Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 9/26/14

Walnuts are known to be a rich source of disease-fighting nutrients; they are often labeled a “superfood” and are key components of the Mediterranean diet. Yet as much as science has revealed about the health benefits of walnuts, their phytochemical makeup in large has remained a mystery to this point.

Researchers with North Carolina State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute have developed a unique methodology for exploring walnut phytochemicals – the health-conveying compounds, like antioxidants, that occur naturally in plants. This new research approach is expected to create unprecedented research opportunities that will lead to a greater understanding of the walnut’s impact on human health.