God’s Medicine, “Walnuts”

The normal prostate is a small, squishy gland about the size of a walnut. It sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra—the narrow tube that runs the length of the penis and carries both urine and semen out of the body—runs directly through the prostate. The rectum, or lower end of the bowel, sits just behind the prostate and the bladder.

Black walnuts are American natives, but English walnuts have become one of the most popular nuts in the United States. Although all nuts fit into a cancer-preventive diet, walnuts are most studied for cancer. They contain the omega-3 fat – alpha-linolenic acid – which can make walnuts more susceptible to becoming rancid. That’s why you won’t find them in most commercial nut mixes.

Walnuts contain high amounts of polyphenols, phytochemicals that have antioxidant properties. They also contain a broad range of other potentially protective compounds:

Elligitannins, which are broken down to ellagic acid
Gamma-tocopherol, one of several types of vitamin E compounds
Alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid
Polyphenols including flavonoids and phenolic acids
Phytosterols, plant compounds known to help lower blood cholesterol that are under study for their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
Melatonin, a hormone and antioxidant

Walnuts are an excellent source of copper and manganese, and a good source of magnesium.