California Walnuts | Essential Food for Health

4/7/2008: RFP: Marketing Agency for Chinese Market

The California Walnut Commission, headquartered in Folsom, California, will begin conducting activities in the Chinese market in 2008.  The Commission is seeking a Marketing Services Agency/Public Relations Firm and/or Trade Representative to coordinate our marketing/public relations activities and/or act as trade representative for the purpose of maintaining a close working relationship with all levels of the trade, including, but not limited to, the food processing industry (bakers, confectioners, etc), importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and other organizations involved in the channels of commerce, vis-a-vis, walnuts from California.

4/7/2008: RFP: Marketing Services Agency/Trade Representative for Japan

The California Walnut Commission, headquartered in Folsom, California, has conducted marketing activities on behalf of the California walnut industry in Japan since 1987. The Commission has utilized a Marketing Services Agency/Representative for the purpose of maintaining a close working relationship with all levels of the trade, including, but not limited to, the food processing industry (bakers, confectioners, etc.), importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and other organizations involved in the channels of commerce, vis-a-vis, walnuts from California.

4/7/2008: RFP: Marketing Agency/Trade Representative for Korean Market

The California Walnut Commission, headquartered in Folsom, California, has conducted marketing activities on behalf of the California Walnut Industry in Korea since 1995.  The Commission has utilized a marketing services agency to coordinate our marketing/public relations and act as trade representative.

4/1/2008: RFP: Market Research Agency

The California Walnut Board is seeking a market research agency to evaluate consumer buyer behavior in the United States, specifically assessing attitudes and usage among walnut using consumers.

2/19/2008: Walnuts Rank High on New Nutrition Scales

Given the state of the national waistline, the need for better consumer understanding of healthy food choices is clear. We welcome new independent nutrition rating systems that will soon appear in grocery stores and on packaging. While some fear that this will be confusing, our research says that people want more information, presented in a simple, easy-to-understand format.

1/15/2008: WAIST DEEP IN WALNUTS AT THE SUPER BOWL!

94.5 million Walnuts estimated to be purchased. Makeover your party menu with these delicious recipes.

7/2/2007: Mediterranean Diet Enriched with Walnuts also Protects Against Oxidative Damage

Findings from a new study show that a decrease in the oxidative damage to LDL cholesterol is one of the protective mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet exerts a protective effect on coronary heart disease development.

1/17/2007: New Study Shows Walnuts Improve Bone Health

Published in the January 16, 2007, edition of Nutrition Journal Penn State clinical research suggests walnuts, rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, are beneficial to the skeletal system by decreasing the breakdown of bone.

10/10/2006: New Study Shows Eating Walnuts Protects Heart Against Short-Term Damage From Saturated Fat

It appears that there may be another reason to incorporate walnuts into your diet. A new clinical study published in the October 17, 2006 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggests that walnuts, rich in polyunsaturated fats, may protect the body’s arteries from the harm associated with eating a meal high in saturated fat.

7/6/2006: MEDITERRANEAN DIET BETTER THAN A LOW-FAT DIET: Landmark Clinical Study Suggests Including Walnuts May Cut Risk of Heart Disease by 50%

In what’s being hailed as one of the world's largest and longest dietary intervention studies, early results indicate that the so-called Mediterranean diet may reduce the risks of heart attack and cardiovascular disease by up to one half.

2/24/2006: McDonald’s^® USA Receives Distinguished Service Award From California Walnut Commission and Walnut Marketing Board

The California Walnut Commission and Walnut Marketing Board have announced McDonald’s USA as the recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Service Award, the California walnut industry’s highest award. Mark Lepine, director of menu development, McDonald’s USA, was presented with the award at last night’s walnut industry meeting in Carmel in recognition of the company’s introduction of the Fruit & Walnut Salad which includes a packet of candied walnuts to sprinkle on top.

9/13/2005: New Study Shows Melatonin in Walnuts Protective Against Cancer and Heart Disease

Many think melatonin is something you can take to fall asleep after long airplane flights, but scientists are studying how this powerful antioxidant actually fights diseases like cancer, may impact diseases associated with aging and likely will allow people to live healthier lives. Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio has proven walnuts are a natural source of melatonin.

