According to a joint Chinese-American study, a big handful of almonds every day could boost the antioxidant defences of smokers - a group at risk of low antioxidant levels due to higher oxidative stress, by up to 35 per cent.

The randomised, crossover clinical trial with 60 healthy male smokers found that the body's antioxidant defences increased as a result of a daily 84 gram helping of almonds.

The results suggest smokers could benefit from upping their intake of almonds although expert advice is clearly to avoid tobacco smoke altogether.

I am not saying it is okay to smoke as long you eat a handful of almonds daily.

Demand for almonds, a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium has increased in recent years as the tastes of various almond-eating ethnic communities have expanded into more mainstream foods. A

And the almond boards have provoked greater consumption of the nut through better and more frequent marketing.

There is also growing demand from countries to which the US exports 75 per cent on its almonds, namely Europe - in particular Germany and Spain - and India, which buys nuts in their shells for direct consumption and shelling.

Almonds are okay but it's not in the list of my favorites. I am more of a pistachio, cashew kind of girl.

And thank God I don't smoke anymore!

Find more details from NutraIngredients.