When I was studying, during university vacation, I worked on a farm in France. The lady who ran the farm had some amazing recipes, one of which was a walnut cake, which I’m convinced was divinely inspired. It literally tasted out of this world. Naturally, when walnut cake was on the menu, as a worker on the farm, I was charged with the role of chief walnut cracker. I developed quite a skill. When you crack a walnut properly and it doesn’t break, it looks a lot like a little brain. How amazing is nature!
Later I have learnt that these ‘little brains’ are true to form. They are inherently good for your brain. Not only delicious as a snack or in a cake, they are actually good for brain health. In fact, walnuts are rich in polyphenols and contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linoleic acid. These are critical for brain health as they reduce oxidative stress and inflammation which can contribute to cognitive decline. In fact, Poulose, Miller & Shukitt-Hale (2014) mentioned in their article that evidence suggests that incorporating walnuts into a healthy diet can slow the process of brain aging and reduce the risk of chronic neurodegenerative disease.
I will never look at walnut cake the same way!
Source: Shibu M. Poulose, Marshall G. Miller, Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Role of Walnuts in Maintaining Brain Health with Age, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 144, Issue 4, April 2014, Pages 561S–566S, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.113.184838