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Eating walnuts could benefit adolescents' cognitive development, contribute to psychological maturation (ADHD “Improved significantly”)
Medical Xpress / Barcelona Institute for Global Health / eClinicalMedicine ^ | April 18, 2023 | Ariadna Pinar-Martí et al

Posted on 04/19/2023 9:30:38 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Eating walnuts on a regular basis could benefit the cognitive development of adolescents and contribute to their psychological maturation. These are some of the conclusions reached by a study.

Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic fatty acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 that plays a fundamental role in brain development, especially at this life stage. In the words of Jordi Julvez, "adolescence is a time of great biological changes: Neurons that are well nourished with this type of fatty acids will be able to grow and form new, stronger synapses."

In the study, 700 secondary school students between 11 and 16 years of age from 12 different high schools in Barcelona participated voluntarily. They were randomly divided into two groups: the control group, which received no intervention of any kind, and the experimental group, which received sachets containing 30 grams of walnut kernels, indicating to the young people who participated that they could consume them daily for a period of 6 months.

The research team found that adolescents who ate walnuts for at least 100 days (not necessarily continuously every day) increased their attention functions, and those who had some symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improved their behavior significantly (in class, they paid more attention to the teacher and were less hyperactive).

There was also an increase in functions related to fluid intelligence.

"If boys and girls would heed these recommendations and actually eat a handful of walnuts a day, or at least three times a week, they would notice many substantial improvements in cognitive abilities, and it would help them face the challenges of adolescence and entering adulthood. Adolescence is a period of great brain development and complex behaviors that requires a significant amount of energy and nutrients," concludes Ariadna Pinar.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: ala; walnuts
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A cheap food appears to help kids’ brains, based on how much eaten over time.
1 posted on 04/19/2023 9:30:38 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 04/19/2023 9:31:04 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Why did God make walnuts look like brains?


3 posted on 04/19/2023 9:47:14 PM PDT by Dogbert41
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To: ConservativeMind
”…contribute to psychological maturation.”

Sounds like we need B-52s to carpet bomb the blue states with walnuts.

4 posted on 04/19/2023 9:48:56 PM PDT by noiseman (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Oh, COME ON!

Did the paper you linked suggest how many POUNDS of walnuts kids would have to eat to garner any significant benefit from ALA (’could’ being key word)???


5 posted on 04/19/2023 9:50:55 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

“30 grams”


6 posted on 04/19/2023 9:52:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

I think you’re nuts.


7 posted on 04/19/2023 9:59:19 PM PDT by Delta 21 (MAGA Republican is my pronoun.)
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To: ConservativeMind

At least we know why walnuts are shaped like a brain.


8 posted on 04/19/2023 10:02:06 PM PDT by Jonty30 (Black widow spiders aren't the only species that eats their mate after finishing with them. )
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To: ConservativeMind

Let me guess; the walnuts must be eaten raw and w/o salt in order to obtain that cognitive development benefit.
Correct? I can deal with raw nuts sometimes, but I usually need a little spritz of salt to keep me interested.


9 posted on 04/19/2023 10:04:26 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: ConservativeMind

That makes the paper as fanciful as the labels on chia seed drinks claiming (falsely) the content of omega 3 in mg.

Fact: The most a human will benefit from omega 3 in walnuts is about 1/4 gram per ounce (roughly 28 grams).

Parents are FAR better off feeding their kids FISH, but I’m sure that’s not the result desired from the grant source funding this so-called ‘research’.


10 posted on 04/19/2023 10:21:35 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: logi_cal869

The benefit was taking it at least 100 days.

The benefit could also be from other components in walnuts, which are noted for antioxidants.


11 posted on 04/19/2023 10:25:31 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind
That's not cited in the article. Additionally, to get the same benefit from a child sized portion of salmon (3oz), a kid would have to chow down almost 1/2 pound of nuts.

But the key passage is the following:

Thus, this study demonstrates that following a healthy diet is as important as maintaining these habits over time and not abandoning them for adolescents to develop correctly on a cognitive and psychological level.
I've argued ad nauseam that avoiding harmful foods is more important than supplementing with beneficial foods.

The problem is that orthodoxy is as stubborn & biased as bureaucracy (as is confirmation bias).

12 posted on 04/19/2023 10:51:17 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: ConservativeMind

Squirrels smart little rodents.


13 posted on 04/19/2023 11:35:15 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (“Politicians are not born. They're excreted.” Marcus Tillius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: lee martell

Stir the walnuts in a beaten egg white. The sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake on low temp until dry.


14 posted on 04/20/2023 12:13:36 AM PDT by grame (May you know more of the love of God Almighty this day!)
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To: ConservativeMind

Gives new meaning to “You are what you eat.”

A NUT.


15 posted on 04/20/2023 12:17:40 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: lee martell

“I usually need a little spritz of salt to keep me interested.”

I buy unsalted nuts, spritz with a little olive oil for adhesion of granules and add “No Salt” (potassium chloride).

Five dollars for 11 ounces, and a little goes a long way.


16 posted on 04/20/2023 2:59:10 AM PDT by Does so ( 🇺🇦...................."Who is Ray Epps?" should be overstamped on every piece of currency.)
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To: ConservativeMind

I’m one of these folks that believe ADHD is normal behavior for kids that aren’t stimulated enough by educational system. Rather than provide that stimulation needed it’s easier to drug the kids.


17 posted on 04/20/2023 3:45:54 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: lee martell

I eat raw nuts once in awhile and found beer to be helpful.


18 posted on 04/20/2023 3:48:35 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: ConservativeMind

Basically Kids that live in the rural areas and country areas are more healthier because well they were made to do things like keep busy picking up things like Walnuts off the ground, picking the Walnuts of their healthy meats and eating healthy foods their mom made which might have walnuts in them.
City kids well who knows what they do but probably most of what they do isn’t probably not very healthy.


19 posted on 04/20/2023 6:29:12 AM PDT by ReformedBeckite (1 of 3 I'm only allowing my self each day)
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To: Does so

“Five dollars for 11 ounces, and a little goes a long way”.

I just stumbled on another low/no salt. Brand is “NuSalt”.


20 posted on 04/20/2023 7:30:17 AM PDT by Does so ( 🇺🇦...................."Who is Ray Epps?" should be overstamped on every piece of currency.)
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