For all those who wonder why this nut is listed as a superfood, chew on this. Apart from being rich in fibre, omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-linoleic acid and having the highest concentration of antioxidants, walnuts can change the makeup of gut bacteria and thus improve health. In an experiment on rodents at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine in Louisiana in the US, two diet groups were examined for a specific period on the basis of their walnut consumption. Over time, the researchers found that beneficial bacteria ‘lactobacillus’ had significantly increased in the descending colon of the walnut-eating group. This suggests that walnut acts as a probiotic and boosts the activity of beneficial bacteria, which in turn leads to improved health. The findings were published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Photo: 123RF.com
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
October 2017