Walnuts are rich in calories, protein, amino acids, fiber, essential fatty acids, and even more fat. They are also rich in vitamins A, E, K, B vitamins, biotin, niacin, pyridoxine B vitamins, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and boron, making them a ‘health mine’. They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 and omega-6 acids, including oleic, alpha-linolenic, and linolenic acids.
Walnuts easily fulfill our daily ALA requirement, dissolve unwanted fat in the body and increase health, making them the top nut variety. Its polyphenolic composition, phytonutrients such as ellagic acid, phytic acid, catechin, and melatonin are responsible for the health benefits of walnuts. They easily dissolve fats including LDL and Cholesterol, and also help improve good cholesterol called HDL.
Walnuts’ anti-inflammatory properties, pedunculated, reduce oxidative stress in the brain and stimulate chemical changes in the nervous system. Melatonin and magnesium in walnuts reduce insomnia and improve memory, protect against stress, anger, fatigue, anxiety, and confusion in young people, and increase happiness and vitality, according to a recent American study. Seven or eight walnuts a day are enough to extend life, the study says.
Its high calorie content is beneficial for children, athletes and pregnant women, and its antioxidants and minerals help reduce the severity of depression, forgetfulness, aging, osteoporosis, joint disease, and muscle inflammation. It increases immunity and vitality, controls excessive appetite, improves digestive health, and helps control lifestyle diseases such as obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This is what the famous Harvard University in the United States recommends, ‘Handful of Walnuts keeps the Heart Diseases away…’ .
Walnuts’ high-quality omega-3 fatty acids help increase sperm count, increase virility, and increase female fertility. Walnuts are also used as a medicine for chronic lung disease, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. The omega-3 fatty acids obtained from walnuts can help relieve rashes, hives, scabies, and dermatitis, and can help reduce wrinkles and give a youthful appearance to the skin. Naturopaths recommend that its leaves and bark act against stomach worms.
While walnuts’ magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium promote strong bones, their high levels of biotin are a source of hair growth. Above all, studies suggest that walnuts help reduce the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
In allopathy, ‘walnut allergy’ is considered a separate disease, and it should be remembered that the minerals in it can cause allergies in some people, leading to shortness of breath and life-threatening conditions. It should also be remembered that since the excess fatty oil in it increases weight and slows down digestion, its phytic acid also reduces the absorption of other minerals. To reduce the tannin and phytic acid in walnuts, they can be soaked in water for 10 to 12 hours and then consumed.
The mature fruits of these trees, which ripen in September and October, are picked, dried, and separated from the shell before being sent for use. Walnut trees grow in China, Egypt, Europe, America, and Nepal, and in the Himalayan regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and Manipur in India. Walnut trees, which can grow to a height of 50 to 70 meters, take 15 to 20 years to ripen, but can bear fruit for up to 250 years. Due to the high content of fatty oil, walnuts quickly become rancid and spoil. Therefore, they can be stored in the refrigerator or air-tight containers and can be used for up to 8 months.
Walnuts are used in soups, stews, sauces, salads, candy, cakes, ice cream, fudge, etc. Walnuts are considered a royal delicacy that takes its place in hospitality. Just as walnut halva and walnut lattu are popular among us, baklava is a popular dessert in the Middle East. Walnuts are used to make pesto for the Italians and fesenzen for the Persians. With a hard exterior and a soft interior… The reality is that walnuts are something that is compatible not only with the human brain, but also with human life.