Go Healthy, Go Nuts: Walnuts!

Walnuts are great tasting nuts that have an array of health benefits. To begin with, the Omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in walnuts have been shown to provide our bodies with numerous protective benefits.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids protect us against heart disease and the Omega-3 found in walnuts helps to prevent irregular heart rhythms. Omega-3 also helps reduce LDL (bad) and total cholesterol levels. The cholesterol lowering ability of walnuts is also due to the amount of antioxidants, phenols, vitamin E, ellagic acid and gallic acid found in this nut. The monounsaturated fat in walnuts has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health and is associated with a reduced risk for heart disease.

The Omega-3 essential fatty acids in walnuts also provide anti-inflammatory benefits and are helpful if you suffer from asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema or psoriasis. Lastly, studies have shown that walnuts may be very helpful in preventing gallstones. More than a decade of scientific evidence shows that incorporating walnuts in a healthy diet reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood vessel elasticity and plaque accumulation. Walnuts have also been shown to aid in the lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and the C-Reactive Protein (CRP). CRP was recently recognized as an independent marker and predictor of heart disease That’s a big nutritional bang for a little nut! In the beauty sector, walnuts also have impact on your hair and your skin.

Walnuts are a key ‘hair food’, as they are an excellent source of biotin, an essential nutrient known to strengthen hair, improve hair growth and reduce hair fall. A deficiency of biotin leads to frequent hair loss and breakage. Walnuts are a rich source of copper, which helps erase wrinkles. Copper is known to improve skin elasticity and its natural stretch by improving the growth of elastin (a protein present in skin that helps to maintain its shape). You can use walnut as a facial scrub by mixing five tablespoons of curd with five finely ground walnuts. It works wonders for your skin. Grab a handful of walnuts a day to keep the doctor away!