Nutrition Walnuts: Health Benefits Tips
In addition to being a filling and tasty snack, walnuts may be added to a broad range of recipes, including savory and baked foods. Nutrition Walnuts are a great source of polyunsaturated fat, which is a heart-healthy fat with additional benefits. Walnuts come in many types, but English walnuts are the most widely available.
Nutrition Walnuts Information
The USDA has published the following nutritional data for one ounce (28g), or roughly seven whole English walnuts or fourteen halves.
- 183 calories
- 18g of fat
- 0.6 milligrams of sodium
- 3.8g of carbohydrates
- 1.9g of fiber
- 0.7g of sugars
- 4.3g of protein
Carbs
Just 3.8 grams of carbs are found in a single serving of walnuts. There is extremely little starch (0.017g) and very little naturally occurring sugar (0.7g) in that. Nutritious fiber accounts for the majority of walnuts’ carbohydrates (1.9g).
Nutrition Walnuts are considered a low-glycemic food because of their estimated glycemic index of 15. A single serving of walnuts is thought to have a glycemic load of one.
Portion size is taken into consideration by the glycogen load when estimating the effect of a food on blood sugar. The effect of a glycemic load of 1 on blood sugar is negligible.
Fats
The majority of walnuts’ calories are derived from fat. One serving of the nuts will provide you with eighteen grams of fat.
The fat content is composed primarily of polyunsaturated fat (13.4g), with a minor amount of monounsaturated fat (2.5g) and very little saturated fat (1.7g).
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are regarded as beneficial fats. They typically originate from plant materials like avocados, nuts, and seeds.
Substituting polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats for saturated fats has been repeatedly demonstrated in research to lower the risk of heart disease.
Complete Protein
Nutrition Walnuts are a good source of fiber, healthy fat, and a healthy dose of protein. Over 4 grams are provided in a single serving.
Calories
The majority of the calories in walnuts, or roughly 183 grams per serving, come from good fats.
Minerals and Vitamins
Half of your daily requirements for manganese and copper can be met by eating walnuts. They are an excellent supplier of phosphorus and magnesium as well. Smaller amounts of iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, and selenium are also provided by the nuts.
Walnuts are a good source of vitamin B6, folate, and thiamin.
Advantages for Health
There are several advantages to including walnuts in your diet as part of a healthy diet.
Enhances Cardiovascular Health
Nutrition Walnuts eating has been demonstrated in published studies to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Walnuts are typically recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet by health experts because of the heart-healthy properties of polyunsaturated fats.
Plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is also present in walnuts.6 ALA can be converted into the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.
According to research, eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and may help people with type 2 diabetes, particularly if their triglycerides are increased.
In comparison to a reduced-calorie diet alone, one study indicated that eating a walnut-enriched, calorie-controlled diet improved systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels.
Furthermore, consuming tree nuts, such as walnuts, has been linked to a lower risk of obesity, a lower waist circumference, a greater level of HDL (good) cholesterol, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Promotes Weight Loss and Weight Management
In general, nut consumption has been linked to reduced body fat and improved weight management. Indeed, some studies that were partially supported by the California Walnut Commission have demonstrated that walnuts in particular can support the achievement and maintenance of a healthy weight.
Additionally, independent research has shown a correlation between nut consumption and lower body weight measurements as well as a decreased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
However, the writers of a research review recommended that additional research be conducted in order to fully comprehend and identify the health advantages of particular nuts.
Enhances Mental Well-Being
A study that was published in the Journal of Nutrition indicates that eating walnuts may help to maintain the health of your brain as you age.
Study authors state that eating a nutritious diet high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals could help prevent many neurodegenerative illnesses from developing later in life.
When compared to other nuts that are regularly consumed, walnuts are known to have the greatest overall phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the highest antioxidant content.
The authors of the study came to the conclusion that one of the simplest strategies to lower the risk of age-related cognitive decline is to eat a diet high in walnuts and other antioxidant-rich foods.
Lowers the Chance of Prostate Cancer
According to one published study, men at risk for prostate cancer who consumed 75 grams of walnuts daily saw improvements in their vascular status and prostate biomarkers.
The high tocopherol level of the diet was probably a contributing reason to this effect, according to the study’s authors.
Men who ate 35 grams of walnuts a day may have a lower prostate risk, according to another study. There isn’t enough convincing evidence in humans to support the link between walnut consumption and prostate cancer, despite various other animal studies exploring the subject.
Cuts Down on Inflammation
According to other research, certain nutritional components in Nutrition Walnuts may reduce inflammation and, consequently, the chance of developing specific cancers.
However, the authors of that study also point out that there is little human clinical data that explicitly links walnut consumption to cancer risk as a primary endpoint.
Enhances Emotion
According to research of college students that was published in the journal Nutrients, eating walnuts every day can boost mental health and reduce the harmful effects of stress related to school.
Allergies
Allergies to tree nuts are not unusual. Tree nuts include things like cashews, walnuts, and almonds.
Tree nut allergies can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, runny nose, mouth, throat, eye, or skin itching, and difficulty swallowing, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).
When eating tree nuts, those with a tree nut allergy may also suffer from severe symptoms including anaphylaxis or dyspnea. Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal allergic reaction that causes breathing difficulties and shock.
Nutrition Walnuts should be avoided if you are allergic to any other tree nut or even to peanuts (which are considered a legumes). Before consuming walnuts, receive individualized advice from your healthcare specialist.
Varieties
Although English walnuts are the most widely available kind, black and Persian walnuts may also be found in some regions.
Turkey, Iran, China, and the United States are the main places where English walnuts are farmed. Over 37 types of English walnuts are available from producers in California, which produces 99% of the English walnuts consumed in the United States, according to some reports. All share the same unique brown oval shell and pale brown kernel, though.
When It’s Ideal
Although harvesting walnut trees normally takes place between September and early November, walnuts don’t really have a season.
However, Nutrition Walnuts are available year-round in most marketplaces due to their excellent shelf life and ease of transportation.
Make sure you select unsalted walnuts when making your selection. Excessive salt consumption can raise blood pressure and induce bloating.
Walnuts should have a pleasant flavor and a little nutty aroma. They should be thrown away if they smell like paint thinner because they have gone rotten.
Food Safety and Storage
Depending on when you intend to use them, store your walnuts in the freezer or refrigerator in an airtight container for the longest possible shelf life. Walnuts can be kept from getting rancid by keeping them cool.
Because walnuts can absorb the smells of other foods, items with strong odors, like onions, garlic, or fish, should be kept apart from walnuts when stored in the refrigerator.
To preserve the greatest flavor, do not grind your walnuts into walnut meal until you are ready to use them in your recipe.