New Research from Harvard Explores Link Between Walnut Consumption and Life Expectancy

According to a study by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, higher walnut consumption –in terms of the amount and frequency – may be associated with a lower risk of death and an increase in life expectancy among older adults in the U.S., compared to non-walnut consumers..

“This study shows that even a few handfuls of walnuts weekly may help promote longevity, especially among those whose diet quality isn’t great to begin with. It’s a practical tip that is feasible for a number of people looking to improve their health, which is top of mind for many people,” said Yanping Li, Senior Research Scientist at the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and lead investigator of this research.

This study, supported by the California Walnut Commission and published in Nutrients, found five or more servings of walnuts weekly (one serving=one ounce) may provide the greatest benefit for mortality risk and life expectancy. Eating five or more servings weekly was associated with a 14% lower risk of death (from any cause), 25% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and a gain in about 1.3 years of life expectancy, compared to those who didn’t consume walnuts. Consuming walnuts two to four times weekly could have benefits, too, with the study finding a 13% lower risk of death overall, 14% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, and a gain in about one year of life, compared to non-walnut consumers.

Interestingly, even among people with a suboptimal diet, as measured by a validated index based on foods and nutrients predictive of chronic disease risk, just a one-half serving daily increase in walnut consumption was associated with benefits, including 12% reduced risk of death and 26% lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, specifically.

For this study, researchers examined data from 67,014 women of the Nurses’ Health Study with an average age of 63.6 years and 26,326 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study aged 63.3 years in 1986 (the first cycle collected data of walnut consumption in both cohorts). Participants were relatively healthy when they joined the studies  and were followed for about 20 years (1998-2018). Dietary intake was assessed every 4 years in which participants reported on their overall dietary intake - including  consumption frequency of walnuts, other tree nuts, and peanuts – as well as lifestyle factors like exercising and smoking. Based on this data, the researchers were able to identify associations between walnut consumption at varying levels and different health indicators related to longevity.

One ounce of walnuts is a powerhouse of important nutrients for optimum health, including protein (4g), fiber (2g), a good source of magnesium (45mg) and an excellent source of the essential omega-3 ALA (2.5g).