Black Walnut:Juglans nigra and Walnut Extracts Benefits.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Data of Walnut.
- .Countries of origin:Walnut.
- .Naming the Walnut.
- .Walnuts Background.
- .Walnut Habitat.
- .Parts and Uses of Black Walnut:Juglans nigra.
- .Parts Used Medicinally.
- .Characteristics of Walnut.
- .Phytochemical and nutritional composition of Walnut.
- .Qualities of Walnut.
- .Common Health Benefits of Walnut.
- .Medicinal Benefits,Action and Uses of Walnut Part.
- .Benefit of Walnut Oil.
- .Nutritional Benefits of Walnut:Brain Nourishing Effect and Pharmacological Mechanism.
- .Walnuts and your health:Nutritional Profile of Walnut.
- .Walnut Varieties and Grading.
- .Some of the common walnut species.
- .Walnut Applications,Combinations,Contradications,and Safety.
- .Walnut and Human Civilization:History and Archeology,World Cuisines,Folklore.
- .Walnut In Pandit Heritage:Rituals and Recipes.
- .Research Update:Walnut.
Common Health Benefits of Walnut.
When it comes to their health benefits, walnuts definitely are not a hard nut to crack. This delicious nut is a very good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a special type of protective fat the body cannot manufacture. Walnuts' concentration of omega-3s (a quarter-cup provides 50.4% of the daily value for these essential fats) has many potential health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, to the promotion of better cognitive function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties.
Primary Functions:To tonify the functions of the Kidney, strengthen the lower back, relieve cough due to Lung deficiency, relieve constipation due to dryness, and to benefit the skin
Take Walnuts to Heart:
Adding walnuts to your diet can be an important step in improving your cardiovascular health. Walnuts are an important source of monounsaturated fats-- approximately 15% of the fat found in walnuts is healthful monounsaturated fat. A host of studies have shown that increasing the dietary intake of monounsaturated-dense walnuts has favorable effects on high cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular risk factors. One particular study compared the effects of a cholesterol-lowering Mediterranean diet with an adjusted Mediterrenean diet in which 35% of the calories derived from monounsaturated fats came from walnuts. When following the walnut-rich diet, the 49 study participants were found to have lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL (the dangerous form) cholesterol and Lp(a) ("lipoprotein a," another lipid compound that increases blood clotting and, when elevated, is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis).
In addition to their heart-protective monounsaturated fats, walnuts' concentration of omega-3 essential fatty acids is also responsible for the favorable effects walnut consumption produces on cardiovascular risk factors.
Omega-3s benefit the cardiovascular system by helping to prevent erratic heart rhythms, making blood less likely to clot inside arteries (which is the proximate cause of most heart attacks), and improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to potentially harmful (LDL) cholesterol.
In a boost to California's walnut industry, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has affirmed the health claim stating, "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces per day of walnuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. See nutrition information for fat content."
This FDA decision comes in response to a petition filed by the California Walnut Commission which highlights a body of international scientific research substantiating the specific benefit of consuming walnuts as part of a heart healthy diet in reducing the risk of heart disease. The body of evidence suggests that the nutritional composition of walnuts contributes to these heart health benefits.
One of the oldest foods, walnuts today are recognized for their flavor, versatility and health benefits. California's walnut industry accounts for more than 99 percent of the commercial U.S. supply and the majority of the world trade. There are more than 5,000 walnut growers in California.
The 1.5 ounces of walnuts cited by the FDA also more than fulfills the daily requirement of essential omega-3 fatty acids, a critical nutrient deficient in the American diet. Among tree nuts, walnuts are distinctive because of their concentration of omega-3 fatty acids.
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids has been stressed in the recent reports of leading health organizations and governmental agencies recommending new dietary intake guidelines aimed at promoting public health by encouraging increased omega-3 fatty acid intake by Americans.
Omega-3s also reduce inflammation, which is a key component in the processes that turn cholesterol into artery-clogging plaques. Since walnuts contain relatively high levels of l-arginine, an essential amino acid, they may also be of special import when it comes to hypertension. In the body (specifically within those hard-working blood vessels), l-arginine is converted into nitric oxide, a chemical that helps keep the inner walls of blood vessels smooth and allows blood vessels to relax. Since individuals with hypertension have a harder time maintaining normal nitric oxide levels, which may also relate to other significant health issues such as diabetes and heart problems, walnuts can serve as a great addition to their diets.
A study published in the August 2003 issue of Phytochemistry sheds further light on walnuts' cardioprotective benefits. Earlier research had already suggested that several polyphenolic compounds found in walnuts, specifically ellagic and gallic acid, possessed antioxidant activity sufficient to inhibit free radical damage to LDL cholesterol. In this new study, researchers identified 16 polyphenols, including three new tannins, with antioxidant activity so protective they describe it as remarkable. (October 24, 2003)
Walnuts improve cardiovascular function by a variety of mechanisms, suggests a study conducted at the Lipid Clinic in Barcelona, Spain, and published in the April 2004 issue of Circulation.
