walnuts

In the beginning, folk medicine used walnuts to treat earache, ringworm, warts, toothache, boils, poison ivy, nd constipation. Many of these claims may be the legend, but walnuts truly are a treat for your heart. They are about 60% fat, most of it is healthy monounsaturated fat. This type of fat helps keep your cholesterol and blood pressure down and your arteries clear. These little nuggets of nutrition are also high in protein, minerals like copper and manganese, antioxidants like glutathione. Their healthy fats make them good food for your brain, helping to protect your memory into old age.

Even though walnuts, especially black walnuts- can be tough nuts to crack, do not leave them out of your diet. You can bake them into a fruit cake, mix them in ice cream, or eat them straight from the shell.

Nuts are good for your heart and walnuts lead the pack. The healthy fats in walnuts make them heart-helpers.

• Brings down cholesterol.
• Caps off high blood pressure. Consuming foods high in omega 3 fatty foods such as fish lowers blood pressure. If you don't like fish, get your omega-3s from walnuts, flaxseeds, canola oil, r soybean oil.
• Reduces chances of heart attacks.

Along with good fats, walnuts also give you glutathione. Your body uses this antioxidant to boost immunity and stop cell damage, possibly reducing your risk of heart disease.

Once you buy walnuts in a shell, you have the job of setting them free. To easily crack them: Cover them with water in a pan and bring to boil. Remove them from heat and let them sit for 15 minutes. Once they cool, then get cracking. Walnuts contain lots of fat, so store them carefully to keep them from going rancid.

Store them in a cool dry place and they will last for months. Lastly, keep shelled walnuts in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer.