The calculation of the energy intake (calories) of foods is usually based on the Atwater system, named after its inventor. This method considers proteins, carbohydrates, and fats separately, and the calculation of a food's calories is done by adding up the respective calories of each category (4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate and protein, 9 kcal per gram of fat, and 7 kcal per gram of alcohol).
Researchers from the US Department of Agriculture analyzed the urine, feces, and diet of 18 volunteers assigned to receive different amounts of almonds and found that the energy intake from almonds is much lower than initially calculated. In fact, the calculation of energy intake via the Atwater system overestimates these calories by 32%!
For researchers, this anomaly is explained by a lower digestibility of certain components of almonds. They believe that this anomaly applies to all types of nuts. This is good news for those who enjoy almonds, especially since they are rich in minerals and antioxidants and could help combat diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Prefer almonds from organic farming, fresh or dried, natural (unsalted), and unblanched to enjoy all the nutrients.