Black Walnuts scientifically known as Juglans nigra is a species of deciduous tree in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to eastern North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central Texas. Wild trees in the upper Ottawa Valley may be an isolated native population or may have derived from planted trees. Apart from Black walnut it is also known as American walnut and eastern black walnut. Most parts of the tree including leaves, stems, and fruit husks have a very characteristic pungent or spicy odor. Black walnuts are popular food sources in both America and Europe, and can be found in everything from candy, ice cream, fudge, and salads, as well as chicken, pork, and pasta dishes.
Plant
Black walnut is actually a large deciduous hardwood tree growing up to 70 feet tall and 70 feet wide. It is found growing along roadsides, fields, and forest edges in the eastern US. It will grow in closed forests, but is classified as shade intolerant; this means it needs full sun for optimal growth and nut production. It prefers a deep, fertile soil with a near-neutral or slightly acidic ph. It also tolerates relatively dry, poor soils, but with a considerably reduced growth rate. Black walnut tree has a deep & strong taproot as long as 10 feet with typically grey-black bark and deeply furrowed into thin ridges which gives the bark a diamond shaped pattern. It has huge trunk. Under forest competition, it develops a tall and straight trunk and when grown in an open area it has a short trunk and broad crown. Leaves are alternate, compound, 1–2 feet long, with 11–23 leaflets. Leaflets are 3–5 inches long, 1–2 inches wide, broadest below the middle, the end leaflet are smaller than side ones or absent; margin toothed. The leaves are overall dark green in color and are typically paler, hairy on the underside. Flowers are monoecious. The male (staminate) flowers are in drooping catkins 8–10 cm (3 1⁄4–4 in) long. These are borne from axillary buds on the previous year’s growth. The female flowers are terminal, in clusters of two to five on the current year’s growth. Flowering normally takes place from April to May.
Fruit
The fruit of Black Walnut is made of an inner kernel, enclosed by a hard corrugated round shell composed of two fused halves. This in turn is surrounded by a thick outer husk that is green when immature, and yellow-black when ripe. If ripe fruits are picked up, a brown-black dye will easily seep from the moist husk into the skin of your hand, rendering them stained for a couple of days. The kernel is oily, sweet, and edible. It has a robust, distinctive, natural flavor and the peak season of the black walnut is from September to October. Fruiting may begin when the tree is 4–6 years old; however large crops take 20 years. Since black walnuts are popular food sources in both America and Europe, it can be found in everything from candy, ice cream, fudge, and salads, as well as chicken, pork, and pasta dishes.
History
Black walnut is native to eastern North America, where it grows, mostly alongside river banks, from southern Ontario, South Dakota, Northern Florida, Central Texas and even in Canada Black walnut trees are found in forests and are now also cultivated even in Europe for its high quality wood and nuts. Black walnut has a long history of use even from ancient times as a wood source and for its delicious nuts. Currently it is grown throughout the world because of its wonderful nutritional value.
Nutritional value
Apart from their delightful taste, black walnut is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming 125 gram of black walnuts offers 74.16 g of Total Fat, 4.87 mg of Manganese, 1.7 mg of Copper, 641 mg of Phosphorus, 30.08 g of Protein, 251 mg of Magnesium, 0.729 mg of Vitamin B6, 3.9 mg of Iron and 2.075 mg of Vitamin B5. Moreover many Amino acids 0.398 g of Tryptophan, 0.901 g of Threonine, 1.208 g of Isoleucine, 2.105 g of Leucine, 0.891 g of Lysine and 0.584 g of Methionine are also found in 125 gram of Black Walnuts.
Health Benefits of Black Walnut
Also known as Juglans nigra, this dark-colored nut originated from North America. Dating back to thousands of years ago, Native Americans as well as Romans considered it extremely prized for its ability to treat intestinal problems as well as skin disorders. Here’s a close look at the health benefits of black walnut
1. Cancer
Several direct researches have been done on the anti-cancer effects of black walnuts, and the results have been very promising so far. The organic compound juglone found in black walnut, along with many other polyphenolic compounds and fatty acids, contribute to anti-tumor and anti-carcinogenic activity within the body, slowing the growth or preventing the development of numerous types of cancer.(1)
2. Antifungal Action
Candida albicans is a very common agent in the body that causes yeast infections. Candida fungus can easily get into the body, and is exacerbated by poor dietary habits. Black walnut, however, consists of juglone and tannins that can make the environment of the gut very unfriendly to the candida fungus, thus protecting the body from this fungus, which can weaken blood vessel walls and increase toxicity in your bloodstream. This same antifungal action makes black walnut effective against Athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, and other more common fungal infections.(2)
3. Beneficial for Hair
Black walnut holds strong contents of omega fatty acids which help hair follicles to stay strong, smooth and lustrous. Baldness, hair loss, dry hair and dandruff are some of the issues that can be met by proper intake of the black walnuts. You can also maintain the healthy color of your hair due to coloring agents present in it.
4. Expels Parasites
One of the key active components of the black walnut hull is juglone. Juglone exerts its effect by inhibiting certain enzymes required for metabolic function. It’s extremely toxic to many insect herbivores — it’s often used by organic gardeners as a natural pesticide — and researchers have observed that black walnut can expel parasitic worms from the body.
According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, black walnut is quite effective against ringworm, tapeworm, pin or thread worm, as well as other parasites of the intestine. This is why black walnut makes a great addition to any parasite cleanse.(3)
5. Helps with weight loss
Regular consumption of few black walnuts in your diet will help in enhancing your metabolism. These nuts also help in reducing the total fat content. Plus, it also prevents sugar level variations that could prevent you from overeating. To be precise, black walnuts help you shed the excess fat and tone yourself.
