Elixir de noix

Composition of virgin walnut oil:
* Monounsaturated acids: 20%
* Saturated acids: 10%
* Oleic acid: 25%
* Linoleic acid: 55%
* Linolenic acid: 3%
* Palmitic acid: 5%
* Stearic acid: 3%
A study demonstrates that regular consumption of walnuts, which are rich in polyunsaturated fats, decreases cardiovascular risks substantially. Walnuts are the most nutritional dried fruits and are thus effective when great physical effort is needed. Its proteins are of good quality. They are however reproached for their high fat content. In a walnut diet, we observed a decrease in the total cholesterol count by 12.4%, LDL cholesterol (atherogenic cholesterol) by 16.3%, while the HDL protective level was only slightly affected (down 4.9%). Today we know that walnuts hold polyunsaturated fats of the Omega 3 series, with antithrombogenic virtues. It would be interesting to extend this work to almonds and hazelnuts. Finally, another nutritional asset of walnuts is their high fibre content.
Walnut oil is the richest in polyunsaturated fatty acids, the most active to this respect (only that of grape seed is slightly higher, while it can only be extracted chemically, thus decreasing its value in terms of vitamins). Its distribution is excellent while it is also the lowest in saturated fatty acids. Virgin walnut oil therefore constitutes a first-rate anti-cholesterol nutrient with its fruity flavour highly sought by a majority of gastronomers. It does however present three disadvantages, although minor. It is not well distributed, a bit costly and can only be used cold or slightly heated..
Do walnuts have anti-cholesterol properties? They contain polyunsaturated fats, those with the merit of not building up the wall of arteries. According to studies conducted in the U.S., walnut oil consumption is said to offer protection against cardiovascular disease by lowering the bad cholesterol level (LDL). The problem lies in the fact that in order to obtain such a result, it is necessary to follow a walnut diet, as it was the case for the volunteers of the US studies, which means replacing all dietary fats with walnut oil and consuming the most nutritional dried fruits several times a week.