Going nutty can be quite cathartic, if you go about it the right way! Recent studies suggest that a diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil can help the body deal with stress. The survey done by a team at Penn State researched on how walnut and walnut-related food contains polyunsaturated fats. These fats influence blood pressure at rest and under stress.
Studies have also shown that omega-3 fatty acids like alpha linolenic acid, which is found in larger quantities in walnuts and flax seeds, helps decrease low density lipoproteins (LDL) or what is termed as bad cholesterol.
Doctors feel that individuals who elicit an exaggerated biological response to stress are at a greater risk of heart disease. Omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources could help decrease cardiovascular responses to stress
Including walnuts and walnut oil in the diet also lowers blood pressure.
So, a dietary change can help people cope with stress better. That is probably why, most dieticians insist on a small portion of walnuts in the diet. In addition, adding flax with walnuts helps decrease c-reactive protein, which in turn might be able to cause a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
About 18 walnut halves or nine walnuts make up the average serving. Model Rachel Bayros might not follow any kind of diet and keeps a balance between the things she eats. “When I have a craving for nuts, I indulge. I have not given walnuts that much thought, but I would eat them if and when I felt like it.”
Analyst Samar Gupta loves nuts. At any given point of the day, he has a box of ground nuts and pistachios to munch on. “I have never eaten walnuts. The nuts I gorge on are not really healthy as they are fried and salted. I guess if I were to make a conscious decision, I would eat walnuts every morning,” explains the analyst. He prefers roasted walnuts with a sprinkle of salt. “As a rule, some nuts are good for health and if walnuts help reduce LDL, then why not?” Samar quips. Walnuts are a rich source of fibre, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids.
So, get some healthy nuts into your diet and imbibe that beatific smile to answer any upheaval!