Brain-Boosting Benefits of Walnuts

It’s simply amusing to see the forgotten Vedic treasures of India finding its way back home. Everything is rebranded in a shiny envelope stamped with western science and facts. Recently, one of my patients came to see me on her visit to India. And among many other things we ended up discussing Walnut benefits.

Every year she comes to India to visit her parents. And it’s her ritual to undergo all the medical tests here. She drops by my clinic for a general health check-up and shares a lot about life back in Dubai.

This time she brought me a big pack of walnuts from Dubai.

While handing the beautifully decked pack of walnuts she told me, “Doctor, in Dubai people eat lots of walnuts. It is the secret to their good health. Young children or aged people, everyone just swears by these nuts to keep their memory sharp and health good”.

Showing me the walnuts she said, “Look, they even resemble the shape of the human brain. Isn’t that amazing?”

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Nutritional Facts of Walnuts

India has known the benefits of these natural nuts since ages. ( akhrot in Hindi; Sanskrit/Indian name: Akschota) .The gradiated folds of walnut mimic a human brain.

These amazing brain nuts contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Not just that, they are rich in antioxidants and contain many rare and useful vitamins and minerals.

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Amazing Walnut Benefits for brain

Walnut is an anti-aging nut

Walnut is proven to prevent telomere attrition. This is one of the greatest factor in checking the prime factors of aging and ailing. A study on telomeres quoted them as a cell’s biological clock, influencing the lifespan of the cell and the organism overall.

Shorter telomere length is associated with an increased risk of chronic illnesses including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain forms of cancers

Walnut prevents  Alzheimer’s Disease

Many studies have also established the efficacy of walnuts in preventing and curing dementia or Alzheimer. An American study found that walnut extract breaks down the protein-based plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Another study from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA suggests that eating walnuts may improve your cognitive function, memory, concentration and the speed of processing information.

A new study, led by an Indian-origin researcher, has found that a walnut-enriched diet may help reduce the risk, delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Walnut benefits your memory

Walnuts help in the development of over three dozen neuron-transmitters within the brain enhancing the signalling and encouraging the new messaging link between the brain cells.

The study found significant improvement in learning skills, memory, reducing anxiety, and motor development after adding walnuts in the diet.

How much should you eat in a day?

According to experts, a healthy serving size is about fistful per day. You can have them raw or just sprinkle these wonder nuts over your cereals.

Some of the best brands to buy walnuts are Wonderland foods, Nutsville, Regency and Naturoz.  While purchasing in-shell walnuts always choose the ones that feel heavy for their size and do not have crack or stains as this might be a sign of mold developing on the nut.

In conclusion, walnuts are super amazing for your brain. Whatever be your age, walnuts are a must-have in your diet. So, do add this to your daily regime and write back to me sharing your thoughts!