Walnuts are rich in vitamins and minerals and compared with other nuts, which typically contain a high amount of monounsaturated fats, walnuts are unique because the fats in them are primarily polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which contain essential fatty acids our body needs but cannot produce itself like omega 3 fatty acids.
The kind of omega-3 found in walnuts is called alpha- linolenic acid (ALA) and walnuts are the only nut with a significant amount of it. Our body needs two critical Omega-3 fatty acids called EPA and DHA, and it’s believed that the body can make them from the ALA found in walnuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are not only helpful for heart health and brain health, but also for controlling inflammation, improving circulation, memory, thought processing and blood sugar control.
The omega-3 found in walnuts can be helpful for:
Brain health – Walnuts’ omega-3 fats are also important for supporting memory and thought processing, preventing cognitive decline and age related conditions like dementia and even depression. Walnuts also contain lecithin which is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in the process of memory and attention.
Heart health – Walnuts nutrition benefits cardiovascular health by keeping arteries clear, improving circulation, balancing cholesterol levels and lowering disease-causing inflammation. It also has a positive effect on lowering risks for metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Walnuts for Men – Walnuts improve sperm quality: sperm vitality, motility, and morphology.
Properties
Type: Nuts
Element: Earth
Color: Golden brown
Taste: Sweet, Astringent
Natural Attributes: Oily, Heavy
Dosha impact:Â Kapha 0, Pitta +, Vata –
Tissue impact (Vipak): Nourishing
Thermal impact (Virya): Heating
Digestive impact (Agni): Relatively easy to digest
Moves energy: downwards
Channels (Srotas): Blocks
Strength (Bala): Improves strength and immunity
Sturdiness (Ojas): +
Mind (Manas): Sattvic
Feces: Laxative
Urine:Â Diuretic
Occasion: Winter
Nutrient: Alpha-linolenic acid
Chinese medicine syndromes: Nourish the yang and the Blood
Medicinal properties
- Nourishment (rasa): nutritive tonic
- Blood-circulation-liver: anti-inflammatory, cardiac tonic
- Bones-joints-tendon-ligaments: astringent
- Nervous system: trophorestorative
- Reproductive and hormonal systems: aphrodisiac
- Respiratory system: expectorant
- Digestive system: dry type constipation
Harmful for:Â Kidney stones – Because walnut is high in oxalates and oxalates contribute to kidney stone formation, it is best to control the amount and frequency of consumption.