Heart Foods
Walnuts: Provides energy to the heart
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| Walnut Food for the Heart |
EVEN THOUGH it is believed that the walnuts originated in Central Asia, it has adapted very well to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. It may be said that for millennia the walnut has formed part of the Mediterranean diet, which Is praised for its beneficial effects on health In general and on the heart In particular.
PROPERTIES AND INDICATION: The walnuts is together with other oil-bearing nuts, one of the most concentrated food sources of nutrients provided by nature. Together with the Brazil nut, it is the nuts with the highest caloric content (642kcal/100g), due to its high fat content (oil). These are the characteristics of the walnut’s nutrients:
- Fats: These make up three-fifth of the weight of the nut(61.9%),superior to almonds, hazelnuts,and peanuts . These fats are formed primarily of unsaturated fatty acids, with a preponderance of polyunsaturated, in addition to lecithin. Among the two fatty acids found in walnuts, these two stand out:
- Carbohydrates : the walnut is the lowest of any oil-bearing nut in this nutrients (13.5%). From a chemical point of view these are oligosaccharides (dextrins) and a small amount of sugars (saccharose and dextrose). Because of this walnuts are well tolerated by diabetics .
- Protein: Walnuts contain up to 14.3% of high quality protein , more than peanuts, and about the same almonds. They are somewhat seficient in the essential amino acid methionine, which is solved by combining them with whole grains (wheat,oats,rice etc), which are very rich in methionine.
- Vitamins: Walnuts are a good soucrce of vitamins B1, B2, B3 (niacin), and particularly B6. Vitamins B1 or thiamine is necessary for the function of the hearts as well as stability of the nervous system. They are relatively poor in vitamins A and C.
- Minerals: Walnuts are rich in phosphorus and potassium, while they are low in sodium, which promotes cardiovascular health. They also contain a significant amount of iron ,magnesium and calcium, although almonds and hazelnuts are richer in calcium.
THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION
Coronary disease: Walnuts are not excellent food for those asuffering from coronary disease for two reasons:
• 1st Because of their richness in fatty acids these constitute the primary energy source for the cells of the heart, in contrast to other cells neurons among others,which use glucose as their principal fuel. It may be said that the heart runs on fatty acids, and because of this, walnuts provide abundant energy for the heart function.
• They inhibits obstructive building of cholesterol on artery walls by reducing blood cholesterol levels.the less cholesterol there is in the blood, the lower the risk of arteriosclerosis (obstruction of the arteries), and blood circulation is improved.
Disorder of the nervous system: Walnuts are highly recommended for neurological disorders in general because of their richness in essential fatty acids directly involved In the metabolism of the neurons, and in lecithin, phosphorus, and vitaminB6.
Because they improve mental performance and restores tone and balance to the nervous system, they should form a part of the diets of students and knowledge workers. Those suffering from irritability, depression, stress,or nervous exhaustion should eat at least a good handful of walnuts a day,preferably at breakfast.
• Sexual disorder and sterility:one of the many functions of linoleic and linolenic acids, which are so abundant in walnuts, is to serve as the base for the synthesis of PROSTAGLANDINS. These substances perform various functions such as mediating inflammatory reactions. It is also believed that they are involved in the physiological phenomena associated with sexual response; in fact, semen is very rich in prostaglandins.
Whether because of this, their vitamin B1 and B6 content, or because of the walnut’s richness in trace elements, which facilitates many chemical reactions within the cells,it is certain that walnut consumption has a positive effect on sexual performance: it increases a man’s potency and improves a woman’s sexual response.
• Diabetes: Because of their low carbohydrate content and high nutritional value, walnuts are one of the foods tolerated by diabetics.
• Increase in Nutritional needs: because of their high caloric and nutritive value, eating walnuts is highly recommended for situations in which the body is involved in extraordinary effort: athletes, students preparing for examinations, pregnant or nursing women,convalescence from a debilitating disease, and physical stress in general.
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