Are Walnuts The Secret To Weight Loss?

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Everyone is always looking for a dietary hack that will help them lose weight. Some people embrace the Atkins Diet while others stick to the traditional low-fat options of muffins, yogurt, and everything in between. But a new study suggests that a snack item that many would not suspect is actually a great option for losing weight. It turns out that walnuts might be the key to shedding unwanted pounds, and preventing weight gain— though not for the reasons you might think.

What’s the Deal with Walnuts?

Walnuts are considered a tree nut which puts them in the same category as nuts like pistachios, pecans, cashews, and the almost impenetrable brazil nuts. Walnuts are a popular ingredient in many pastries and dessert items, but in recent years as healthy eating has become more mainstream, more people are learning about the multitude of health benefits offered by these delicious nuts.

For one thing, walnuts have an impressive nutritional profile. A ¼ cup serving of walnuts offers high quantities of vitamins and minerals like biotin, manganese, and copper. The same serving size also provides 100 percent of the daily recommended amount of omega -3 fats.

The specific type of omega-3 fat found in walnuts is alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, a compound that is notable for its anti-inflammatory properties. ALA has been shown to prevent the formation of blood clots which can cause a heart attack. One study found that simply eating four walnuts each day was enough to significantly increase levels of ALA and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In addition to all this, walnuts also contain antioxidant compounds called polyphenols which help combat the harm caused by free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress on cells. These antioxidants can also improve brain health and cognition according to some studies.

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