Out of all the walnuts have something called “ALA” that stands for alpha- linolenic acid, which is a precursor to EPA and DHA, which are the Omega-3 fatty acids.
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The advantages of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
But ALA itself has some unique benefits for your skin.
It can actually help prevent scaly skin dermatitis, hyper pigmentation of the skin, where you have dark blotches through the skin (learn more about how iron affects your hair, skin and nails).
It’s also been known to prevent skin atrophy. And, of course, if it converts to the more powerful forms of Omega-3, it can help a lot of things like your heart inflammation, brain health, and etc.
But you have to realize that only a percentage of ALA converts to EPA and DHA. That is why to convert to EPA is roughly about between 10 to 21 percent. And then converting to DHA we’re only getting between five to nine percent.
More walnut benefits
Also, there are some interesting studies that show benefits for your cardiovascular system. Seven out of eight of the studies showed benefits to the endothelial wall of the inside of your arteries.
These studies were not on a lot of people. So it’s a correlation, but it’s not proof that it can actually help your heart (learn more about The Top Remedies for Your Heart). Also, it was shown that there was a shift from small particle size LDL to large particle size LDL. Walnuts have folate, Vitamin E, polyphenols, and they are also low in lysine and high in arginine.
Arginine can help to increase growth of hormone. It can help to rid excess ammonia, it’s involved in the urea cycle.
Also arginine can increase nitric oxide which is good for blood pressure and cardiovascular health.
The problem with walnuts
The problem is that most people eat walnuts raw. They have phytates, sometimes even more than grains and enzyme inhibitors, so they can create bloating.
How to germinate walnuts
However there is a solution how to germinate the walnuts. Soaking them in water between 24 and 48 hours will remove the phytates as well as the enzyme inhibitors. It’s necessary to dry them out in the oven under low heats or a dehydrator. Although phytates block certain minerals like zinc (learn more about why the prostate needs zinc), iron, magnesium (learn more about unexpected benefits of magnesium).
So our bodies can tolerate a certain amount of phytates. If we’re consuming too much that can create a problem with the mineral absorption as well as our digestion itself.
As far as the enzyme inhibitors can inhibit pepsin, which is involved in protein digestion in your stomach, it can also inhibit amylase, which has to do with carbohydrate metabolism as well as inhibiting trypsin in your small intestine.
This is why if you eat too many nuts you’re going to feel kind of bloated and you might have constipation.
However if you germinate the nuts, you’ll have much less problems. For example sprouted organic walnuts are useful after a meal and don’t create the bloating.
Thanks to some Iranian friends From whom I got the idea I’m soaking my walnuts since 1-2y ago, they also taste much better. I soak them for around 3 days, changing the water twice a day. The result is delicious. And as I know now also healthier.