2.Walnuts may help to reduce the risk of depression
A study has suggested that the consumption of walnuts could be linked to a lower prevalence and frequency of symptoms of depression. After assessing the participants of the study for depression, it was found that depression scores were 26% less for consumers of walnuts and 8% less for consumers of other nuts, in comparison to individuals who didn’t eat nuts at all.1✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.3390/nu11020275
Researchers examined data from over 26,000 individuals who were asked about their dietary intake during the period of 1 to 2 days and also symptoms of depression within the last 2 weeks. Making use of a widely recognized questionnaire, individuals graded how often they experienced factors like difficulty in sleeping or sleeping excessively, little interest in doing things, feeling fatigued or not having energy, and difficulty focusing on things.
According to the study results, consumers of walnuts were more likely to have higher energy levels, have a greater interest in activities, greater optimism better concentration, and less hopelessness.
Depression scores were considerably lower in individuals who consumed nuts, especially walnuts, in comparison to individuals who didn’t consume nuts, despite controlling for BMI, sex, age, income, marital status, race, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Consumers of walnuts ate about 24 grams of walnuts daily on average.
Although the association between consumption of nuts and depression scores was consistent for women and men, the effect seemed to be strongest in women, who are more likely to report greater symptoms of depression and antidepressant use when compared to men.
Image Source – medindia