The Wonderful Walnut

Everyone always talks about one nut in particular that is so good for your health and is loaded with those omega 3 fatty acids that are so good for your heart, diet and well being, the almond, that it seems that another great nut has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle. I used to be an almond devotee and only put those in my yogurt, until I discovered that walnuts have about the same calorie content, and also have some additional health benefits to the almond with in my opinion, more taste and texture, and seemingly more filling fiber content.

So, don’t walnuts have omega 3 fatty acids in them too? They sure do! In fact, their content of these healthy fats may rival that of the almond, it’s just not as widely used of a nut and may not be considered as portable and easy to snack on as the almond. Walnuts also have fiber in them, so you’re getting added dietary advantage of filling up faster when you eat them. In my opinion, they are superior to the almond this way, as I feel twice as satisfied after eating walnuts as I do almonds. It seems to take more almonds to make me feel like I’ve eaten enough. But that may just be my personal preference.

Walnuts also contains vitamin E, which is a great vitamin to incorporate into the diet, and often doesn’t get as much intake as it should in the American diet. It also has magnesium, another mineral that is hard to get in many processed foods and in such a pure, natural form. But the walnut is also an excellent source of plant derived protein, so you can eat it and get your protein content without eating the animal fat, so it’s a great nut for vegetarians and vegans to incorporate into their diet.

Walnuts also contain B vitamins, which are a great source of energy. You do want to be careful not to overeat walnuts, as they are caloric in nature, like most other nuts, but eating them in moderation is the best way to enjoy their healthy benefits and great, rich and satisfying taste. I like to snack on a few with an apple sometimes, or I also like to put them in my yogurt and fruit in the morning to add some crunch and interest in my breakfast, and also to add the additional protein and vitamins.