Almonds Get a Heart-Healthy Checkmark from the American Heart Association

Whenever someone travels to my hometown, I always make sure they take a bag of almond chocolates for my Dad. Why almond chocolates? It’s because my father can’t resist his sweet tooth nor can he live without the crunchy texture that comes with almonds. He’s so particular about that crunch that, if I forget almonds in his gifts, I’ll get an email reminding me to “shop better” next time.

Such is the wisdom of fathers and, apparently, the American Heart Association (AHA) agrees.

This February, AHA has certified almonds with its signature Heart-Check mark to signify their approval of almonds as a heart-healthy food. AHA’s Heart-Check mark is one of the most consumer-trusted nutrition symbols on packaged foods. One study found that more than half of shoppers use the Heart-Check mark when purchasing a new product. If consumers haven’t already been swayed by the nutritional tributes of almonds, they can now easily identify almonds as a smart choice.

Nearly two decades of research have shown almonds to be one of the most outstanding nuts available to consumers. In fact, since 2003, the Food and Drug Administration approved a strong health claim regarding almonds: “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as a part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Jenny Heap, MS, RD Health Professional Marketing Manager at the Almond Board of California agrees that the AHA Heart-Check mark is a positive step. Heap says, “Now consumers will be able to more easily identify almonds in the supermarket as a heart-smart food, helping take the guess work out of shopping.”

Likewise, Al Greenlee, North American Retail Marketing Director at Blue Diamond Almonds, the world’s biggest almond supplier and a CBD Client, couldn’t agree more. Greenlee believes that it’s important to communicate to consumers where and how they can substitute healthier options in their diets: “By featuring the mark on our Blue Diamond Almond packaging and citing the certification in our advertising, we will help the AHA to communicate the importance to eating smart and becoming active to consumers in North America.”

In my opinion, Blue Diamond’s AHA Heart-Check mark couldn’t have come at a better time. The National Center for Health Statistics lists heart disease as one of the leading health concerns affecting baby boomers. I’m looking forward to AHA Heart-Check mark to remind me to choose healthier eating options – both for my father and myself. With almonds on my mind, I know Dad will be glad to know that I won’t forget to get them with his chocolates.

Tags: AHA Heart-Check mark, Almonds, American Heart Association, Blue Diamond, Food and Drug Administration, health, Healthy Choices, National Center for Health Statistics, RD Health Professional