All of us need some fat in our diets. Polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, in particular, are vital for good health. Scientists are also finding that omega-3s can help reduce risk of stroke, fight certain cancers, reduce symptoms of arthritis, promote proper brain development in infants, and even control depression. A study published in the April 2000 issue of the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine showed that extra walnuts added to the traditional, healthy Mediterranean diet lowered cholesterol even more than the diet alone.
Walnuts provide yet another delicious option for healthful eating.
The study reinforced landmark research published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1993. Scientists at Loma Linda, California, University discovered that healthy young men could lower their cholesterol an additional 12 percent by adding walnuts to their diets. Yet another study of over 30,000 subjects showed that those who ate nuts of any kind at least five times a week had only half the risk of heart attacks as those who ate nuts less than once a week. Walnuts and omega-3 essential fatty acids also play prominent roles in The Omega Diet by Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, a sensible plan based on traditional Mediterranean eating patterns. Rich in food value, Diamond nuts are a particularly good source of energy.