Almond Blossoms (photo by Derek Benjamin Lilly, courtesy of morguefile.com)

Eating almonds significantly decreased levels of oxidative stress in a group of male and female volunteers with elevated cholesterol. It is widely believed that oxidative stress greatly increases the risk of poor cardiovascular health. The study was conducted by scientists funded by the Agricultural Research Service, the Almond Board of California, and the Canada Research Chair Endowment.

According to an article on the study from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service:

While this study helps to show the antioxidant benefit of eating almonds, further research is needed to shed light on the individual contributions of vitamin E and polyphenolic constituents, such as flavonoids, found in almonds and other tree nuts. The study did not demonstrate a minimum amount of dietary almonds that would result in a biological effect.