Eating a handful of walnuts daily boosts certain types of healthy gut bacteria that appear to contribute to cardio, metabolic and gastrointestinal health, according to a study of 18 adults by University of Illinois scientists published in the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers found that eating walnuts increased species of healthy gut bacteria, while decreasing species of unhealthy bacteria. Eating walnuts also improved cholesterol levels.

This article appears in the November 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings.