Nutrients Found in Walnuts
When you look at the nutrient stats for walnuts, it’s almost impossible to believe that one small handful of this food can give you so many different vitamins and minerals. Instead of grabbing a handful of potato chips or candy, a handful of walnuts can give you everything you need to keep going until your next meal.
These are some of the most crucial nutrients found in walnuts:
– omega-3 fatty acids
– polyunsaturated fats
– phenols
– vitamin E
– antioxidants
How Eating Walnuts Improves Your Health
These nutrients sound great, of course, but what can they do for your health? By incorporating one ounce of walnuts into your diet every day, you may reap some of these health benefits:
– Lower stress levels: If you suffer physically as the result of stress or tend to overreact to stressful situations, you may need walnuts in your diet. Walnuts can stabilize your body’s response to stress and help you avoid the physical side effects of this mental condition
– Strengthen your heart: Antioxidants should be a major part of your diet. The antioxidants found in walnuts can battle free radicals that cause heart disease and degeneration. Regular consumption of walnuts can help your heart last longer and enjoy better health.
– Protect your brain from age-related degeneration: The consumption of walnuts has been linked to a decrease in Alzheimer’s disease, thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in them. Omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce cancer risk, help with ADHD, and fight off depression.
– Lower cholesterol levels: A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that men who consume walnuts have lower bad cholesterol levels than those who do not eat walnuts. This goes hand-in-hand with the heart benefits of walnuts.
– Weight loss: Walnuts are an excellent source of polyunsaturated fats. These fats improve the functioning of body organs without clogging your arteries and negatively affecting your health like saturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats also keep you feeling full for longer, so your temptation to mindlessly snack may be decreased.
– Stronger hair, skin, and nails: Polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids do plenty for your appearance. These nutrients can strengthen your nails, make your hair shinier, and make your skin smoother.
Walnuts should be a part of your diet, no matter what health benefits most appeal to you. You can eat walnuts plain as a snack, sprinkle chopped walnuts on your salad, use them in desserts, or use them as a side dish for your meals.
Remember: don’t overdo it with walnuts! Though they are extremely healthy, they are also very high in calories and fat. A little goes a long way. Grab a few and enjoy!
source:http://www.healthyfoodplace.com
