Close X
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
ADVT 
Health

Eating Walnuts May Boost Gut Health, Cut Cancer Risk

Darpan News Desk IANS, 26 Jul, 2017 11:42 AM
    Consuming half a cup of walnut per day may help protect the digestive system by increasing the amount of probiotic bacteria in the gut and ward off risks of heart and brain disease as well as cancer, researchers say.
     
    The findings, from the animal study, showed that a walnut-enriched diet reshapes the gut microbe community and causes a significant increase in beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Ruminococcaceae.
     
    Walnuts act as a probiotic to help nourish and grow the bacteria that keeps the digestive system healthy, the researchers said.
     
    "The health of the gut is related to overall health in the rest of the body. Our study is showing that walnuts change the gut, which could help explain why there are other positive health benefits to eating walnuts such as heart and brain health," said lead researcher Lauri Byerley, Associate Professor at the Louisiana State University in the US.
     
    Consuming walnuts also has been associated with health benefits including a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, Byerley added. 
     
     
    The bioactive components of walnuts may be contributing factors in providing these health benefits, the researchers explained in the paper appearing in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 
     
    "Greater bacterial diversity may be associated with better health outcomes, whereas low diversity has been linked to conditions such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease," Byerley noted.
     
    Walnuts are the only nuts that contain a significant amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid (2.5 grams per one ounce) and also offer protein (4 grams per one ounce) and fibre (2 grams per one ounce). 
     
    For the study, rats were randomly assigned to a diet containing ground walnuts, equivalent to about 2 ounces (1/2 cup) per day in humans, or a diet without walnuts for up to 10 weeks.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives
    Researchers from Britain have identified the effect of honey used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases, on pathogenic fungi that can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people.

    Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus, Save Lives

    Undeclared Drug Tadalafil Prompts Canadawide Recall Of Sexual Enhancement Product

    Undeclared Drug Tadalafil Prompts Canadawide Recall Of Sexual Enhancement Product
    OTTAWA — Health Canada says all lots of an authorized natural health product promoted for sexual enhancement are being recalled.

    Undeclared Drug Tadalafil Prompts Canadawide Recall Of Sexual Enhancement Product

    Why India Has The World's Most Stillborn Babies

    Why India Has The World's Most Stillborn Babies
    Her pale, yellow eyes stood out against her dusky skin, and the grief was visible on the face of the young woman from a tribe of traditional honey gatherers living on the edge of south Karnataka’s Nagarhole National Park.

    Why India Has The World's Most Stillborn Babies

    How Mindfulness Meditation Improves Health

    How Mindfulness Meditation Improves Health
    In mindfullnes meditation people make a conscious, focused practice of attending to their current state and sensations.

    How Mindfulness Meditation Improves Health

    Watch out! Vacations Can Lead To Weight Gain

    Watch out! Vacations Can Lead To Weight Gain
    Planning for a vacation? Be prepared for weight gain with a heavier midsection -- extra weight that can hang around even six weeks post-vacation.

    Watch out! Vacations Can Lead To Weight Gain

    Zika Threat Prompts 21-Day Ban On Blood Donations For Some Canadian Travellers

    Zika Threat Prompts 21-Day Ban On Blood Donations For Some Canadian Travellers
    Canadian Blood Services says it is implementing the waiting period to mitigate the risk of the Zika virus entering the Canadian blood supply.

    Zika Threat Prompts 21-Day Ban On Blood Donations For Some Canadian Travellers