Walnuts May Help Reduce Inflammation

Over time, chronic inflammation may have a negative impact on tissues and organs and may also play a role in a range of medical conditions. A recent study suggests that regularly consuming walnuts may help reduce inflammatory biomarkers 

For their study, researchers from Loma Linda University used data from 634 mature adults who participated in the Walnuts and Healthy Aging Study. Half of them consumed 15% of their calories as walnuts (approximately 1 to 2 ounces daily), and the other half followed their regular diet with no walnuts for 2 years. Ten inflammatory biomarkers were measured at baseline and at the end of the study period.

Participants in the walnut group saw significant reductions in 6 of the 10 inflammatory biomarkers that were measured. One of these was interleukin-1β, which has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease.

The study was published online ahead of print on November 10, 2020 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.