Health Benefits of Walnuts

The Essential Fat

Walnuts owe many of their numerous health benefits to their rich supply of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are protective fats that the body cannot manufacture itself. Aside from nuts and cold-water fish, the typical American diet is almost devoid of omega-3s. Researchers estimate that up to 60 percent of Americans are deficient in this essential fatty acid. Omega-3s benefit the cardiovascular system by preventing erratic heart rhythms and blood clots, improving the ratio of HDL (good) cholesterol to LDL (bad) cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and reducing inflammation, which can turn cholesterol into artery-clogging plaque. Studies demonstrate that walnut-rich diets can improve cholesterol ratios, increase the elasticity of the arteries, and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

Good For the Cranium

Omega-3s are also important for proper brain cell function. Higher rates of depression, hyperactivity, learning disorders, and behavioral and sleep problems relate to low omega-3 diets. Adding a moderate amount of walnuts to an otherwise healthy diet may improve neural function across the lifespan, especially in older adults. As a result of the aging process, brain cells lose synaptic plasticity — the ability of the connections between neurons to change in strength and function. In animal studies, adding walnuts to the diet of aged rats helped correct motor and cognitive deficits.

In addition to omega-3s, walnuts are also rich in monounsaturated fats. These healthful fats, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. A study conducted in Spain compared the effects of a low-calorie Mediterranean diet to one in which walnuts were substituted for one third of the calories supplied by olives and other monounsaturated fats. Total cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol were significantly reduced among those in the walnut diet group.

Full of Antioxidants

Walnuts are also dense with antioxidants and essential amino acids. A 2002 study conducted in Norway showed that walnuts rank second only to rose hips in their antioxidant content. Ellagic acid, an antioxidant, supports the immune system and has anticancer properties. The body converts L-arginine, an essential amino acid, to nitric oxide to hep keep blood vessels smooth and relaxed. Melatonin, a powerful antioxidant, helps regulate sleep and reduces free radical damage. Animal studies have demonstrated that eating walnuts can triple blood levels of melatonin.

Reduces Risk of Cancer

The phytosterols in walnuts bind to estrogen receptors and therefore may prevent or slow the growth of breast cancer tumors fueled by estrogen. In animal studies, they reduce the risk of breast cancer. Yet, when it did develop, walnuts helped curb tumor growth.

Walnuts are packed with many health-promoting compounds. With Omega-3s, monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, phytosterols, and minerals – including manganese and copper – they are powerhouses of nutrition. The brain-shaped nut may not literally make you smarter, but adding walnuts to your diet is undeniably a smart choice.