The benefits of Walnuts.

Written by Changing Habits

October 11, 2011

Eat them Raw or In Your Morning Smoothie Walnuts are the best source of antioxidants and bad chemical element defenders made by nature on the planet, according to a new study presented at the American Chemical Society’s National Convention this week.

Joe Vinson, Ph.D. explains:

“Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts. A handful of walnuts contain almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. But unfortunately, people don’t eat a lot of them. This study suggests that consumers should eat more walnuts as part of a healthy diet.”

Nuts in general contain plenty of high-quality protein that can substitute for meats for example. They contain a multitude of vitamins and minerals, dietary fibers and are dairy and gluten free. Regular consumption of walnuts will decrease the risk of heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, gallstones, Type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.
 
Despite all the previous research, scientists until now had not compared both the amount and quality of antioxidants found in different nuts, Vinson filled that knowledge gap by analyzing antioxidants in nine different types of nuts: walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, and pecans. Walnuts had the highest levels of antioxidants.

In 2003, the FDA or the US recognized the benefits of nuts and their role in heart disease prevention by approving a health claim for 7 kinds of nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts).   Previously they were seen as the scourge of health due to their high fat content, so this was a plus for nuts.

Nuts account for barely 8% of the daily antioxidants in the average person’s diet. The form of vitamin E found in walnuts is somewhat unusual, and particularly beneficial. Instead of having most of its vitamin E present in the alpha-tocopherol form, walnuts provide an unusually high level of vitamin E in the form of gamma-tocopherol. Particularly in studies on the cardiovascular health of men, this gamma-tocopherol form of vitamin E has been found to provide significant protection from heart problems.

I was in Victoria this month and managed to pick up a kilogram of walnuts in their shells.  I also picked up some beautiful cold pressed walnut oil.  If you live in Victoria these are easy to find but in Queensland they are not so easy, so I suggest you contact the following for your supply of walnuts still in their shells.

Goulburn Valley Walnuts
Address: 24 Hurt Street Violet Town 3669
Postal: 24 Hurt Street Violet Town 3669
P 5798 1522

nesan@internode.on.net and hejeel@mcmedia.com.au

Contact: Neil and Sandy Garrett and Howard Myers GVW is a company formed by six Victorian walnut growers who have installed a processing/cracking plant and distribution centre in a factory building in High Street Violet Town. The company has been formed to provide Premium Australian Walnuts and related products to the local market.

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