How Much Are Almonds Per Jin? A Full Analysis of the Benefits and Whether Pregnant Women Can Eat Them

Almonds are the seeds of the apricot in the Rosaceae family, divided into sweet almonds and bitter almonds. They mainly contain protein, fat, sugar and traces of amygdalin, and the fat is composed mainly of oleic acid and linoleic acid. So, how much do almonds cost per jin? What benefits do they have? Can pregnant women eat them?

I. How much do almonds cost per jin?

The price of almonds is about 18 to 23 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on quality, variety, place of origin and market.

II. What benefits do almonds have?

1. Relieving cough and calming asthma: amygdalin can be hydrolysed in the body by intestinal microbial enzymes or by the emulsin contained in bitter almonds themselves, producing trace amounts of hydrocyanic acid and benzaldehyde, which have an inhibitory effect on the respiratory centre, achieving cough-relieving and asthma-calming effects.

2. Moistening the intestines and relieving constipation: almonds taste bitter and direct qi downward and are rich in fatty oil; fatty oil can improve the lubricating effect of intestinal contents on the mucosa, so almonds have the function of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, and are often used in combination with arborvitae seed and bunge cherry seed.

3. Analgesic effect: the benzaldehyde produced by the decomposition of amygdalin acts through benzoin condensation enzyme to form benzoin, and benzoin has an analgesic effect. Therefore, some people in China use bitter almonds to treat advanced liver cancer, which can relieve patients' suffering, and some even no longer need to take painkillers.

4. Beauty effect: the fatty oil contained in bitter almonds can soften the stratum corneum of the skin, protect nerve endings, blood vessels and tissue organs, and inhibit and kill bacteria; it can also eliminate pigmentation, freckles and dark spots, thereby achieving a beauty effect.

5. Slowing ageing: almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, and vitamin E is one of the most effective natural antioxidants; by protecting human cells from damage, it achieves the purpose of slowing ageing and the development of some chronic diseases.

6. Cancer prevention and anti-cancer: bitter almonds contain a biologically active substance——amygdalin, which can enter the blood and specifically kill cancer cells while having no effect on healthy cells, so it can improve the symptoms of patients with advanced cancer.

III. Can pregnant women eat almonds?

Generally speaking, if a pregnant woman accidentally eats almonds but only a small amount, and they are sweet almonds, the impact on health is not very great, and they will not all be absorbed by the foetus. However, if she has eaten an excessive amount of bitter almonds, she should consult a doctor about the specific situation, to prevent the excessive consumption of almonds from affecting the healthy development of the foetus.