According to a new study, eating walnuts daily can help control blood pressure, prevent weight gain, and reduce the chances of diabetes and heart disease.
The finding, published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, revealed that the walnut-eating group had lower blood pressure than those who did not eat nuts, reports the Daily Mail.
According to researchers, from the University of Minnesota, walnuts are the only nuts that contain the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Fatty acids have previously been linked to better heart health.
However, the researchers say that more studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Previous research has linked walnuts to lower blood pressure, and suggested that they prevent diabetes and heart disease. However, these results have not yet been supported by a rigorous clinical trial.
For the study, the team analyzed data from 3,341 Americans who were about 45 years old. The participants took part in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study conducted by the University of Alabama between 1985 and 2015.
They were initially interviewed about their diet, and followed for seven, 20 and 25 years of the study. Of those involved, 340 who ate walnuts consumed an average of about 0.6 ounces (19 grams) a day—the equivalent of seven walnut kernels.
At age 20, he was invited back for a health check-up, where his BMI was measured, along with his activity level and blood pressure.
Scientists also suggested that walnuts help reduce weight and be a high-quality diet.