6. Immune System Health
Along with its antifungal activity to boost the health of the immune system, black walnut is also rich in antioxidants, meaning that it can considerably contribute to the protection of the body be neutralizing free radicals that can cause particular types of cancer and chronic disease. Black walnut is also antiviral and anti-parasitic in nature, providing a comprehensive defensive line for your body.(4)
7. Improved Reproduction in Men
It is one of the remarkably lesser known benefits of black walnuts. Black walnuts play an important role in the male reproductive system by increasing the male fertility. The sperm quality is improved as it controls the vitality, motility, and morphology of the cells.
8. Digestive Health
Natural anti-inflammatory activity of black walnut makes it ideal for calming upset stomachs, mainly inflamed walls of the colon or gut, which help to normalize the digestive process and regulate excretion. Black walnut is supposed to help relieve both constipation as well as diarrhea, efficiently balancing the body’s entire gastrointestinal system. Some people use black walnuts as a laxative substance in concentrated doses, but this isn’t suggested for extended periods of time.(5)
9. Respiratory Conditions
Gargling with black walnut extract can be effective for soothing sore throats, as the anti-inflammatory nature can relieve irritation and inflammation.(6)
10. Heart Health
High level of omega-3 fatty acids and beneficial compounds contained in black walnuts is vital for heart health. Eating a few extra walnuts each day can help to normalize the cholesterol levels in your body, as omega-3 fatty acids can help to eradicate dangerous LDL cholesterol from the body. This can help to lower your blood pressure, ease tension on your cardiovascular system, decrease the chance of developing atherosclerosis, and thus lowering your risk of heart attack, stroke, and coronary heart disease.(7)
11. Skin Health
By crushing up black walnut husks, a fine powder can be created and made into a paste for the skin. The rich levels of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids can actually impact the health and appearance of skin, preventing blemishes and pimples, preventing acne, and clearing up skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Direct use of the powder tincture may be too strong for the skin, thus it can be mixed in with other carrier creams and natural salves.
12. For Blood Sugar or Diabetes
Dietary fats present in black walnuts are seen to improve your metabolic parameters if you have type-2 diabetes. Commonly, it is seen that if you have obesity, you are likely to have type-2 diabetes.
If regular consumption of black walnuts is done in sufficient quantity, then you can deal with this problem, and it will help you maintain blood sugar levels. This is seen to happen by a reduction in fasting insulin levels.
13. Improves sleep
Black walnuts are a rich source of melatonin, a hormone and antioxidant known to regulate day-night cycles, guard cells and DNA and reduce inflammation levels. Having sufficient melatonin in your system is the key to sleeping better. But because the body decreases production as we age, including either plant sources such as black walnuts or (melatonin) food supplements in your diet might help improve your sleep significantly.
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How to Eat
Consumers include black walnuts in traditional treats, such as cakes, cookies, fudge, and pies, during the fall holiday season.
It is also used in other foods, such as salads, fish, pork, chicken, vegetables and pasta dishes.
Other Traditional uses and benefits of Black Walnuts
Black Walnut has been historically used to get rid of a fever and treat kidney ailments, gastrointestinal concerns, ulcers, toothache, snake bites and syphilis.
Husks of the black walnut contain chemicals that prevent bacterial and fungal growth and may be valuable in controlling dermal, mucosal and oral infections in humans.
Black walnut is useful in the treatment of skin diseases such as herpes and eczema.
Traditionally it is used as a natural remedy for acne, canker sores, psoriasis and other fungal infections.
Juice of the fruit husk may be applied externally as a treatment for ringworm, or applied as a poultice for inflammations.
Oil from the ripe nuts is a traditional remedy for gangrene, leprosy and wounds.
Nuts of the black walnut are supposed to aid in decreasing cholesterol levels and to improve overall heart health and function.
Presence of Omega-3 fatty acids in fruit of the black walnut helps reduce inflammation and promote the function of the lungs; this may give relief from asthma.
An infusion of the bark is used to treat diarrhea and also to stop the production of milk, though a strong infusion can be emetic.
Bark is chewed to calm the pain of toothache and it is also used as a poultice to reduce the pain of headaches.
Husk is chewed in the treatment of colic and applied as a poultice to inflammations.
Burnt kernels, taken in red wine, are said to prevent falling hair, making it fair.
Green husks are supposed to ease the pain of toothache.
Tea made from the leaves is astringent.
An infusion has been used to lower high blood pressure.
Oil from the ripe seeds has been used externally in the treatment of gangrene, leprosy, and wounds.
Sap has been used to treat inflammations.
Other Facts
Black walnut plantings can be made to produce timber, nuts, or both timber and nuts.
Walnut shells are frequently used as an abrasive in sand blasting or other circumstances where medium hardness grit is required.
Hard black walnut shell is also used commercially in abrasive cleaning, a filtering agent in scrubbers in smoke stacks, cleaning jet engines, cosmetics, and oil well drilling and water filtration.
Brown dye is obtained from the nuts, husks and bark.
Green fruit husks can be boiled to provide a yellow dye.
Woody shells on the fruits have been used to make jewelry.
Insects are said to avoid the walnut tree, hence it is often used as a poor man’s insect repellent.
They are also used as an insecticide against bed bugs.
Precautions
For patients with nut allergies, an allergic reaction to black walnut may result in rashes, itchy and swollen skin, hives, chest pain, or problems with breathing.
Black walnut is not recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding women or for extended periods of time.
Caution is advised in patients who take blood pressure measure medication because black walnut may alter the drug.
Fresh green husk can cause irritation and blistering when applied to the skin in excessive quantities.
Taken internally in huge doses, it’s a sedative to the circulation system and heart.
Copious intake of black walnuts can lead to liver and kidney abnormalities and can even lead to their damage.
Uncontrolled consumption of walnuts can lead to weight gain due to its high percentage of energy content.
