Are Walnuts Good for Diabetes? Yes, Provided You Don’t go Nuts With Walnuts!

Walnuts: Nutritional Profile

Advantages of Walnuts for Diabetes

• Walnuts are low in carbs, the nutrient that raises blood sugar levels more than protein and fat. The glycemic index (GI, a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels) of walnuts is low. This makes walnuts suitable for consumption in type 2 diabetes. 
• Walnuts have a good amount of protein (65%) and fat (15%). This helps walnuts prevent sudden spikes in sugar levels and keep them in check.
• Walnuts contain a good amount of dietary fiber, keeping you full for longer and slowing down the digestion process, thus lowering blood sugar spikes in the process. 
• Walnuts are a rich source of the healthy omega-3 fat alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). ALA may help reduce inflammation, which is tied to diabetes.

Ways to Consume Walnuts for Diabetes

• Eat them as is: Eat a small handful of walnuts at snack time, or pair it with a small piece of fruit.
• Chop them up: Chop a handful of walnuts and add them into your salad, oatmeal, or yogurt.
• Roast them: Roast walnuts and add them to your main meals such as vegetables, pasta, and rice.

You can also try the following recipes with walnuts. It is recommended that you soak them in water overnight before using them in these recipes.

• Banana, date, and walnut smoothie: Combine 200 ml of milk, half a banana, a date, an ounce of walnuts, and blend it. This rich and nutritious smoothie will fill you up and provide several vital nutrients.
• Mango-walnut yogurt with chia seeds: Get some fresh yogurt. Mix two tablespoons of chia seeds to it. Peel and chop half a mango into the yogurt, and add an ounce of chopped walnuts. Enjoy your creamy yogurt with a crunchy twist.

Best Time to Eat Walnuts for Diabetes

Soaking walnuts overnight and consuming them in the morning is one of the best ways to consume walnuts. After that, you can add it to your breakfast smoothie or oatmeal. Walnuts can be consumed at any time of the day, either by themselves as snacks, or by adding them to your main meals. 

How Many Walnuts Can Diabetics Consume in a Day?

Diabetics may have one ounce of walnuts in a day. One ounce of walnuts equals about 7 whole walnuts or 14 walnut halves. Since walnuts are high in calories, it is advised not to exceed the recommended serving size for a day. 

Risks of Overconsumption of Walnuts for Diabetes

• Walnuts are dense in calories. Thus, eating too many of them may contribute to weight gain. 
• As walnuts have high fiber content, overconsumption can cause gas, bloating, and stomach pain. 
• Walnuts are also known to be a natural laxative, and eating too many may cause diarrhea. 
• Due to their rich oxalate (a naturally occurring molecule found in plants) content, eating too many walnuts may contribute to the formation of kidney stones. 

Therefore, you should always moderate your consumption of walnuts to avoid these health complications. 

Other Health Benefits of Walnuts

• Walnuts are rich in several bioactive components that may have anticancer properties, including phytosterols, gamma-tocopherol, and omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, walnuts can help prevent cancer. 
• The high antioxidants and omega -3 fatty acids in walnuts can improve your brain health. 
• The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids found in walnuts can help prevent heart diseases by lowering LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels, also known as bad cholesterol. 
• The omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants in walnuts make it good for the well-being of your skin and hair.