8 Health Benefits of Walnuts

Edited By: David Borg

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Despite the fact that the human race has been growing walnut trees and consuming walnuts for well over 9000 years, we've only recently begun to understand just how good for us they really are. Walnuts help to keep both our minds and bodies strong and stable in more ways than you could ever imagine. What are these benefits, you ask? Read on to find out.

1. They Improve Heart Function

Walnuts are bursting with omega-3, as well as monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid. They also contain plenty of essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid, and arachidonic acids. Supplying your body with such a healthy supply of lipids will help to prevent coronary heart disease, reduce blood pressure and bad cholesterol, as well as increase the amount of good cholesterol in your bloodstream.

2. They Boost Your Metabolism

Walnuts contain a great wealth of minerals, such as copper, manganese, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. All of these minerals help to improve your metabolism and are beneficial to many metabolic activities, such as digestion, sperm generation, growth, and nucleic acid synthesis.

3. They Keep Diabetes Under Control

The consumption of nuts has been found to be inversely proportional to the risk of developing type-II diabetes since they contain a large amount of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. That's why diabetic people are able to eat walnuts regularly without putting on any excess weight.

4. They Help Prevent Cancer

Amazingly, a number of components present in walnuts have the ability to restrict the growth of cancer cells inside the human body. A 2010 study from the University of Portugal attributed this function to a select few phenolic compounds and antioxidants found in walnuts.

5. They Keep Your Skin Healthy

Walnuts are a fantastic source of vitamin E, which is a powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant. This vitamin helps to protect your skin from any harmful free radicals. What's more, walnuts also contain quite a number of B-complex vitamins, such as niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

6. They Regulate Sleep

If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, then why not try eating more walnuts closer to bedtime? This is because walnuts contain a hormone called melatonin, which is associated with inducing and regulating sleep. If you find that adding walnuts to your meals isn't enough, then you can try eating some walnuts soaked in water before going to bed.

7. They Boost Your Mood

If your diet is lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, then negative thoughts and feelings are more likely to overpower you, leading to high levels of stress or depression. Since walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, consuming them regularly can help keep you in a more positive state of mind, helping you to lead a happier and more satisfying life.

8. They Improve Bone Health

If you want to have good, strong bones, then you'd better start cracking open some walnuts. This is because the EFAs they contain increase calcium deposition and absorption, while also reducing urinary calcium excretion, ensuring that your bones are as strong as they can possibly be.

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