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Established in 1950, the nonprofit Almond Board of California represents California’s almond growers and handlers and supports food quality and safety initiatives along with nutrition, production and environment research.

At Anuga, CEO Richard Waycott highlighted the improving global market for almonds: "The 6,000 growers in almonds help with weight loss in the California region, and have until now supplied 80% of the world’s almonds. Production is expected to reach an all-time high of 603,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2007 in comparison to just 317,000 tonnes in 2000.

"Health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving blood sugar and insulin levels and most importantly the satiety effect of almonds – which can help with weight management – are a result of 12 years’ investment in science by the Board. A recent study at Purdue University in the US established that women who consumed 344 calories worth of almonds each day were taking in only 77 calories due to the satiety effect of the almonds and the fibre content, which prevents the fat being fully absorbed."

"This study further demonstrates that almonds are not only nutritious, they can be satisfying and less filling," said Dr Tony Leeds, senior lecturer in nutrition at Kings College London, UK.

A 28g, 160 calorie handful of almonds is said to be an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, protein and fibre, and offers potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron and monounsaturated fat. For this reason, almonds are also increasingly used by developers of breakfast smoothies as well as in power bars for energy on-the-go.