For four weeks, 21 men and women with high cholesterol followed either a regular, low-calorie Mediterranean diet or one in which walnuts were substituted for about one-third of the calories supplied by olives, olive and other monounsaturated fats in the Mediterranean diet. Then, for a second four weeks, they switched over to the diet they had not yet been on.
Not only did the walnut diet significantly reduce total cholesterol (a drop that ranged from 4.4 to 7.4%) and LDL (bad) cholesterol (a drop ranging from 6.4 to 10%), but walnuts were also found to increase the elasticity of the arteries by 64%, and to reduce levels of vascular cell adhesion molecules, a key player in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
The researchers found that the drop in cholesterol correlated with increases in blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid, a key essential fatty acid from which omega 3 fats can be derived, and gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E. Walnuts are uniquely rich in both of these nutrients, which have shown heart protective benefits in other studies.
The Food and Drug Administration has recently cleared the health claim that "eating 1.5 ounces per day of walnuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease." "This is the first time a whole food, not its isolated components, has shown this beneficial effect on vascular health," said Emilio Ros, who led the study at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. (May 9, 2004)
Food for Better Thought:
Walnuts have often been thought of as a "brain food," not only because of the wrinkled brain-like appearance of their shells, but because of their high concentration of omega-3 fats. Your brain is more than 60% structural fat. For your brain cells to function properly, this structural fat needs to be primarily the omega-3 fats found in walnuts, flaxseed and cold-water fish. This is because the membranes of all our cells, including our brain cells or neurons, are primarily composed of fats. Cell membranes are the gatekeepers of the cell. Anything that wants to get into or out of a cell must pass through the cell's outer membrane. And omega-3 fats, which are especially fluid and flexible, make this process a whole lot easier, thus maximizing the cell's ability to usher in nutrients while eliminating wastes--definitely a good idea, especially when the cell in question is in your brain.
Epidemiological studies in various countries including the U.S. suggest a connection between increased rates of depression and decreased omega-3 consumption, and in children, the relationship between low dietary intake of omega-3 fats and ADHD has begun to be studied. A recent Purdue University study showed that kids low in omega-3 essential fatty acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioral problems.
In the Purdue study, a greater number of behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and sleep problems were reported in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. More learning and health problems were also found in the children in the study who had lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations. Over 2,000 scientific studies have demonstrated the wide range of problems associated with omega-3 deficiencies. The American diet is almost devoid of omega-3s, except for nuts, such as walnuts, seeds and cold-water fish. In fact, researchers believe that about 60% of Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and about 20% have so little that test methods cannot even detect any in their blood.
Help Prevent Gallstones:
Twenty years of dietary data collected on 80,718 women from the Nurses' Health Study shows that women who eat least 1 ounce of nuts, peanuts or peanut butter each week have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones. Since 1 ounce is only 28.6 nuts or about 2 tablespoons of nut butter, preventing gallbladder disease may be as easy as packing one peanut butter and jelly sandwich (be sure to use whole wheat bread for its fiber, vitamins and minerals) for lunch each week, having a handful of almonds as an afternoon pick me up, or tossing some walnuts on your oatmeal or salad. (June 30, 2004)
That's Nut the End of Walnut's Health Benefits:
Walnuts are a good source of copper and manganese, two minerals that are essential cofactors in a number of enzymes important in antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within cell cytoplasm and the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells) requires both copper and manganese.
Walnuts also contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid, which blocks the metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer. Ellagic acid not only helps protect healthy cells from free radical damage, but also helps detoxify potential cancer-causing substances and helps prevent cancer cells from replicating. In a study of 1,271 elderly people in New Jersey, those who ate the most strawberries (another food that contains ellagic acid) were three times less likely to develop cancer than those who ate few or no strawberries.
Blood Vessels Protective Benefits:
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that eating walnuts after a meal high in unhealthy fats can reduce the damaging effects of such fats on blood vessels. Researchers from Barcelona's Hospital Clinic conducted a study on 24 adult participants, half of whom had normal cholesterol levels, and half of whom had moderately high levels of cholesterol. Each group was fed two high-fat meals of salami and cheese, eaten one week apart. During one meal, the researchers supplemented the food with five teaspoons of olive oil. The researcher added eight shelled walnuts to the other meal, the following week.
Tests after each meal showed that both the olive oil and the walnuts helped reduce the onset of dangerous inflammation and oxidation in the arteries after the meals, which were high in saturated fat. However, unlike the olive oil, the walnuts also helped the arteries maintain their elasticity and flexibility, even in the participants with higher cholesterol.
