Happy National Walnut Day!
I never knew there was such a thing where we dedicate a day solely to a nut. Nevertheless, according to National Day Today, 17 May is National Walnut Day. So to celebrate it, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about why it’s good to be nuts about walnuts. (See what I did there? 😉)
A new study shows that roasted and raw walnuts rule the roost when it comes to heart health benefits.
Researchers from the University of Scranton compared the number of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols in nine roasted and raw nuts and two types of peanut butter. They also tested just how effective the antioxidants in the nuts are regarding heart health using lab analysis.
A clear winner emerged from the nutty bunch: the walnut.
Whether roasted or raw, walnuts beat the competition. Walnuts were loaded with the highest amount of polyphenols. These compounds are believed to reduce heart disease risk by lowering blood cholesterol levels, improving blood flow and cooling the inflammation linked to heart disease. What’s more, nuts – which are high in fat – don’t necessarily lead to weight gain.
Walnuts not only have the most polyphenols, but they also have the most potent polyphenols, the researchers say.
The bottom line is that nuts are a nutritious snack and food additive, providing nutrients and antioxidants, which provide significant health benefits.