Walnut has long been recognized for its amazing benefits. It is considered one of the ‘superfoods’ on account of its rich nutritional value and health benefits. Nevertheless, the list of potential benefits just got longer, because a new study suggests that walnuts help the gut fight bad bacteria by encouraging the growth of good bacteria.

The study was published July, 2017 in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

In that study on the effects of walnut on gut bacteria, scientists reported that walnut promotes the growth of good gut bacteria in mice suggesting that walnuts have additional benefits beyond nutrition.

“Walnuts have been called a ‘superfood’ because they are rich in the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linoleic acid and fibre, and they contain one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants,” notes Dr. Byerley. “Now, an additional superfood benefit of walnuts may be their beneficial changes to the gut microbiota,” said Dr Byerley in a recent interview.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/walnut-superfood-help-fight-germs/

Good or helpful bacteria such as probiotics keep the gut healthy. Probiotics are available in foods (such as yogurt, milk, juices, soy beverages) and as dietary supplements (capsules, tablets, powders). Very likely, walnuts serve as food (prebiotics) for good bacteria in the gut. What conditions can probably be treated with probiotics? According to experts , these include:

Irritable bowel syndrome
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Infectious diarrhea (caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites)
Antibiotic-related diarrhea
Skin conditions, like eczema
Urinary and vaginal health
Preventing allergies and colds
Oral health


Walnut-More facts you should know about this healthy nut

Would you like to try walnuts? Consider more information on this nut consumed by millions worldwide.

Walnuts contain several nutrients such as:

Omega-3 essential fatty acids,
Essential elements such as manganese and copper, molybdenum and the B vitamin biotin.
Minerals such as calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vanadium and zinc.
Vitamin B6, Vitamin E
There have been so many claims on benefits of walnut. Although, some are not fully established, consider the following health benefits backed by scientific evidence:

Cardiovascular health: Walnuts protect the heart by availing it of its rich nutrients especially anti-oxidants and minerals such as potassium. A study in the American Journal of Nutrition reported that supplementing meals with walnuts significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Diabetes- Walnuts are among functional foods that have been observed to improve blood flow in persons with diabetics.

Weight loss- Although rich in fatty acids, walnuts help people lose weight because it aids satiety and

Cancer- Like other superfoods, walnut prevents cancers by removing oxidants and making the environment unfavourable for cancer cells. In one study, it was found to destroy tumour cells.

Sleep- Walnuts are rich in melatonin which aids better sleep.

According to nutritionists, ‘’Walnuts not only taste great but are a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and an excellent source of those hard to find omega-3 fatty acids. Like most nuts, they can easily be added to your healthy meals. Just chop and add to your favourite salad, vegetable dish, fruit, or dessert.’’

The whitish skin of walnuts is rich in anti-oxidants. Although, it has a slightly bitter flavour, that’s a small price to pay for the huge nutritional benefits.

To get the best of walnuts, you should take about 1 or 2 nuts a day. While many decide to eat raw, it may also be baked, roasted or added to salads and vegetables.

Walnuts come in varieties of colours and shapes. In Africa, the black walnut is probably the most popular. This has thick shells that are not so easy to crack. Additionally, the black walnut has a unique pungent flavour. When buying walnuts choose those that feel heavy for their size. Do not buy walnuts with cracked, pierced or stained shells. Look out for the presence of mould on the walnuts as this makes it unsafe for eating.

Walnuts can be shelled for up to six months or one year. How? Keep shelled nuts in airtight container before refrigerating or freezing. Unshelled walnuts should be stored in the refrigerator or kept in a cool, dark and dry place. Would you consider making walnuts a regular part of your diet?





Reference:

Lauri O. Byerley, Derrick Samuelson, Eugene Blanchard, Meng Luo, Brittany N. Lorenzen, Shelia Banks, Monica A. Ponder, David A Welsh, Christopher M. Taylor. Changes in the Gut Microbial Communities Following Addition of Walnuts to the Diet. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2017;

http://www.healthx24.com/walnut-superfood-help-fight-germs/