Health benefits of walnuts

Walnuts are exceptionally nutritious that may help improve your health.

 Botanically called Tetracarpidium conophorum , African walnut belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae.

 In Nigeria, the western part of Nigeria the African Walnuts is known as ausa or asala while in the southern part its called ukpa and in the northern part gyada.

 A study by the British Journal of Nutrition found that those who consumed nuts more than four times a week reduced their risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 37 per cent

 Like all nuts, walnuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, but they are also a good source of the essential omega-3 fatty acids.

 They also contain iron, selenium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E and vitamin B, which help the body maintain an optimum nutritional level.

 Counted among the healthiest plants in the world, the possible health benefits of walnuts may include boosting the cardiovascular system and bone health, reducing the risk of gallbladder disease, and treating epilepsy.

 Walnuts are available both raw or roasted, boiled and salted or unsalted. Some people may be very allergic to them.

 However, the Journal of Nutrition reports that consumption of walnuts may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and that walnut oil provides more favourable benefits to endothelial function, which is the lining of the inside of our blood and lymphatic vessels.

 There has also been research into whole walnuts and how they can improve cholesterol levels and markers for inflammation, which is also connected to a reduced risk of heart disease.

ANTHONIA OBOKOH