Walnuts help to improve the elasticity of blood vessels and to maintain cardiovascular health .
Walnuts are an old " home remedy " that, judging by the evidence, is absolutely not to be abandoned .
Walnuts are one of the few foods , and therefore complex matrices , which can currently boast an health claim authorized by EFSA ( European Food Safety Authority ), that therefore can also be written on product labels.
The health claim approved by EFSA on the function of blood vessels, according to which "walnuts contribute to the improvement of the elasticity of blood vessels", despite not being supported by an undisputed mechanism of action, has been authorized for strong evidence in favor of the effect of walnuts on normal endothelial function , which is essential for the prevention of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
In particular interventional studies on healthy subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes showed a sustained effect of wanuts consumption on improving the "endothelium-dependent vasodilation ," the most studied endothelial function.
Based on the scientific evidences, the daily dose needed to get the effect shown in the claim is of 30 grams of walnuts, which can be consumed in the context of a balanced diet .
The only other nutrient that currently can boast a claim authorized by EFSA on the function of blood vessels in the label is Vitamin C, which is fundamental for collagen synthesis and therefore for the structure of blood vessels , and not only .
So off to walnuts, they are friends of blood vessels and rich in nutrients such as high-quality omega-3 fatty acids , which are also essential for cardiovascular health.
Source:
EFSA Journal 2011
Image Courtesy of Africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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