How Walnuts Can Improve Heart Health Through Your Gut Microbiome
Walnuts have been in the spotlight for their ability to improve heart health. A recent study conducted by researchers from Texas Tech University and Juniata College shows that consuming walnuts may impact the gut microbiome, which can lead to improved heart health.
Here's what you need to know.
What is Heart Health?
The biggest cause of death in the US is heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that heart disease claims almost 700,000 lives annually. Nutrition has an impact on heart health, among other things.
What are Heart-Healthy Foods?
Consuming heart-healthy foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, lean meats, and nuts is advised by the National Institutes of Health. In particular, walnuts can lower the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to recent studies.
What is the Gut Microbiome?
A collection of microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal system is known as the gut microbiome.
According to NIH, the gut microbiome has a significant impact on human health and can affect the onset of a variety of chronic illnesses, including metabolic diseases, gastrointestinal problems, and colorectal cancer. The health of the gut microbiota is crucial.
How walnuts may impact the gut microbiome
Data from 42 patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease were evaluated in the study.
For the first two weeks, the subjects consumed a typical Western diet. After that, individuals were divided into three groups: "walnut diet group," "matching walnut control diet," and "oleic acid replaces ALA in the diet without walnuts."
In the walnut diet group, researchers discovered increased concentrations of Gordonibacter bacteria, which are in charge of metabolizing plant-based chemicals.
Moreover, they observed increased gene expression in L-homoarginine-related pathways in the walnut diet group. Heart disease is more likely to strike those with low homoarginine levels.
The study came to the conclusion that altering one's diet in a way that affects the gut can reduce one's risk of cardiovascular disease.
How to Improve Your Gut Microbiome?
Using probiotic pills to balance the gut microbiota is one strategy to promote gut health. Yogurt, pickled veggies, and kombucha tea are a few foods that people can eat to aid with this.
Walnuts can improve heart health by impacting the gut microbiome, according to recent research. The study suggests that improving cardiovascular disease risk profiles is possible by making dietary changes that impact the gut.
Improving gut health is essential to good health, and people can do this by taking probiotic supplements or eating foods like yogurt, pickled vegetables, and kombucha tea.
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Ankush Das