Nuts are a long-known source of micro-, macroelements, vitamins and minerals. Vegetable oils, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and a high-energy supply of nutrients lead to the use of fruits in the daily diet. The most common species in temperate latitudes is the walnut, which improves the condition of patients with many pathologies. The use of fruits in the treatment of hypertension is a new branch of diet therapy. Traditional medicine uses individual parts of different degrees of maturity of the nut.
What effects of a walnut can be taken into account in diseases of the heart and blood vessels?
The positive effect of nuts on the cardiovascular system is due to the rich composition of nutrients. The main components of the product and therapeutic effects are presented in the table.
| Active substances | Effects on the body |
|---|---|
| Unsaturated fats |
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| Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids |
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| Vitamin E |
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| B vitamins |
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| Microelements (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium) |
|
Walnut: increases or decreases blood pressure?
The multicomponent composition of the product leaves an urgent question for cardiologists: how are walnuts and blood pressure related? Fruits affect the risk factors for hypertension:
- normalize lipid metabolism;
- lowering blood viscosity;
- regulation of heart rate;
- moderate diuretic effect of trace elements (Potassium, Magnesium), which eliminate edema and reduce the volume of circulating fluid.
Regular consumption of nuts by patients with obesity or diabetes mellitus prevents pressure surges, normalizes carbon metabolism and improves the functioning of other organs.
B vitamins in the composition of the product have a positive effect on the nervous system, improve fiber conductivity and regulate the autonomic innervation of vascular tone. An increase in the latter is one of the causes of hypertension.
Folk remedies recipes
Making medicines from walnuts at home involves the use of various parts: kernels, peels, shells, partitions, leaves and bark of a tree. The simplest way of treatment is to consume 2-3 ripe fruits daily.
Recommended traditional medicine recipes for blood pressure correction:
- "Hearty mix." Chopped walnuts, figs, dried apricots and prunes are mixed in equal amounts. Take 1 teaspoon on an empty stomach. The tool normalizes the level of potassium in the blood, strengthens the vessels and muscles of the myocardium.
- Nut milk. 20 grams of chopped nuts are poured into 100 ml of boiled chilled water. Insist for an hour and take 5-6 times a day.
- Tincture from partitions. 1/3 of a half-liter jar is filled with fresh fruit raw materials, filled to the top with 40% alcohol or vodka. Insist for 3 weeks in a dark, dry place. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times daily before meals. The tool is actively used by patients with concomitant thyroid pathology. The tincture is not recommended for patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Walnut oil. First you need to chop the kernels, then chop them thoroughly with a blender or coffee grinder. Squeeze out the resulting paste and drain the oil into a dark glass container. Take 1 teaspoon 2-3 times daily before meals or add to salads or cereals. Store oil for no longer than 2-3 months in the refrigerator.
- Infusion of walnut leaves. 2 teaspoons of crushed raw materials pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 1 hour, drain. Take half a glass 4 times daily before meals. The infusion improves cerebral circulation, prevents the development of cerebral atherosclerosis.
- Mix 100 grams of kernels with natural honey in a 2: 1 ratio. Take throughout the day or at night (to improve sleep).
- Green walnut tincture. Grind 30 unpeeled young fruits, pour 1 liter of 70% alcohol and leave for 2 weeks, strain. The product should be taken within 1 month 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon. The tincture cleanses blood vessels, normalizes metabolic processes.
Walnuts for hypertension and manufactured medicines are prescribed in courses for 4-6 weeks, after which they take a break for 2 months.
Are there any contraindications for taking the product?
Nuts are a source of nutrients and minerals, exceeding the concentration of which negatively affects the functional state of the body.
There are a number of contraindications for taking fruit-based products:
- individual intolerance or allergic reaction to nuts;
- pathology of the digestive tract (gastritis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis, colitis of various etiologies, bloating);
- obesity 3-4 degrees (due to the high calorie content of the nuclei);
- the presence of diseases of the skin or mucous membranes (stomatitis, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, diathesis);
- pathology of the blood coagulation system.
Excessive consumption of nuts is accompanied by the risk of high blood pressure.
What types of nuts can affect blood pressure and why?
Walnut is not the only species that affects the cardiovascular system and blood pressure regulation. The effects of other fruits are shown in the table.
| Nut | Active ingredient | Cardiovascular action | When is it recommended? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazelnut | Polyunsaturated fatty acid glycerides, Calcium and Potassium |
|
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| Almond nut | Fatty acids, vitamins B and E |
|
|
| Peanut | Arginine (amino acid) |
|
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| Nutmeg | Potassium |
|
|
Conclusions
All types of nuts have a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system, regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. The impact on the risk factors for hypertension, the availability and safety of the drug is an important advantage of products in diet therapy.Walnut is distinguished by a balanced composition of nutrients, an adequate amount of omega-3 acids, micro- and macroelements and a high energy value.
