DavidWolfe.comIt’s pretty well-known these days: Nuts are superfoods. For one thing, they are loaded with nutrients while low in calories, making them an optimal healthy snack. The benefits from nuts will amaze, and black walnut benefits rise above the curve.
Walnuts, in general, can help fight depression, improve brain health, and boost heart health. But the black walnut, in particular, provides some amazing natural health benefits for the body, thanks to the powerful healing compounds it contains.
Specifically, black walnuts contain flavonoids, quinones and polyphenols. These compounds have powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Further, some black walnut benefits include improved skin health, improved cardiovascular health, powerful anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, and even cancer protection.
Black Walnut Benefits
1. Expels Parasites
Black walnut benefits include the ability to expel parasites from the body. Black walnut contains juglone, an active component that helps inhibit certain enzymes needed for metabolic function. Juglone is toxic to insects. A study conducted at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia found that black walnut benefits include the ability to help expel ringworm, tapeworm, pin or thread worm and other intestinal parasites. (1)
2. Promotes Healthy Skin
Black walnut benefits include healthy skin. Black walnut contains tannins, which have an astringent effect. They work to tighten the outer layer of the skin as well as the mucous membranes to relieve skin irritation. You can reap these benefits by applying the oil topically to help rid the body of warts, eczema, acne, psoriasis and poison ivy. But be cautious: walnuts can also cause skin irritation. (2, 3)
3. Improves the Cardiovascular System
Thanks to the antioxidants it contains, black walnut benefits include improved cardiovascular health. You see, black walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid or ALA. ALA is a healthy omega-3 fat. Since this essential fat can help reduce rates of coronary artery disease, then eating walnuts on a regular basis also can help protect the body from coronary heart disease, as studies suggest. In addition, the nutrients in black walnuts may decrease serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol. (4)
4. Has Anti-Fungal and Antimicrobial Activity
Another striking lack walnut health benefits include anti-fungal and antimicrobial activity. Studies have shown that juglone exhibited anti-fungal activity similar to commercial anti-fungal agents. It can help clear up fungal or bacterial infections both externally and internally. Black walnut can also help reduce chronic constipation, hemorrhoids and other intestinal problems. (5)
5. Helps Protect Against Cancer
In addition, black walnut benefits include the ability to help protect the body against cancer. In this case, the quinones in black walnuts provide anticancer activity in the body. Juglone, which is found in the leaves, roots and bark of black walnut trees, has been used in China to treat liver, lung, and gastric cancer. This compound works by blocking potassium channels to inhibit transcription in cancer cells. What does that mean? Well, that means that cancer cells dies. In fact, a recent study found that juglone has the ability to promote cell death in human colorectal cells. Considering that black walnut contains a significant amount of juglone, it may be a potential cancer-fighting food. (6)
One way to extract juglone from black walnuts is to make a tincture using the hulls. As you’ve seen, juglone offers many benefits. Of course, eating walnuts is a delicious option!