What's New and Beneficial about Walnuts
- Researchers are convinced—more than ever before—about the nutritional benefits of walnuts when consumed in whole form, including the skin. We now know that approximately 90% of the phenols in walnuts are found in the skin, including key phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids. Some websites will encourage you to remove the walnut skin—that whitish, sometimes waxy, sometimes flaky, outermost part of shelled walnuts. There can be slight bitterness to this skin, and that's often the reason that websites give for removing it. However, we encourage you not to remove this phenol-rich portion.
- The form of vitamin E found in walnuts is somewhat unusual, and particularly beneficial. Instead of having most of its vitamin E present in the alpha-tocopherol form, walnuts provide an unusually high level of vitamin E in the form of gamma-tocopherol. Particularly in studies on the cardiovascular health of men, this gamma-tocopherol form of vitamin E has been found to provide significant protection from heart problems.
- Most U.S. adults have yet to discover the benefits of walnuts. A recent study has determined that only 5.5% of all adults (ages 19-50) consume tree nuts of any kind! This small percentage of people actually do a pretty good job of integrating tree nuts (including walnuts) into their diet, and average about 1.25 ounces of tree nuts per day. But the other 94.5% of us report no consumption of tree nuts whatsoever. In a recent look at the nutritional differences between tree nut eaters and non-eaters, researchers have reported some pretty notable findings: on a daily average, tree nut eaters take in 5 grams more fiber, 260 milligrams more potassium, 73 more milligrams of calcium, 95 more milligrams of magnesium, 3.7 milligrams more vitamin E, and 157 milligrams less sodium!
- Many of us can go local for our supply of walnuts. According to the latest trade statistics, 38% of all walnuts are grown in the U.S. Of that 38%, the vast majority (almost 90%) come from California, and particularly from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Buying walnuts closer to home can provide great benefits from the standpoint of sustainability.
- Phytonutrient research on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of walnuts has moved this food further and further up the ladder of foods that are protective against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems, and type 2 diabetes. Some phytonutrients found in walnuts—for example, the quinone juglone—are found in virtually no other commonly-eaten foods. Other phytonutrients—like the tannin tellimagrandin or the flavonol morin—are also rare and valuable as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. These anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phytonutrients also help explain the decreased risk of certain cancers—including prostate cancer and breast cancer—in relationship to walnut consumption.
Recommendations
Walnuts are part of the tree nut family. This food family includes
Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts (filberts), macadamia nuts, pecans, pine
nuts, pistachios and walnuts. It would be difficult to overestimate
the potential health benefits associated with this food family! In the
majority of dietary studies, approximately one ounce of tree nuts per
day is the minimal amount needed to provide statistically significant
benefits, and that's the amount we recommend that you incorporate into
your daily diet. In the case of walnuts, one ounce means about 7 shelled
walnuts, or 14 walnut halves. Of course, since tree nuts (including
walnuts) are a high-calorie food, it's important to incorporate tree
nuts into an overall healthy diet that remains on target in terms of
calories. Luckily, research has shown that many people are able to take
this step with good success in terms of overall caloric intake.
Walnuts not only taste great but are a rich source of
heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and an excellent source of those hard
to find omega-3 fatty acids. Like most nuts, they can easily be added
to your Healthiest Way of Eating. Just chop and add to your favorite
salad, vegetable dish, fruit, or dessert.
Written by REX
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