Writing off all fats as bad is a thing of the past. We now know that our body needs fats to work properly and that they are a key part of a varied, balanced diet.
As with any subject, it’s important to have a firm grasp of the facts and to understand which fats are good for you and which are best avoided. It’s all too easy to repeat the mantra that “fats make you fat” and from there cut out all fats from your diet if you’re trying to lose weight. Simple? Far from it.
Some fats, like those found in walnuts, are not only not fattening; they are also highly recommended for losing weight! You might think that a high-calorie, high-fat nut would be the last thing you’d eat if you’re trying to shed a few pounds, but a number of studies (including one led by the University of California–San Diego School of Medicine and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in February 2016) have shown that a walnut-rich diet is associated with the same degree of weight loss as a lower fat diet. Furthermore, a walnut-rich diet also delivered the greatest improvement in lipid levels.
The explanation lies in the type of fat found in walnuts. Walnuts are very rich in healthy unsaturated fatty acids and also contain a significant amount of Omega-3 and a good dose of antioxidants. They help reduce bad cholesterol levels and boost good cholesterol, which can combat obesity and cut the risk of suffering cardiovascular disease.
