It appears that there may be another reason to incorporate walnuts
into your diet. A new clinical study published in the October 17, 2006
edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests
that walnuts, rich in polyunsaturated fats, may protect the body's
arteries from the harm associated with eating a meal high in saturated
fat. Adding olive oil, known for its monounsaturated fats, does not
appear to provide the same type of vascular benefits.
Consumption of a meal high in saturated fat typically causes an
inflammatory response in the body that negatively impacts the ability
of the arteries to carry necessary blood to tissue and organs and
promotes the formation of artery clogging plaque. This response was
limited by adding walnuts to such a meal.
"Many people forget that walnuts are an important part of the
Mediterranean diet, providing numerous health benefits," said Dr.
Emilio Ros, director of the Lipid Clinic at Hospital Clinico in
Barcelona, Spain. In fact, "walnuts, unlike olive oil and other nuts,
contain significant amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids,
specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential plant based
omega-3. They also provide antioxidants and L-arginine, components
identified in past studies as potential nutrients that improve artery
function," noted Ros.
The findings of this study should not give consumers the green
light to consume a diet high in saturated fat. "Consumers would get
the wrong message from our findings if they think they can continue
eating unhealthy fats provided they add walnuts to their meals," said
Ros. Instead, he believes that "people should consume a typical
Mediterranean diet low in saturated fats and high in foods containing
polyunsaturated fats, such as walnuts."
Experts Available for Interview:
-- Emilio Ros, M.D., Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; Study
Investigator
-- Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., Author, You The Owner's Manual (2005);
Vice Chairman of Surgery at Columbia University in New York
City, Director of the Cardiovascular Institute, and Founder
and Director for the Complementary Medicine Program at New
York Presbyterian Hospital
-- Michael F. Roizen, M.D., Author, You The Owner's Manual
(2005); Chair designate of Division of Anesthesiology,
Critical Care Medicine and Comprehensive Pain Management at
the Cleveland Clinic
-- Andrew Weil, M.D., Founder and director of the Program in
Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health
Sciences Center in Tucson; author of Healthy Aging (2005)
-- Anderson Morris, M.D., FACC, Medical Director, HealthSouth
Heart College, Birmingham AL-cardiovascular specialist who
works in preventative care
-- Amy G. Myrdal, MS, RD, California Walnut Commission
Also Available:
Link to the study found at: www.acc.org
Summary of walnut clinical scientific research
Additional Photography/Recipes
www.walnuts.org
