John Myers
Walnuts are healthy because they contain high levels of healthy nutrients. These include unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, various B vitamins, fiber, and numerous minerals as well as trace elements such as potassium, zinc, magnesium, and iron.
Equipped with these nutrients, walnuts can have a positive effect on blood lipid levels: in combination with a balanced diet, the polyunsaturated fatty acids they contain can lower cholesterol levels, especially the so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol. In this way, the nuts help to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
According to a Spanish study, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with walnuts and other nuts should help reduce the risk factors for “metabolic syndrome”. The “metabolic syndrome” is the dangerous combination of obesity, high blood pressure, high blood fat, and blood sugar levels. Walnuts are also considered healthy because their protein content allows them to replace animal protein to a certain extent.
Because walnuts have a fat content of around 60 percent and are therefore very high in calories, they should be eaten in moderation. Consumption of about 30 grams of walnuts per day is recommended. That equates to about a handful or about seven nuts.
