Walnuts
Walnuts are very versatile – chopped up on savoury or sweet dishes or used as a snack between meals they give you a very healthy nutritional punch. Omega-3 fatty acids are a special type of protective fat rather than harmful fat and it is something that the body does not produce itself. - 14 half walnuts provides you with over 90% of your daily requirement and if you look at the health reasons for taking Omega-3 you will understand how very important this small handful of nuts is.
Omega-3 is known to help protect us from cardiovascular problems – better brain function – help with inflammatory diseases such as asthma and arthritis and in skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Walnuts also contain an antioxidant called ellagic acid, which boosts the immune system and protects against cancer.
A high concentration of fats in walnuts is monounsaturated, which is the good fat, and this helps with high cholesterol – and also lowers lipoprotein in the blood, which causes the platelets to clot which, can lead to strokes. Omega-3 helps prevent erratic heart rhythms, which again can cause clotting inside arteries.
Apart from Omega-3 – walnuts also contain manganese (bone and cartilage – glucose metabolism - antioxidant), copper (essential for enzymes particularly those involved in production of blood cells and hormones). B6 essential for protein and amino acid metabolism and therefore their efficiency – a healthy cardiovascular system and producing haemoglobin in the blood. They also contain tryptophan the amino acid that is the precursor for Serotonin the feel good hormone in the brain. During the day snack on 14 half walnuts – that is about 190 calories.
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