Lead researcher Dr. Emilio Ros said walnuts' protective effects could be because the nuts are high in antioxidants and ALA, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts also contain arginine, which is an amino acid that the body uses to produce nitric oxide, necessary for keeping blood vessels flexible.
Penn State study has shown that a diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid from walnuts, walnut oil and flaxseed oil not only lowered bad cholesterol but also decreased markers for blood vessel inflammation in men and women representative of typical Americans at cardiovascular risk.
While previous studies have shown that walnut supplementation favorably affects cholesterol and other lipids that are signs of cardiovascular risk, this new study is the first to demonstrate that a diet high in walnuts decreases C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation strongly associated with heart disease.
Walnut affect the synthesis, oxidation and excretion of cholesterin.:
Walnut contains much fat mainly linoleic acid, also vitamins B1 and B2, tannate, citrulline and juglone.When fed with the food mixed with fat and walnut oil, the dog can be increased rapidly in body weight, raised in serum protein content but increased slowly in the level of blood cholesterin. It indicates that walnut can affect the synthesis, oxidation and excretion of cholesterin.Some of the numerous walnut health benefits include:
Lowers total cholesterol,Lowers LDL cholesterol,Increases the HDL to total cholesterol ratio.Inhibits free radical damage to LDL cholesterol;
Lowers Lp(a) - a lipid compound that increases blood clotting and when elevated is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis;
Increases the elasticity of arteries,Provides antioxidant protection;
Lowers the level of C-reactive protein - a marker of inflammation a marker of strongly associated with atherosclerosis and heart disease;
Decreases the level of ICAM1 and VCAM-1 and E-selection, all of which are involved in cholesterol's adhesion to the lining of the arteries;
Is considered "brain food" due to its high levels of omega-3,Helps prevent gallstones,Helps prevent cancer cells from replicating.
Walnut Prompt Heart Health.:
Walnuts are unique among nuts because the fat in walnuts is primarily heart-healthy polyunsaturated, the source of important omega-3 fatty acids. Studies indicate that omega-3s lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease and stroke. They are also rich in essential linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, which are parent compounds of omega-6 and omega-3 respectively. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of heart disease because they make the blood less sticky. They prevent platelets from sticking together and forming very dangerous clots.
Walnut effective for urinary infections and stones,dermatitis and eczema.:
Walnut has been reported that walnut is effective for urinary infections and stones. Moreover, many kinds of dermatitis without secondary infection and eczema were reported to have been satisfactorily cured by walnut zinc oxide paste applied 1-2 times daily. Most cases were cured within 1-10 days. Walnuts are made into a paste and applied as a poultice to areas of dermatitis and eczema.
Walnut Leaves.:
The leaves of walnut tree are used internally the treatment of constipation, chronic coughs, asthma, diarrhoea, indigestion, etc. The leaves are also used to treat skin ailments and purify the blood. They are considered to be specific in the treatment of strumous sores.
Walnut rind.:
The rind is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and anaemia (the blood is deficient in red blood cells).
Walnut cotyledons.:
The cotyledons are used in the treatment of cancer. Walnut has a long history of folk use in the treatment of cancer, some extracts from the plant have shown anticancer activity.
Walnut extract and Alzheimer's:
A study by the NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities found that walnut extract was able to inhibit and defibrillize (to break down) fibrillar amyloid beta protein - the principal component of amyloid plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's. The study looked at the effect of walnut extract on amyloid beta protein fibrillization by Thioflavin T fluorescence spectroscopy and electron microscopy.
These results suggest that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by maintaining amyloid beta protein in the soluble form.Source: Current Alzheimer Research, Volume 1, Number 3, August 2004, pp. 183-188(6)
Walnut polyunsaturated fat:Omega-3 fatty acids
Walnuts are unique among nuts Research on this wonder-nut have confirmed the following: Walnuts include 72.4 per cent heart-healthy polyunsaturated fat, shown to reduce the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. Walnut is a good source of all important omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids has a lot of health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, better mental function, anti-inflammatory benefits in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory diseases like eczema and psoriasis.Omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts reduce the risk of heard disease because they make the blood less sticky and prevent clots.
In Asian cultures, the walnut is considered a "brain food"; college students munch on walnuts by the handful before exams to boost their scores. In a recent issue of AARP magazine, the writers profiled nine of the most powerful disease-fighting foods. And Walnuts ranked #6. The article went on to mention that Walnuts are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. That is the same substance that has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Walnuts may dramatically reduce "bad" cholesterol and increase blood flow to the heart. The recommend eating Walnuts a couple of times a week. For more information on the article check out the article. Also featured in the article were Whole Grains, Blueberries, Yogurt, Cherries and Tomatoes.
Walnut laxative effect:
Walnut has a mild laxative effect, it is beneficial in cases of constipation.Black walnut provides the same laxative action as cascara sagrada, but it works more subtly.
