By The Financial District
Dec 5, 20212 min
A new study has suggested that higher walnut consumption may be linked to a lower risk of death and an increase in life expectancy among older adults in the US compared to those who do not consume walnuts, FreshFruitPortal.com reported.
Photo Insert: Eating five or more servings of walnuts per week was associated with a 14% lower risk of death (from any cause), a 25% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and a gain in about 1.3 years of life expectancy.
Done by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the study has been supported by the California Walnut Commission.
"What we've learned from this study is that even a few handfuls of walnuts per week may help promote longevity, especially among those whose diet quality isn't great to begin with," said Yanping Li, Senior Research Scientist at the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and lead investigator of this research.
"It's a practical tip that can be feasible for a number of people who are looking to improve their health, which is top of mind for many people," Li added. This study found five or more one-ounce servings of walnuts per week may provide the greatest benefit for mortality risk and life expectancy.
Eating five or more servings per week was associated with a 14% lower risk of death (from any cause), a 25% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and a gain in about 1.3 years of life expectancy, compared to those who didn't consume walnuts.
Consuming walnuts two to four times per week could have its benefits, too, with the study finding a 13% lower risk of death overall, 14% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and a gain in about one year of life, compared to non-walnut consumers.
Participants were relatively healthy when they joined the studies and were followed for about 20 years (1998-2018).