New research has highlighted the notable benefits of walnuts rich diets in warding off Alzheimer’s. An animal study that was printed in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, presented with results displaying a positive correlation between the benefits of walnuts consumption and the effects it has in suspending the onset, decelerating the progression and reducing the threat of an Alzheimer’s condition.
Alzheimer’s disorder is the most common form of dementia. It is a condition that is harmful to the normal functioning of the brain, giving rise to impairment of memory, behaviour, and thought. The physical layers of the brain can be found to shrink which is brought about from the death of cells in the brain. Certain deposits are developed in the structure of the brain called neurofibrillary tangles. These cause complications in the synapses, which constrict the ability for brains cells to send signals to each other. These tangles also inhibit the transportation of essential food, nutrients, and energy needed by the brain cells, thus causing the cells death. The condition progresses differently in individuals and can eventually be directed towards complete dependence upon others. Individuals can expect to have an average life span of seven to ten years upon being assessed with the condition. Another major component in the development of cognitive impairment, in Alzheimer’s, is amyloid plaques, which are also another deposit in the brain, which causes oxidative damage in the brain.
Research has been able to examine the effects of a dietary supplement of walnuts on mice, consuming the equivalent of 1 to 1.5 ounces per day, respectively to humans. It highlighted the benefits of walnuts, and its capability to protect the layers of the brain against oxidative damage. Largely, one of the primary risk factors for Alzheimer’s is increasing age. With the coming years, as the baby boom generation is aging, the expected number of people, aged 65 or older, who have been assessed with Alzheimer’s, will triple, thus, shedding light on the importance and emphasis needed in reducing the risk and slowing the progress of this condition.
The high content of antioxidants found in walnuts was the primary contributing element that was able to assist in shielding the mouse brain from degeneration caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. The study conducted on mice exhibited significant improvement in the cognitive functions of mice when fed a walnut diet. Functions of memory, motor development and learning skills had shown marked improvement.
The benefits of walnuts do not stop at Alzheimer’s, as it also has properties to defend against certain cancers. Studies have presented positive results showing that consumption of whole walnuts, for a period of 18 weeks, led to effectively smaller and slower pace of growth of prostate tumors. A diet rich in walnuts is able to demonstrate a reduction between 30 to 40 percent in prostate cancer development. Not only has it been beneficial for prostate cancer, encouraging outcomes were shown to slow breast cancer tumor growth by 50 percent, when two servings of walnuts were taken daily.
Walnuts are high in content of antioxidants, which play a role in warding off free radicals in the body. Free radicals, which are responsible for deterioration of the body in relation to age. The walnut has powerful antioxidants such as quinone and juglone that play a remarkable part in scavenging free radicals causing harm in the body and may even prevent liver damage by chemicals. The benefits of walnut also include heart health. They contain an amino acid called I-arginine, this particular acid produces many benefits for vascular health, which offer protective mechanisms in reducing risk for heart conditions. The content of a walnut includes an important omega 3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA). It has anti-inflammatory properties that can possibly avert the development of blood clots. Research has demonstrated that a diet, high in the consumption of ALA, is at a 50 percent reduced risk of having a sudden cardiac death.
Among the other benefits of walnut consumption there is improvement in control of weight (as it is associated with increased satiety), great improvements in sperm quality, vitality, and meaningful reductions in fasting insulin levels for people with type 2 diabetes.
As mentioned previously, antioxidants play an essential role in protecting the body from aging and reducing our chances of having conditions such as adrenal fatigue. Our body produces free radicals as a consequence of many normal process of metabolic function in the body. The accumulation and disproportionate production of free radicals can then cause harm to the body. When the biological system is exposed to these free radicals, it loses its ability to transport nutrients and ultimately may lead to the formation of benign or malignant growths. The damage of free radicals has been associated with virtually every known condition, involving heart complications, cancers and Alzheimer’s.
Antioxidants work by creating a network of complexity that defends against free radicals. They also regenerate each other synergistically. Thus, their ability to prevent age related degeneration in the body cannot be underestimated, nor can its function in warding off conditions such as adrenal fatigue syndrome. Once again, supporting a diet, focused on the benefits of walnuts, is anti-aging.
Simple is best, and when it comes to food, the benefits of walnuts, in a diet, cannot be argued. As demonstrated the benefits of walnuts, being added to your daily consumption, can yield many boosts to your health. Eating at least an ounce of walnuts a day has shown advantages in all the positive properties. Oftentimes, individuals will not consume the outermost layer of a shelled walnut as it has a flavor of bitterness. However, the urge to remove it must be resisted, as it contains a large portion of the much-wanted potent antioxidants. Dividends will be paid off on your health if the outer shell is also consumed. Produce that is organic and raw may improve positive impacts on your health.
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