This easily accessible food is a real health booster
This does not require any complex or expensive nutrient combinations – according to the researchers, even a simple product has very positive effects. The results of their study, published in the journal, indicate that participants who ate walnuts early in life were more physically active, had a higher-quality diet overall, and had a better heart disease risk profile as they entered mid-adulthood. .
These new findings come from the Coronary Artery Risk Development Study in Young Adults (CARDIA), which began in 1985. This is a long-term study, supported by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes. Institutes of Health, aims to examine the development of risk factors for heart disease over time.
Participants were categorized as “nut consumers,” “other nut consumers” or “no nut consumers” among others and examined for associations between risk factors for heart disease. Influences such as smoking, sports, etc. were also taken into account. The explorers note that “observing these black and white women and men over a period of 30 years provides unique insight into how lifestyle choices made in youth in an open environment affect health in middle age.”
Simple and easily accessible
The findings also reinforce that walnuts may be an accessible and accessible food choice for reducing a variety of heart disease risk factors when eaten in young to mid-adulthood.
A possible explanation for the results may be the unique combination of nutrients found in walnuts and their effect on health.
This easily accessible food is a real health booster
Omega-3 fatty acids
Walnuts are the only walnuts that are an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, which research shows may play a role in heart health, brain health, and healthy aging. Additionally, one serving of walnuts, roughly a handful, contains a variety of other key nutrients to support overall health, including 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber as well as magnesium (45 milligrams). Walnuts also contain a variety of antioxidants, including polyphenols.
Epidemiologist Lynn M. Stephen, Professor of Epidemiology in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Principal Investigator at CARDIA explains, “Nut eaters appear to have a unique body phenotype that has other beneficial health effects, such as: better diet quality, especially when they begin to eat nuts.” From an early age to mid-adulthood – when the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes increases.”
Advantages
“Nut consumers showed an advantage in terms of diet quality, but nut consumers appeared to have a better overall heart disease risk profile than the other groups, even after accounting for overall diet quality,” Steffen said. “Sudden, healthy changes in the general dietary pattern of nut consumers suggest that walnuts may act as a bridge or ‘carrier food’ to help people develop healthy eating and living habits throughout their lives.”
While these results are positive and confirm previous work from the CARDIA study on the health benefits of nut consumption, randomized controlled clinical trials in other populations and settings must be conducted to confirm the current study’s observations. No causal conclusions can be drawn from observational studies.
