Walnuts: A Powerhouse for Better Health As We Age

Eating a handful of walnuts daily can boost overall health and well-being as we age, suggests a new study.//

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Are Walnuts Good for Heart?

A team of researchers who reviewed 20 years of diet history and 30 years of physical and clinical measurements found participants who ate walnuts early in life showed a greater likelihood of being more physically active, having a higher quality diet, and experiencing a better heart disease risk profile as they aged into middle adulthood. These novel findings come from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA), a long-term and ongoing study that is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and aimed at examining the development of heart disease risk factors over time.

This study is one of the longest to suggest that the simple act of adding about a handful of heart-healthy walnuts into the diet often acts as a bridge to other health-promoting lifestyle habits later in life.

The findings also reinforce that walnuts might be an easy and accessible food choice to improve a variety of heart disease risks among all age groups.

In this recent study published in Nutrition, Metabolism, & Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers note that a possible explanation for the results could be due to the unique combination of nutrients found in walnuts and their effects on health outcomes.

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How Much Walnuts to Eat Per Day?

Walnuts are the only tree nut that is an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (2.5 grams/oz.), which research shows may play a role in heart health, brain health and healthy aging. Additionally, just one serving of walnuts (1 oz.), or about a handful, contains a variety of other important nutrients to support overall health including 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and a good source of magnesium (45 milligrams). Walnuts also offer a variety of antioxidants, including polyphenols.

According to Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Lead Researcher on CARDIA, Lyn M. Steffen, PhD, MPH, RD, “Walnut eaters seem to have a unique body phenotype that carries with it other positive impacts on health like better diet quality, especially when they start eating walnuts from young into middle adulthood – as risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes elevates.”

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Reference:

1. Association of nut consumption with CVD risk factors in young to middle-aged adults: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study - (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2022.07.013)

Source-Eurekalert