, which grabbed our attention. In our quest to look for an answer, we spoke to Dr Priyanka Rohtagi, Chief Clinical Nutritionist, Apollo Hospitals. Here are some of the people she feels should temporarily avoid eating almonds:

The Nutritionist said that people on laxatives, blood pressure and antibiotics medicines should also discuss with their dietician before including almonds in their diet. Almonds are naturally quite high in manganese. A handful of almonds provides you with 0.6 milligrams of this mineral, which is 27 per cent of the daily value. Consuming a lot of almonds, on top of a manganese-rich diet may trigger drug interactions.

If you have any kind of nuts allergy and get hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing after eating nuts, then avoid almonds as well. Eating nuts may lead to anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. Consult your doctor immediately.

Young children and some older people, who have difficulty in swallowing should also avoid nuts as it could increase the risk of choking. People suffering from dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and reduced mobility may have a higher risk of aspiration.

Almonds contain an excessive amount of Vitamin E. 28 grams of almonds contain 7.4 milligrams of vitamin E and our daily requirement of this nutrient is 15 mg. "Consuming excessive almonds along with vitamin E supplement can lead to Vitamin E overdose," Dr Rohtagi stated. This can cause lethargy, blurred vision, headaches, diarrhoea and flatulence.