The walnut is one of the most popularly consumed nuts in the world. It is renowned for the many nutritious benefits that it offers, and many people like walnuts because of their unique and distinctive taste.
The walnut is simply the edible seed that falls from the drupe, so it is not technically a botanical nut.
Once it has ripened fully, many people tend to remove the shell from the walnut and then use it as a snack or a garnish.
When we talk about walnuts, most people usually imagine the complex taste of the nut itself; it is a bit fruity, a bit tarty, and of course, the earthen smell and flavor is hard to ignore as well.
However, understanding its unique and distinctive flavor is important. To actually figure out the taste of the walnuts, you need to first explore the numerous components, including the mild tannins and the polyunsaturated fats that are included in the product.
More importantly, you might have noticed that some walnuts are slightly more bitter than the others. The bitterness of the walnut is caused due to the thin skin that covers them.
The sun also contains bioflavonoids, and you might have noticed that certain varieties of walnuts are slightly more bitter than others.
For instance, the black walnuts are more bitter than the English walnut, which is the regular name given to the walnut.
If you simply toast the walnut at around 350 degrees in your oven, you will be able to get the skin off of it. The bitter taste will also be removed to a considerable degree.
Once you have roasted them, you should consider using a lint-free towel to rub the walnuts properly to get rid of all the skin that might be causing a bitter taste.
Another reason why walnuts usually taste bitter is oxidation. Oxidation, in a broader sense of the word, can be defined as any process in which oxygen combines with a particular substance or element, such as the rusting of iron or the burning of wood. With time, the electrons are removed from the atoms or ions.
Oxidation is a degenerative process, as you can understand. So, if oxidation starts in your walnuts, it might be a wise idea on your part to avoid eating them. They could lead to some serious harmful effects in the longer term.
Ideally, you should take a small bite from a walnut first to determine whether it tastes alright before continuing further.
In any batch, you are likely to find a few walnuts that are slightly bitter. This is mainly because the tannin levels in the walnut are much higher when compared with other nuts.
If you are quite familiar with walnuts in general and realize that one particular batch tastes much worse than the others, you might want to stop eating and check another. It’s important that you avoid eating walnuts that have gone bitter.
Try removing the paper-like skin from the walnuts to see if that changes the taste. But, if that doesn’t do the trick, then you can rest assured that oxidation has set into the walnut, and it might be a wise idea to avoid eating them altogether.
However, despite a few bad ones in the batch, most other walnuts are likely to retain their original, earthy flavor.
So, needless to say, consuming the walnuts is a fantastic idea. Also, you need to know that walnuts offer a variety of advantages to people who eat them on a regular basis.
This is one of the healthiest nuts available in the market, and here are just a few reasons why you should be eating them consistently.
High Amounts of Antioxidants
One of the reasons why you should consume walnuts on a regular basis is because the amount of antioxidant activity in a walnut is much higher than any other nut that you will find in the market.
That’s because it contains vitamin E, melatonin, as well as a bunch of polyphenols, which are also known as plant compounds.
More importantly, according to one study, it was shown that consuming walnuts also helped reduce the build-up of LDL, also known as the bad cholesterol.
Decreases Inflammation
Another interesting advantage that you get for eating walnuts on a regular basis is that it reduces inflammation by a significant margin.
Inflammation is often at the root of a number of different diseases, and can lead to some pretty serious problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s.
The polyphenols that are found in walnuts can do a wonderful job of reducing inflammation in your body and can also combat oxidative stress by a significant margin.
Promotes Healthy Gut
Another excellent advantage that you get for consuming walnuts is that it promotes a healthy gut.
If your gut already contains bacteria that promotes health, your health is going to improve and your gut will be stronger. Needless to say, what you eat makes up a considerable amount of the micro-bacteria found in your gut.
According to one study, adults who consumed a bit of walnuts on a daily basis reported an increase in the beneficial bacteria found in their gut when compared with those who didn’t eat the walnuts.
This just shows that walnuts can improve your overall quality of life and your health as well.
Supports Weight Loss
Walnuts might contain quite a few calories, but according to a few studies, it was revealed that the amount of energy absorbed via walnuts is around 21% lower than what you would expect based on their nutrient count.
On top of that, you should know that consuming walnuts on a regular basis is also going to help you control your appetite.
Ultimately, as your appetite decreases, you will be eating less, and this is going to improve weight control and may even lead to subsequent weight loss as a result.
These are just a few things that you should know about walnuts, their taste, and their advantages!
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.