Nuts for Your Health!

By Dr. Leo Galland, M.D., and Jonathan Galland

CBN.com – Walnuts are great snack foods: convenient and packed with nutrients. Their crunchiness makes them an appetizing part of a healthy dessert recipe, too. We love walnuts because they contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, which are an important part of The Fat Resistance Diet.

Recent research shows significant health benefits of eating walnuts. Scientists at Loma Linda University analyzed the diets of healthy adults and followed them for six years. People who ate walnuts regularly had a reduced incidence of heart attacks. When they advised people to add a quarter cup of walnuts to their diets, or for comparison, to remove all walnuts from their diets, they found that not eating walnuts led to weight gain.

Studies conducted in several different countries have shown that eating walnuts at a dose of 1/3 to 1/2 cup per day reduces levels of cholesterol, in particular the harmful LDL-cholesterol. In some studies, eating walnuts reduces the level of triglycerides, even when the total amount of fat in the diet is increased. And beneficial HDL-cholesterol either increases or stays the same, so that the important ratio of HDL to total cholesterol always improves. This effect has been demonstrated in healthy women and men, in diabetics, and in patients with high cholesterol.

In women and men with elevated cholesterol, supplementing a healthy diet with walnuts improves the flexibility and function of blood vessels.

It’s easy to make walnuts a healthy part of your day. Add a few walnuts to every salad that you make. Have a cup of yogurt with a few walnuts. Pack up some walnuts in little zip bags for on-the-go snacks. If you prefer toasted nuts, place the walnuts in your toaster oven tray and bake for about four minutes.

Salt may be added to these nuts, and you will have a treat for yourself, family, and friends without the bad oils used commercially for “roasted nuts.” Please make sure you check the ingredients when purchasing walnuts and buy only walnuts free of oils and sugars.

We have found creative and delicious ways to incorporate walnuts into The Fat Resistance Diet.

Our friends love this dessert. We hope you enjoy!

Black Forest Banana Split

1 Banana, Split
1 Cup Nonfat Ricotta Cheese
8 Walnut Halves
1/2 Teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Teaspoon Cherry Concentrate

Spoon ricotta into a dessert dish and place split banana on each side of ricotta. Put walnut halves on top and dust with cocoa powder. Drizzle cherry concentrate on top. Serves one.

Dr. Leo Galland is a board-certified internist who is internationally recognized as a leader in nutritional medicine. He has written several dozen scientific papers, textbook chapters, and three highly acclaimed popular books, The Fat Resistance Diet, Power Healing, and Superimmunity for Kids.

Jonathan Galland, co-creator of The Fat Resistance Diet, is a health writer who contributes regularly to CBN.com. He writes a weekly column for a New York City newspaper, Carib News, and is frequently interviewed on national radio shows including Martha Stewart Living. His and Dr. Galland’s book has been translated and published in Italy as La Dieta Galland.

This article is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice or counseling, the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the creation of a physician-patient relationship, or an endorsement, recommendation, or sponsorship of any third party product or service by the sender or the sender's affiliates, agents, employees, or service providers. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.

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