If you are at all interested in healthy eating, you probably know that nuts are a true superfood.
All nuts–almonds, pistachios, peanuts, walnuts, etc–are a great source of healthy fats and offer numerous health benefits.
If you want to improve your diet, you should consider introducing walnuts in it and enjoy them every day.
Nutritional Value of Walnuts
It is unbelievable that only a handful of walnuts is so rich in vitamins and minerals. Choose walnuts instead of potato chips or candy, and they will keep you going until your next meal.
These are some of the nutrients found in walnuts:
- omega-3 fatty acids
- polyunsaturated fats
- phenols
- vitamin E
- antioxidants
How Eating Walnuts Can Improve Your Health
All of these nutrients sound great, but how do they improve your health? Here are some of the health benefits that you can enjoy just by incorporating one ounce of walnuts into your every day diet:
- Lower stress levels : If you suffer physically due to stress, or you often overreact to stressful situations, you might need to add walnuts in your diet. They can stabilize the body’s response to stress and help you avoid the physical side effects of stress.
- Strengthen your heart : Walnuts contain antioxidants that should be a major part of your diet, because they have the ability to battle free radicals that cause heart disease and degeneration. To enjoy a long lasting and healthy heart, start consuming walnuts on a regular basis.
- Protect your brain from age-related degeneration : Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that have been linked to a decrease in Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce cancer risk, fight off depression, and help with ADHD.
- Lower cholesterol levels : According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, men who consume walnuts have lower bad cholesterol levels compared to men who do not eat walnuts. This is related to the heart benefits of walnuts.
- Weight loss : Walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats, which improve the functioning of body organs and, unlike saturated fats, don’t clog your arteries and negatively affect your health. Polyunsaturated fats will keep you feeling full for longer and decrease your temptation to mindlessly snack.
- Healthier hair, skin, and nails : The polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts can really improve your appearance. These nutrients can help you have stronger nails, shinier hair, and smoother skin.
You should include walnuts in your diet, regardless of what health benefits most appeal to you. You can eat them as a snack, use them in desserts, sprinkle chopped walnuts on your salad, or use them as a side dish for your meals.
However, remember not to overdo it with walnuts. They might be very healthy, but they are also very high in calories and fat. Just take a handful of walnuts and enjoy!
