Healthy Foods,Walnuts Benefits Your Health - In Only Four Hours

It's well known that walnuts, just like all other kinds of nuts, are extremely good for us. You might, however, be surprised to find out just how beneficial they can be for our bodies in as little a time as four hours after eating them. All nuts are packed with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats - you may think this a bad thing, but it's the saturated fats that we need to avoid for health reasons: the fats that nuts contain are actually good for us when consumed in moderation. Unsaturated fats in fact have a positive effect on both circulation and cholesterol levels, both of which are vital to good health. Within just four hours of eating a handful of walnuts, blood tests can show that cholesterol levels have appreciably fallen, improving blood vessel flexibility and leading to an easier blood flow and less strain on the heart. The nuts also generate a thermogenic effect, meaning the fats in your arteries are actively dissolved and burnt off, again leading to less work for your heart in pumping the blood around your circulatory system. It's already clear to see that walnuts are an indispensable ally for heart health, but that's very far from the end of the story.



Walnuts also contain a large amount of natural minerals and salts, all vital to the smooth functioning of the body. Essential substances they contain include zinc, copper, phosphorus, iron and calcium. A regular intake of a small amount of nuts is a far more effective - and of course natural - way of maintaining overall health than taking dietary supplement tablets to compensate for a poor diet. 

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Of course, there is a small but important downside. Walnuts, like all nuts, are relatively high in energy, containing around 600 calories per 100g. This means that overconsumption isn't good for those looking to control their weight, but luckily only a small amount of nuts are enough to give your body an excellent boost in many vital nutrients:vitamins P, F, C, B9, B2 and A are all present in high concentrations and relatively easily absorbed.Walnuts are also a great source of the so-called 'fatty acids' omega-3 and omega-6. Not only have these acids been shown to improve brain function, improve memory and reduce anxiety, they also once again help to smooth blood flow and aid circulation by lowering levels of cholesterol. This is also helped by the action of the vitamin B9 (also known as folic acid) which inhibits the build-up of a substance known as homocysteine, which in high concentrations can damage the coronary arteries. 

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All in all, nuts boast a wealth of properties that safeguard the cardiovascular system. They can lower cholesterol, reduce fatty deposits in the veins, help to prevent blood clots, and combat substances that can cause vein and artery damage. They also have other excellent health benefits.

There have been several studies which strongly suggest that all nuts, from walnuts to pistachios, can be of great use in helping to prevent pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and other tumours. There is also some evidence that they can help reduce the chances of developing Type-2 Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) which is one of the greatest health problems facing the western world behind, heart disease and cancer. It is also worth highlighting that scientists have found a strong link between eating nuts and longevity, with nuts being a large source of protein in the famed 'Mediterranean diet' which has recently been credited with adding at least five years to the average lifespan. 

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By now it should be clear that regularly eating a small amount of walnuts, or indeed any type of nut, can have a profoundly beneficial effect on our health. Add to this the fact that the effects can begin to make themselves shown within only four hours, and it's obvious that nuts really do deserve to be known by the word 'superfood'

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