After a long affair with peanuts and many of its derivatives (most notably peanut butter), the decades-long popularity of the nut has fallen in front of a new favorite: almonds. A report by The Washington Post shows that almond intake in the country has been raised by a 220% over the last nine years, and now the average American eats about two pounds of almonds a year. The change has been seen in the increasing popularity of products like almond milk, which now accounts for almost 5 percent of the country's entire milk sales.

One of the reasons for this change of hearts in the American diet is that healthy fats have been given a warm welcome to the food culture in the country over the last few years, with foods like olive oil and avocado having taken a climb in acceptance with the public due to their positive effects on the body. The almond is actually in this group, with its health benefits being widely accepted.

Another factor is that new diets have a tendency towards being all about never getting hungry, thus trading the traditional three big meals a day for six smaller meals or more, expanded throughout the entire day - giving lots of importance to snacks that contain a good amount of protein and can provide energy without sacrificing a healthy diet.

Finally, there has been a swift in general intake of meat in the country - nowadays, more than 3 percent of American adults now follow a vegetarian diet, according to the Vegetarian Times. Thanks to this, people who follow a meat-free diet have found sources for their protein intake in this popular nut.

In a report made by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), almonds have been found to improve weight management, heart health and even help consumers achieve higher lifespans.