Walnuts - the best food for heart and brain
Regular consumption of walnuts can extend your life by 3 to 8 years.
The history of walnuts and their presence on our menu is very interesting and indicates how far we have progressed in understanding healthy nutrition. For years, experts have taken a rather negative view. Some 20 years ago, they tried to prove with arguments that walnuts are not healthy. As the main reason, they used the fact that walnuts contain too much fat and therefore recommended only occasional consumption of them.
The change came in 1992 when scientists involved in the Adventist Health Study found that daily consumption of walnuts reduced the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The published results were met with distrust. Finally, prejudices aside, these results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This revolutionary publication showed that people who consume walnuts more than five times a week can reduce the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) by half. After the study was published, other scientists began to claim that people who consumed walnuts on a daily basis probably had a higher chance of getting cancer (due to the high-fat content).
However, scientists from Loma Linda University in the USA conducted a detailed analysis and concluded that this fear is absolutely unfounded. People who consumed the most nuts had the lowest death rate. In other words, the study confirmed that eating walnuts increases life expectancy. People who ate nuts lived the longest.
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Regular consumption of walnuts can extend your life by 3 to 8 years. Since 1992, the benefits of walnuts have been confirmed by many other studies. Research has shown that almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, peanuts, and cashews effectively reduce and normalize blood lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides). Walnuts are probably the most effective, because they contain the most polyunsaturated fatty acids, and are particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These special fats are effective in preventing the occurrence of numerous diseases such as depression, arthritis, hyperactivity, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases.
Scientists paid special attention to the body weight factor. Some people ate nuts only occasionally, due to fear of obesity. Walnuts, however, cause a feeling of satiety very quickly and have a very low glycemic index, so they are also suitable for diabetics. Thanks to walnuts, people eat less food and do not feel hungry. Research has confirmed that consuming two handfuls of walnuts per day (50 to 60 grams) does not affect body weight. If we are not allergic, and we have access to high-quality walnuts stored in appropriate conditions, we can consume them without any fear.
Post by: Rinna James