7/6/2005: Further Proof: Walnuts Protective for People with Type 2 Diabetes

A new study done in Australia shows that eating a handful of walnuts every day can help patients with type 2 diabetes achieve recommended intakes for polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as omega-3s), critical to protecting the heart. Findings of this study are published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA), under the title, “Structured Dietary Advice Incorporating Walnuts Achieves Optimal Fat and Energy Balance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.”

6/22/2005: Omega-3s in Walnuts a Wise Choice, Important News for Pregnant and Post-Partum Women

Whether pregnant or not, if you are trying to consume essential omega-3 fatty acids, and you are concerned about the mercury content in some fish, plant food sources of omega-3s, such as walnuts, are an effective option. Just one ounce of walnuts - a handful - contains 2.5 grams of omega-3s, which more than satisfies the recommendation by the Food Nutrition Board of the National Academies' Institute of Medicine that women consume 1.1 grams per day of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).

4/20/2005: MyPyramid Plan: Fat Smarts Required Omega-3s in Walnuts a Wise Choice

Including healthy fats in your diet is one of the key messages of the new individualized "MyPyramid Plan" announced yesterday by the USDA. The new symbol and interactive food guidance system incorporate recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which stress the need for consumers to be more aware of the benefits of polyunsaturated fat in order to achieve a healthy diet. When it comes to this subject, more people need to know fish are not the only source of essential fatty acids.

3/15/2005: Beneficial Effects of Alpha-Linolenic Acid in Walnuts Discussed by Leading Researchers

The recently-announced USDA dietary guidelines stress the need for consumers to be more aware of the benefits of polyunsaturated essential omega-3 fatty acids in order to achieve a healthy diet. Many people look to fish, such as salmon, for omega-3s, but plant sources such as walnuts are also specifically noted in the USDA recommendations.

1/12/2005: New Dietary Guidelines: Fat Smarts Required

January 12, 2005 - The announcement today by the USDA stresses the need for consumers to be more aware of the benefits of polyunsaturated fat in order to achieve a healthy diet. When it comes to this subject, more people need to know fish are not the only source of essential fatty acids. The guidelines suggest that people consume the majority of their daily fat calories from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts are specifically noted.

12/1/2004: Study Shows Walnuts Protective for People with Type 2 Diabetes

A new study done in Australia shows that, for patients with type 2 diabetes, a whole foods diet including walnuts can reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol by 10%. Findings of this new study are published in the December 2004 issue of Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), under the title, “Including Walnuts in a Low Fat/Modified Fat Diet Improves HDL Cholesterol-to-Total Cholesterol Ratios in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.”

11/8/2004: New Proof: Walnuts Show Multiple New Heart Health Benefits

Results of a new study from The Pennyslvania State University show that consuming walnuts significantly reduces inflammatory markers for cardiovascular disease - specifically, C-reactive protein and harmful plaque adhesion molecules. The article, "Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acid Reduces Inflammatory and Lipid Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hypercholesterolemic Men and Women," is published in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

5/27/2004: Walnuts Top the Chart as Plant Food Source Rich in Omega-3s

Although the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have captured media and public attention, many consumers are not aware that walnuts are a convenient and delicious plant source of these essential fatty acids. Our bodies can’t create omega-3 fatty acids, so we have to get them from the foods we eat.

4/26/2004: New Study from Barcelona, Spain Shows Eating Walnuts Reduces Artery Damage

A new clinical study shows that substituting walnuts for monounsaturated fat in a Mediterranean diet improves, and even restores, endothelial function (the property of arteries to dilate in order to meet an increased demand of blood, for instance due to a physical effort). Walnuts also reduce harmful cell adhesion molecules which are associated with atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. These dual effects enhance the circulatory system, therefore aiding in the prevention of heart disease.

3/31/2004: FDA Awards Walnuts the First Qualified Health Claim for a Whole Food

The Food and Drug Administration today announced that a qualified health claim will soon appear on product labels for walnuts and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease. This qualified health claim is part of the FDA's initiative to provide Americans with better information to help them make healthier dietary choices.