Benefits of Almonds for Your Brain

Learn about the benefits of almonds for your brain, the beneficial compounds they contain, and more.

By James Adisa
Joel Taylor
Edited by Joel Taylor

Published February 27, 2022.

Eating Almonds is often associated with longer life expectancy and improved brain function and memory. Although anecdotal, some people say almonds make you smarter and classify them among the best memory retention foods.

Based on research, we know that eating almonds is associated with improved memory and slowing down cognitive decline in older people, but what else can they do for your brain?

What Can Eating Almonds Do for Your Brain?

Almonds are rich in many healthy substances. They contain Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, plant sterols, and L-arginine. Almonds are also rich in Vitamin E which, according to research, can dramatically slow the clinical course of symptoms of mild to severe Alzheimer's disease.

Almonds also have Vitamin B6, which aids in protein metabolism and may help boost the availability of proteins for brain cell repair. This vitamin is also responsible for creating neurotransmitter molecules, which improve communication between brain cells.

Aside from Vitamin E and Vitamin B6, almonds have other nutrients like acetylcholine that help in the improvement of memory function and general brain health. Acetylcholine plays several roles in the brain, most of which are associated with memory and attention.

Scientific evidence also leads us to believe that acetylcholine is important in learning and memory, drawn from studies that involve acetylcholine in the progression of several common neurodegenerative diseases that involve memory impairments, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Some of the symptoms of these diseases correlate with reduced levels and activity of acetylcholine. For this reason, foods that increase acetylcholine, like almonds, are recommended to fight conditions like brain fog and other memory-related symptoms.