Come August, celebrations kick in as families across India prepare for the festival of Rakshabandhan. The occasion honors the bond between siblings, the promise of unwavering support and the vow of protection every brother takes to safeguard his sister which is symbolized by tying a simple thread or ‘rakhi’ on the brother’s wrist.
Sharing of gifts is an important traditional aspect of the Rakshabandhan festivities. This year, as people continue to adapt to the pandemic, family heath has become even a higher priority. Therefore, it’s pertinent to relook at one’s gifting choices, and instead share thoughtful gifts like almonds that will add to the receiver’s health. Almonds are a source of nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, protein, riboflavin, zinc etc. which are required for a healthy life. Regular almond consumption has also been scientifically proven to provide benefits across heart health, diabetes and weight management and skin health. Besides these, almonds are quick to flavor, pair well with several Indian spices, and are also known to provide satiating properties which makes a good snack. With this bouquet of health benefits that almonds offer, they are definitely a great gift for siblings to share with each other to celebrate Rakshabandhan.
Leading Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan said, “Rakshabandhan is a great occasion to spend quality time with the family and exchange gifts. When it comes to choosing gifts, my approach is always to pick options that seem thoughtful and will add value to the loved one’s life in some way or the other. Almonds are a personal favourite for me, as they contain a variety of nutrients including vitamin B2, phosphorus, magnesium, protein, etc. which are important to lead a healthy life. Additionally, almonds also contain zinc, copper, folate and iron, each of which are known to contribute to a normal function of the immune system[1]. Gifting almonds signifies gifting good health to my siblings!”
Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant said, “The ongoing pandemic has highlighted more than ever the need to invest in one’s health and strive for a better lifestyle. Festivals like Rakshabandan offer opportunities to make this change and the easiest way to do this is by sharing healthy gifts like almonds. Regular almond consumption can also be very beneficial for younger Indians who are increasingly getting prone to developing lifestyle diseases like pre-diabetes or diabetes. According to a recent study, snacking on almonds in place of regular snack choices improved total and LDL-cholesterol levels and reduced HbA1c levels in just 12 weeks of consumption, a dietary strategy that shows promise in helping prevent or delay the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes in younger people.[2]. So be sure to gift almonds during the festival.
This Rakshabandhan, gift your loved ones the blessing of almonds to spread love and good health.
