Like almonds? Now, experts say the tasty nuts are even better for you than initially thought. (AP photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, Brightseed and the Almond Board of California announced a discovery made possible by the Bay Area company’s proprietary AI platform, Forager®. Researchers identified 530 health-promoting phytochemical compounds in almonds, four times more than previously documented. Of these, 17 were identified as bioactive compounds that have biological health effects, with six reported in almonds for the first time.

The compounds found in almonds, including metabolites and lipids, are natural plant chemicals supported by strong scientific literature demonstrating their benefits for brain, cellular, gut, metabolic, and immune health. The findings, published in Food Chemistry, deepen researchers’ understanding of the nutritional benefits of almonds and the influence of processing techniques, like pasteurization, on their nutritional profile.

Over the past 30 years, more than 200 peer-reviewed studies have explored the connections between California almond consumption and health in areas such as heart health, blood glucose regulation, and weight management, underscoring almonds’ role in improving overall health. Despite these extensive research efforts, the molecular composition of almonds remained a relatively uncharted territory.

Forager, Brightseed’s proprietary AI technology, was used to expand knowledge about almonds by leveraging its state-of-the-art liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, the world’s largest library of plant natural products, and an expert-curated human health model that leverages peer-reviewed literature on bioactive compounds and their health benefits. An extensive metabolomic analysis was performed on three California almond varieties, Nonpareil, Independence, and Monterey. This research confirms the widespread presence of health-promoting compounds in all examined almond varieties, endorsing their inclusion in diverse diets.

“These findings deepen our understanding of almonds’ nutritional value and health benefits and further validate the inclusion of almonds in healthy dietary patterns,” said Elena Hemler, associate director, nutrition research, Almond Board of California. “This study underscores the power of leveraging emerging metabolomic and AI tools to uncover new insights across health and nutrition.”

These results indicate that almonds can offer a range of specific health benefits that address various concerns from metabolic health to cognitive function, affirming their importance in health-conscious diets. Overall, this study sheds light on future discoveries in almonds, guiding both nutritional research and functional food development.

“As the field of metabolomics continues to evolve, it promises to unlock new insights into the intricate relationships between diet and health,” said Clay Bloszies, PhD, associate director, metabolomics, Brightseed. “With millions of bioactives yet to be discovered, our Forager AI platform is really just in the early days of illuminating powerful small molecules to elevate human health.”

This novel analysis builds on 30 years of almond research and a brand-new peer-reviewed publication 2 which synthesizes the body of literature on almond benefits for cardiometabolic health.