If I had to list my all-time top nutrition ‘secrets’ then walnuts would be right up there. In fact they’d probably come in at #3, just behind water & psyllium.Yet the chances are you’ve never really thought about walnuts as a dietary wonder.
Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Most people are desperately trying to lose weight by following low-fat diet fads, unaware that a certain level of fat intake is actually necessary to maintain a healthy body.
Quite apart from being a valuable source of energy, fats are needed to:
- protect organs
- enable absorption of vitamins A, D, E & K
- aid in hormone production
- maintain optimal cardiovascular, nervous & immune systems
Which is where walnuts come in.
They’re almost completely made up of polyunsaturated (‘good’) fats. So they’ve got all the benefits of other sources of healthy fats. Not to mention a few more benefits of their own. How about this for a list?
They’re one of the best plant sources of protein – ideal for vegetarians.
They’re rich in fibre, B vitamins (B6 & B12), magnesium, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E.
And they’re among the top sources for Omega-3 & Omega-6 EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids).
In fact more than a decade of scientific evidence shows that incorporating walnuts in a healthy diet reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood vessel elasticity and plaque accumulation.
And perhaps best of all, for a ‘miracle food’ walnuts are cheap & easy to get hold of. You should find some in your local supermarket.
Try taking a handful of them each day, perhaps sprinkled over your breakfast cereal or tossed into a salad. And they make great snacks!
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