The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans highlighted that nuts like walnuts should be included in the diets of adults and kids alike due to their stellar nutrient profile. Walnuts are filled with good-for-you unsaturated fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, that have shown promise in reducing inflammation and supporting heart health, cognition and mental health. But that's not all these tasty nuts are good for.
Walnuts have shown promise in heart health for years thanks to their antioxidant content, but emerging research suggests eating this nut may help bridge nutrient gaps among adults and kids alike. Other research supports their benefits for gut health, memory, mood, blood sugar, reproductive health benefits and more.
While most nuts are considered heart-healthy, walnuts are Heart-Check Certified by the American Heart Association, meaning they meet the organization's criteria for being a "heart-healthy food." This includes being low in sodium, saturated fat and trans-fat and containing at least 10% of the Daily Value for vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber.