OFFSET heart risk with this ancient ‘nut of royalty’
It’s amazing how our hearts can take a licking… and keep on ticking.
But you can’t take your heart health for granted…
Especially if you’ve made some choices that have put it more at risk than it should be.
I’m talking about INDULGING in processed foods… PACKING on the pounds… and NEGLECTING your gut health.
All of these can make inflammation SKYROCKET… and put your heart in the crosshairs.
The good news is… it’s not too late to turn over a new leaf!
Because there’s a way to OFFSET the abuse that may have increased your heart risk!
It’s an anti-inflammatory food trick that you can start up right now… and continue for YEARS to come!
King of the nuts
The scientific name of walnuts, Juglans regia, comes from the Romans’ nickname for it — “Jupiter’s royal nut.”
They thought walnuts resembled a certain part of the male anatomy…
But, like other “true” nuts, it’s your HEART health that these fiber-rich flavor nuggets can boost!
And just as Roman mythology considered Jupiter their “king of the gods”…
Walnuts may very well be “king of the nuts!”
Researchers first started seriously looking into their heart benefits back in 1993…
And since then, they’ve shown walnuts to IMPROVE lipid profiles… vessel health… and gut health.
But their heart health-boosting powers go even further BEYOND that!
Because a new study on healthy older folks discovered that consuming walnuts could SLASH levels of inflammatory markers that have been implicated in heart disease.
That includes interleukin-1 beta (IL1B)… which, as one clinical trial found, could help PREVENT recurrent coronary artery disease when SUPPRESSED.
You see, walnuts contain antioxidants known as ellagitannins – and when you consume these polyphenols, your gut converts them into inflammation-busting compounds called urolithins.
Walnuts’ anti-inflammatory power also comes courtesy of an omega-3 fatty acid it contains, called alpha-linolenic acid.
Research has shown that consuming ALA can help curb your cardiovascular risk… and even lower your risk of heart disease-related death.
Now, the study subjects ate A LOT of walnuts every day over the course of two years – as much as a half a cup!
That’s about DOUBLE the recommended portion size… and potentially a BOOST in your caloric intake.
But the good news is that in the study, the subjects reported ZERO weight gain.
Walnuts are known for their ability to help folks CONTROL appetite… and MAINTAIN a healthy weight.
And your heart will thank you for keeping off those extra pounds, too.
Now, the nuts the study subjects consumed WEREN’T special… exotic… or rare.
They were the same kind of plain ol’ walnuts you’d find in your local bulk food section – Persian or English walnuts.
They’re one of the few whole foods for which the FDA has granted a qualified health claim for how they may reduce heart disease risk as part of a heart-healthy eating plan.
Now, you can supplement with some of the isolated components found in walnuts… like ALA and ellagic acid…
But research shows that there’s something about eating the ENTIRE nut that really packs a punch.
If you’re reining in your salt intake, you can find unsalted varieties… as well as ones that have been dry-roasted (instead of in oil) or even not roasted at all (a.k.a. raw).
To cracking open heart protection,
Melissa Young
P.S. There’s a special type of walnut that grows right here in this country… but it’s a tough nut to crack for the agricultural industry.
Find out what black walnut can do… and how to get it… by clicking right here.
