Almonds are high in calories. A serving has 164 calories, or 8% of the DV. Even so, 1-2 handfuls of almonds a day can help us lose weight. Almond butter is also high in calories, while almond milk has fewer calories than cow’s milk.
Are almonds high in calories?
Almonds, as all nuts and seeds, are high in calories. They have 579 calories per 100g, or 164 calories per serving. Moreover, 10 almonds have approximately 70 calories, while 14-15 almonds have 100 calories.[1]
A handful of almonds provides about 8% of the calories in a 2,000-calorie diet.
Almonds have many calories because they’re rich in fat. Actually, approximately 77% of calories of almonds come from fat.
Moreover, almonds are pretty rich in fiber. They contain decent amounts of protein as well. Moreover, as they’re low in sugar, almonds are keto-friendly. Even people with diabetes can regularly consume them.
In any case, as almonds have many calories, their overconsumption can make you gain weight. On the other hand, consuming 1-2 handfuls of almonds a day supports weight loss.
How many calories are in almond butter?
Almond butter is also high in calories. It has 614 calories per 100g, or 98 calories per tbsp. Almond butter is about 81% fat.
For comparison, peanut and cow’s butter have 590 and 717 calories per 100g, respectively. Peanut butter has a similar calorie content to almond butter. On the contrary, cow’s butter has about 16% more calories than almond butter.
In any case, you should eat only small amounts of any type of butter. Especially if you want to lose weight.
Almond paste is also high in calories. It has 458 calories per 100g. Almond paste has too much added sugar.
Almond milk is very low in calories!
On the other hand, almond milk is low in calories. It has only 15 calories per 100 mL. A whole cup has less than 40 calories!
If you want to lose weight, prefer drinking almond milk than cow’s milk. Whole cow’s milk has 61 calories, while 2% fat milk has 50 calories. Hence, cow’s milk has up to 4 times more calories than almond milk!
You can find a wide variety of almond milks, or any other almond product, on Amazon.
Do other nuts have more calories than almonds?
Actually, almonds have a relatively low calorie content as compared to other common nuts.
| calories per 100g | calories per serving | |
| macadamia nuts | 718 | 201 |
| pecans | 691 | 193 |
| pine nuts | 673 | 188 |
| Brazil nuts | 659 | 185 |
| hazelnuts | 646 | 181 |
| walnuts | 643 | 180 |
| almonds | 579 | 164 |
| cashews | 574 | 161 |
| peanuts | 563 | 158 |
| pistachios | 560 | 157 |
| chestnuts | 374 | 105 |
Chestnuts have the fewest calories among common nuts. They have 36% fewer calories than almonds.
How many almonds can I eat a day without gaining weight?
As a rule of thumb, consuming 1-2 handfuls of almonds (or mixed seeds and nuts) a day is good for weight loss. More is too much, though.
So, most people can eat 20-40 almonds a day without gaining weight. If you follow a sedentary lifestyle, better consume no more than 20 almonds (a small handful) a day, though.
Almonds have a great nutritional value. They’re particularly rich in fiber, protein, vitamin E, and many minerals, such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, and selenium.
The best time to eat almonds is before a high-calorie meal, as a snack. You can eat them on an empty stomach. They won’t spike your blood sugar levels.
Moreover, athletes and active people could benefit from the regular consumption of almonds. Almonds contain compounds that support muscle recovery.
