Walnuts in autumn, the best investment you can make for your health: full of antioxidants, they regulate your weight and have an antiaging effect

TAMARA VILA

It may seem like hyperbole, but it's true to some degree that walnuts can save your life. Or, at least, help prolong it thanks to its extraordinary health benefits. They can even be a help in sex! The truth is that walnuts offer an excellent balance in your diet and their nutrients are not going to bring you more than benefits. They provide healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Indeed, you have plenty of reasons to take them in the fall and, actually, throughout the year.

They are an excellent source of antioxidants that can help you fight oxidative damage in your body, including the damage caused by bad cholesterol. In addition, they are significantly higher in omega-3 fats than any other nut, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. And because they're full of polyphenols, they can help you fight inflammation.

The role of nuts in weight

Nuts are calorie-dense, but studies suggest the energy absorbed from them is 21% lower than what might be expected based on their nutrients. What's more, eating nuts can even help control your appetite. In addition, they contribute to improving your digestive health by filling your intestine with bacteria and other microbes that are good for your microbiota and for your health in general. One big plus is that they are easy to add to your diet, as you can buy them anywhere, and they make a great addition to countless dishes.

Antiaging effect

As you age, proper physical functioning is essential to maintaining your mobility and independence, and nutrition plays a key role there. In an 18-year observational study of more than 50,000 adult women, scientists found that those with the healthiest diets had a 13% lower risk of physical decline. Walnuts were among the foods that contributed the most to a healthy diet, being packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, fats, and essential plant compounds that can help maintain proper physical function as you age.

For a better brain

Walnuts can also be good for your mind. Its nutrients, including polyunsaturated fats, polyphenols, and vitamin E, may help reduce oxidative damage and inflammation in the brain. Observational studies in older adults have linked nut consumption with better brain function, including faster processing speed, more mental flexibility, and better memory.

In summary, this is a tremendously nutritious food with a greater presence of antioxidants and omega-3 fats than any other nut. This rich nutrient profile is associated with such important benefits as reducing inflammation and improving heart disease risk factors along with boosting brain function and antiaging effects. Plenty of reasons to put them in your diet, right?

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