Health & Beauty

Walnuts have always been considered a “brain food”, perhaps because the surface structure of the walnut has a crinkly appearance similar to that of the brain. Due to this reason, they have been considered as a symbol of intelligence, leading to the belief that they actually increase one’s intellect.

 

While this is not exactly true, recent scientific studies have proven that the consumption of walnuts does help in promoting brain function. They contain omega-3 fatty acids that increase the activity of the brain.

 

Often the simplest foods are best for your health and this is certainly the case when it comes to walnuts. Mother Nature has crafted a nearly perfect package of protein, healthy fats, fibre, plant sterols, antioxidants, and many vitamins and minerals. 

 

The outermost layer of a shelled walnut – the whitish, flakey part – has a bitter flavour, but resist the urge to remove it. It’s thought that up to 90 percent of the antioxidants in walnuts are found in the skin, making it one of the healthiest parts to consume. To increase the positive impacts on your health, look for raw nuts that are not pasteurised. 

 

When the walnuts are ready to be harvested, they are mechanically rocked from the trees, brushed into windrows and conveyed with sweepers and an elevator into the hopper. A tank-like machine, weighing tonnes and sounding destructive, is driven up to each tree where its long arms grab the trunk. The driver pulls a lever and the shaking begins. “It’s a good way to vent one’s frustration, I guess. The ground shakes and the trees certainly vibrate, but there’s no evidence that we know of to suggest there’s any detrimental effect on the trees,” says the walnut grower in the book, From Paddock to Plate. ‘There’s two seconds of shaking and it’s all over. That’s two seconds per tree.’