Walnut muscle building:
Walnut contains vitamins and minerals thus making it an excellent food for body and muscle building.Walnut helps improve body's metabolism.Walnut is recommended for patients with liver ailments.
Walnut intestinal support:
The ancient Greeks used the hulls to support the intestinal system and to treat skin infections.
Walnut astringent:
Herbalists classify black walnut as an astringent because it is rich in tannin, a toning substance.Due to it's astringent qualities, black walnut has the power to help your body protect itself from harmful agents, such as parasites.
Walnut cleansing properties:
Black Walnut's fame in folk medicine is due to its cleansing properties. The unripe hulls of the black walnut are high in vitamin C.
Walnut uses in TCM:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, walnut seeds are primarily considered a kidney tonic. They are also considered beneficial to the brain, back, and skin, and to relieve constipation if it is caused by dehydration.
Walnut Traditional uses in Western Herbalism:
Traditional uses of black walnut are: expel parasites, worms, yeast, lower blood pressure, help thyroid problems (especially low thyroid output), skin fungus, asthma, beriberi, diarrhea, sore throat, and lung disease. Powdered black walnut has been used to clean teeth and tighten gums.
Black Walnut has also been used to aid digestion, act as a mild laxative, help heal mouth and sore throat, and to cleanse the body of various parasites. It is also known to be good for fungal infections, herpes, poison ivy, and warts. It also may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Although studies examining the link between walnuts and health are relatively new, folklore surrounding walnuts is ancient. It's interesting to glance back and remember:
During Medieval times, walnuts were considered a medicine. A potion containing walnut leaves was used to treat muscular aches and pains and walnuts were believed to soothe the digestive system.
Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, herbal treatments became official medical practice under the "Doctrine of Signatures," and various plants were prescribed due to their resemblance to a particular body part. Hence, the walnut, with its visual likeness to the human brain, was used to treat head ailments, boost intellect and calm emotions. Even today, in Asian cultures, the walnut is considered a brain food; college students munch on walnuts by the handful before exams, hoping to boost their scores.
Endothelial Cell Function:
Dr. Paul Davis, a professor in the nutrition department at the University of California, researched whether walnuts could reduce the effects of endothelin, a substance that promotes arterial inflammation and plaque development. The study was published in the January edition of the Journal of Nutrition. His research involved feeding male hamsters high-fat, hyperlipidemic diets supplemented with either walnuts; alpha-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E; walnut oil; or gamma-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E found in walnuts. Hamsters fed the walnut supplemented diet had the greatest reduction in endothelin activity, which means their arteries likely developed the least amount of plaque on the diet specifically designed to cause heart disease. This study helped explain the mechanisms behind the endothelial cell benefits of walnuts seen in human intervention trials.
Melatonin:
Research conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio has proven walnuts are a natural source of melatonin, and that when walnuts are eaten the melatonin gets absorbed in the bloodstream where it exerts antioxidant activity. According to Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, "The ingredients in walnuts would be expected to reduce the incidence of cancer, delay or make less severe neurodegenerative diseases of aging, including Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease and reduce the severity of cardiovascular disease." Published in the September 2005 issue of Nutrition: The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences, the study is titled "Melatonin in walnuts: Influence on levels of melatonin and total antioxidant capacity of blood."
Weight Management:
Recent research from Loma Linda University suggests that adding walnuts to the diet does not have a detrimental effect on weight. The research was published in the November issue of the British Journal of Nutrition. The randomized cross-over field trial included two six-month diet periods, a control diet and a walnut-supplemented diet, with 90 participants (50 females; 40
males) aged 30-72 years. During the walnut phase, study participants were simply asked to eat 1-1.5 ounces of walnuts each day. The average weight change during the walnut phase was insignificant at only 0.4 kg over six months. .Study participants were not told this was a weight study. They were only instructed to add walnuts to their diet. Researchers think the participants intuitively adjusted their food and caloric intake to compensate for the walnut calories. Other studies have proven that walnuts aid in satiety, and may benefit consumers trying to lose weight or maintain weight.
Diabetes:
A study published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA) shows that eating a handful of walnuts every day can help patients with type 2 diabetes achieve recommended intakes for polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as omega-3s), critical to protecting the heart. These findings build on a study published in the December 2004 issue of Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which shows that, for patients with type 2 diabetes, a whole foods diet including walnuts can reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent.
Future Studies:
Other studies in progress or scheduled to be published include studies on walnuts with relation to: bone health; prostate cancer; vitamin E; cytokines/heart health; postprandial arterial function; blood pressure; breast cancer; antioxidant status; walnuts, blueberries and aging; walnuts vs. fish; walnuts and diabetes; fatty acid balance; satiety and diabetes.
Reference:
1.Black Walnut:Juglans nigra and Walnut Extracts Benefits.
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