Walnuts have been touted as the ‘brain food’ because they resemble one with their furrowed appearance. The funny thing is that research has proved that consuming walnuts regularly does improve brain function. Easy to add to the diet, they are very rich in nutritional content. They are better than most other nuts, even almonds because they have a high amount of polyunsaturated fat, vitamins, and minerals like potassium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Fibre-rich and antioxidant-rich, walnuts trump all the other dry fruits on all accounts. Here are some of the benefits of walnuts. Add them as part of salads, over desserts or have them just as a snack.
- Anti-Cancer
Walnuts can combat the risks of cancer. They are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and other antioxidants which have been proven to fight cancer. Walnuts are especially beneficial for prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer.
- Heart Healthy
Walnuts abound in monounsaturated fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid and linolenic acid. They encourage a healthy lipid supply. Bad cholesterol gets lowered and increases good cholesterol levels. They are also beneficial in reducing high blood pressure.
- Support Good Body Composition
Because they are high in fibre, walnuts make you feel fuller much after you have consumed a handful. They are very rich in protein and help in healthy weight loss.
- Good For Diabetes
Having walnuts can reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes. They provide an excellent serving of protein, healthy fat and fibre. Since they do not add to the kilos, diabetics can have them without worry.
- Boost Metabolism
A handful of walnuts can provide a boost to a sluggish metabolism. They are replete with essential fatty acids and help with digestion, growth and development and other metabolic processes.
- Good for the Bones
Walnuts help with the increased absorption of calcium in the body. They also reduce the excretion of calcium during metabolic processes.
- Anti-Inflammatory
Walnuts have anti-inflammatory properties. Many diseases like diabetes, rheumatism, arthritis, and others are because of inflammation. Consuming walnuts every day helps in combating these diseases better.
- Good for Digestion
Walnuts are fibre-rich. Because of this, they help clean the gut and help detoxify the body. They all bulk to the stool and combat constipation.
Fun fact! Having more health-promoting bacteria and other microbes can improve the health of your gut. One way of doing that is to consume walnuts. An unhealthy microbiota can result in inflammation in your gut, which can increase the risk of obesity, cancer and other chronic diseases. Hence, eating walnuts can prevent this from happening. For instance, incorporating it into your daily diet can increase butyrate-producing bacteria, which is a fat that improves gut health.
- Beneficial for the brain
No, we are not saying walnuts are good for your brain just because they might look like one. There have multiple studies that prove the benefits of walnuts for brain functioning. For instance, the nutrients found in the nut may play a role in preventing oxidative damage and inflammation inside the brain.
Some research was done through observing adults which pointed out the role of walnuts in improving their brain functioning, including better memory, faster processing speed, and overall mental flexibility.
Despite all these affirmations, more studies on the walnuts’ benefits on the human brain are still needed. In the meantime, you can always munch on some as they are good for you anyway.
10. Induce Sleep
Walnuts help in the production of melatonin. It is a hormone that helps induce sleep. Have as an after-dinner snack and sleep like a baby.
11. Improve Fertility
Walnuts help in the production of sperms and improving the quality of sperms. They add to their vitality and mobility.
12. Good for Skin and Hair
Free radicals in the environment cause the most damage to the body. They are responsible for creating dryness and wrinkles in the skin. Walnuts help fight these free radicals. Regular consumption of walnuts helps in reducing the dark circles under the eyes.
13. Helpful in Pregnancy
For proper fetal growth, pregnant women should take in sufficient amounts of folate. Walnuts are rich in Vitamin B complex and help with the healthy growth of the fetus.
14. Helps in male reproductive health
Research suggests that amongst the many health benefits of walnuts, supporting sperm health and male fertility can be one of them. Studies done on animals suggest that eating walnuts can protect the sperm by reducing oxidative damage on their membranes. It is a given that extensive studies are required to confirm the nut’s role in improving male reproductive health. However, if you are someone who is concerned, you can always include a couple of walnuts in your daily diet.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.