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Walnuts
If there were a contest that pitted every single nut against each other and only one could walk away with the title 'world's healthiest nut' the walnut would utterly dominate. While we don't like to compare foods against one another as each offers its own unique nutritional value we made an exception in this case because, well, walnuts are that incredible. Beyond cardio protective, walnuts launch an all out blitzkrieg against heart disease, relentlessly attacking it from all fronts, though its virtues span far beyond a genuine disgust for cardiac disease. The nutrient Walnuts hold closest to their own heart is Omega 3 fatty acids. No other nut comes close to matching its awesome Omega 3 content and unique concentrated form of vitamin E (gamma-tocopherol) which may explain why Walnuts are just as caring lovers as they are fighters.
Here is the proof: 6 things Walnuts hate and what they do about it.
1) Constricted blood vessels/High blood pressure - your blood should always know the path to your heart. Walnuts employ good amounts of L-Arginine (an essential amino acid) which is converted to Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide increases blood flow to the heart as well as all over the body by helping the blood vessels to relax.
2) Damaged LDL cholesterol - it's already bad, you don't want to make it worse. Walnuts have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol but few people truly know the effort it takes to deal with this truly dense lipid. Making sure this tiny fat stays off the arterial walls is a tough but critical job to prevent heart disease. Walnuts have been shown to have over 16 different polyphenolic compounds (special antioxidants) that work to prevent the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing or becoming sticky. Once LDL cholesterol is oxidized a similar situation arises to that of glue all over the hands of a preschooler; you are not sure where it is going to end up and it’s most likely not going to be good.
3) Chronic inflammation – it’s like a flame on your house.... bad. This condition can lead to arthritis, heart disease and a host of other health problems. Here is a quick explanation concerning the inflammation yin and yang of essential fatty acids Omega 6 and 3: Omega 6, like Henry Rollins in documentaries, shows up in everything from meats to breads to dairy products. Omega 3 is much less prominent (most likely needs a better agent) and is found in eggs, fish and Walnuts as ALA (alpha linolenic acid, precursor to EPA and DHA, postcursor to great health). Simply put, Omega 6 turns inflammation on and Omega 3 turns it off. The average US diet sees much more Omega 6 than Omega 3 so the switch is left on far too much. Walnuts are a great way to restore balance and keep the flame in check.
4) Excess Fat - and it doesn't even have its own infomercial. Studies have shown that consuming nuts significantly helps to decrease your chance for packing on the pounds. You didn't think that Walnuts just wanted you to feel better and be healthier?
5) Weak Bone Density. The ALA found in Walnuts greatly helps to reduce the rate at which bone is broken down by osteoclasts in the body and then built back up. Some bone turnover is natural, its just when the oseoclasts get to excited about there job that it becomes a problem, hmmm, sounds like Bill from HR.
6) Depression, Mood Swings and a whole host of things you don't want associated with your 'dome piece': The brain is largely made up of fat and the exact makeup of that fat depends on what kinds of fat are in your diet. The fats found in Walnuts have been shown in study after study to greatly decrease anxiety, depression, ADHD etc etc. Studies have also shown that overall brain function is increased when the right kinds of fat make up a good part of your diet.
Check and Mate A quick recap: Walnuts help you avoid the number one thing most likely to kill you in the US, decrease the risk for multiple chronic illnesses, strengthen the very frame which you are built and reside upon, help you to become better looking, better feeling and make you smarter. What’s that, you can’t hear me because you are cracking walnuts? Psssst, besides the fact that unless someone was reading this to you that last joke didn't make any sense, every nutropolis bar has over one serving.