[Glory87]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6036409.stm

A study that compared the health benefits of walnuts and olive oil "demonstrates that the protective fat from walnuts actually undoes some of the detrimental effects of a high-saturated-fat diet, whereas a neutral fat, such as olive oil, does not have as much protective ability."

Tests showed that both the olive oil and the walnuts helped to reduce the sudden onset of harmful inflammation and oxidation in arteries that follows a meal high in saturated fat.

Over time, this is thought to cause the arteries to start to harden - and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, unlike olive oil, adding walnuts also helped preserve the elasticity and flexibility of the arteries, regardless of cholesterol level.



You can't eat whatever you want and scarf some nuts to compensate, but walnuts should definitely be a part of a healthy, whole foods diet. Good calories, good fats!!!

[WaterRat]

Yay! I eat walnuts (1-2 oz) almost every day! I love them. Glad to hear I 'm doing good for my cardiovascular system at the same time.

[BreakingFree]

I wish I liked walnuts more. I love pecans, cashews, almonds, pistachios, peanuts/peanut butter, etc. and will eat walnuts but I don't love them. I think it might help if I toasted them...........

[joyofsix]

Well, now I'm glad I like them in my oatmeal. My problem is I love most all nuts (cahsews and macadamia excepted). I have to measure or the whole package will be gone.

[BreakingFree]

Ooo, I forgot about macadamias! Love those, too. I have a huge basket with all different containers of nuts in my pantry. For some reason, this is not something I'm really tempted to overeat. Now, if they were chocolate-covered nuts................!

[phantastica]

I have a bowl of mixed nuts in the shell on my table. Every morning, I crack a few of them to eat with breakfast. I love nuts!