To discover the untapped health potential of California almonds, Blue Diamond®, the world's leading almond marketer and processor, and Brightseed, the bioactive company and a World Economic Forum Global Innovator, are partnering today. Blue Diamond's health innovations and programs will be informed by the results of this collaboration, including consumer education programs relating almond consumption to specific health benefits.
Through its proprietary artificial intelligence, Forager®, Brightseed is a pioneer in exploring the potential of bioactives, the molecules produced by plants that trigger specific health benefits. A collaborative research program conducted by Forager® identified 188 predicted bioactive compounds with the potential to impact mental wellness, metabolic health, and immunity in several areas of human health.
"As an almond-focused grower cooperative and an innovation leader in almond-based ingredients and consumer products, we are thrilled to collaborate with Brightseed to gain a deeper understanding of this unique superfood," Blue Diamond's Senior Director of R&D Kurt Waananen said, "Almonds are already well-studied, but this collaboration gives us a deeper understanding and new ways to view future exploration of nutritional benefits and clinical studies."
It has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including heart health, blood glucose management, satiety/weight management, and gut health, which make almonds one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. It has also been suggested that almonds may help protect the skin from UVB light and reduce wrinkles and pigmentation.
The results of this partnership suggest there are additional bioactive compounds in almonds that may have a positive impact on human health despite extensive research on almond nutrients. Sarb Dhanjal, Blue Diamond Growers' Senior Director of Consumer Insights, praised the possibility of uncovering additional health benefits for almonds.
"At Blue Diamond, we closely monitor trends and conduct consumer research to understand how people overall feel about their food, diet, and eating and drinking habits," Dhanjal said. "We've found that consumers today want to lead healthier lifestyles but find it difficult to prioritize nutrition as a daily habit. The Global Future of Food Survey by McKinsey & Company confirms that consumers worldwide desire to eat better, but nearly half struggle to find the right way to do so.
"Today's consumers view Blue Diamond as a trusted brand and the leader in almond product innovations," Dhanjal continued. "Consumers are also navigating a highly crowded marketplace with the proliferation of plant-based food and beverage options claiming holistic health benefits. To that end, I am excited for this collaboration with Brightseed to bring forward the health benefits of almonds in new and differentiating ways to our well-poised portfolio of consumer brands and ingredients."
"Science has long known that bioactives are essential, health-driving components within plants, but pinpointing their underlying mechanisms of action has been a largely intractable problem for the food, health, and nutrition industries," Brightseed Co-Founder and COO Sofia Elizondo said, "Our work with Blue Diamond enables Forager® to tap into a global food staple and illuminate the almond health story for consumers worldwide. This is an important leap for the industry to champion food and functional ingredients as powerful and accessible modalities for precision nutrition for proactive health."
It connects compounds in nature with human biology at a rate, speed, and scale previously unimaginable. In order to expand on the scientific understanding of almonds' health benefits, Brightseed and Blue Diamond will assess options for further research, including new areas previously unlinked to almond consumption.