You know that my grandmother used to tell me this. The foods that resemble any of your body parts are beneficial for that. Earlier I used to laugh at her. But guys, it’s a fact! I was surprised to know about this when our team researched the same and we had interviews with many dietitians and nutritionists.
Is it just the shape of the walnut that makes walnuts so beneficial for the brain, like the saying ” you are what you eat, ”implying that you will benefit from what you eat in your body?
If you consume junk, your body will eventually become a junkyard, and if you consume good, healthy foods, your body will resonate with the same characteristics. Here, I’ll tell you the benefits of eating walnuts and why it looks like a brain.
Benefits of Consuming Walnuts
Walnuts are now considered superfoods; they are also sometimes called brain nuts. Walnuts have various properties that make them superfoods, like the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for bodily functions like the brain and nervous system.
When brain cells are exposed to a sufficient amount of omega-3, they are better at sending and receiving electrical signals and improve brain functioning overall.
If the levels of omega-3 are low in the brain, then it can lead to depression as well as cognitive degeneration. Eating walnuts regularly or at well-fixed intervals will help you maintain your grey cells and keep your spirits up.
There are many benefits of eating walnuts, such as helping to cure insomnia and sleeplessness as they increase the level of melatonin. Walnuts are also very beneficial because they are replete with alpha-linolenic acid, which also helps to maintain blood flow in the brain.
The Icy Whiz team interviewed Dr. Mrinal Pandit, a registered dietitian, clinical nutritionist, and certified nutritional counselor at Oliva Skin and Hair Clinic on this topic. Here is what she had to say:
“Food mimicking body parts refers to the resemblance between certain foods and specific human body parts, often touted for their purported health benefits related to that body part.
Some cultures and conventional medicine systems believe that foods resembling body parts can provide targeted health benefits to those respective organs or systems.
Impact on Nutritional Value
- Limited Scientific Evidence: While anecdotal evidence and cultural beliefs may support the idea of food mimicking body parts, there is limited scientific evidence to validate these claims.
- Nutritional Composition: The nutritional value of foods mimicking body parts varies widely based on their actual nutrient content rather than their visual resemblance to specific body parts.
- Overall Health Benefits: While certain foods may offer health benefits due to their nutrient profile, these benefits are not necessarily tied to their resemblance to specific body parts.
Examples and Insights into Nutritional Value
Carrots for Eye Health
- Resemblance: Carrots are often associated with eye health due to their resemblance to the human eye.
- Nutritional Value: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, essential for vision health. Additionally, carrots contain antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the eyes from oxidative damage.
Walnuts for Brain Health
- Resemblance: Walnuts resemble the human brain, with their two hemispheres and wrinkled appearance.
- Nutritional Value: Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols, which have been associated with cognitive function, memory, and brain health.
Tomatoes for Heart Health
- Resemblance: Tomatoes are sometimes likened to the human heart due to their shape and color.
- Nutritional Value: Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation. Additionally, tomatoes provide vitamins C and K, potassium, and fiber, which support heart health.
Celery for Bone Health
- Resemblance: Celery stalks are long and cylindrical, resembling bones.
- Nutritional Value: Celery is a good source of vitamin K, which plays a role in bone metabolism and calcium regulation. Additionally, it contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which contribute to bone health.”
You Must Also Know the History of Walnuts and Brain Health
Walnuts are superfoods from the old generation, and they can be dated back to as long ago as the era of the dinosaurs. Persian walnuts have also been well-researched and are known for their rich flavor and high-quality wood. Even in Roman ancestral times, we can find people eating walnuts.
There is a very interesting story in Greek mythology about walnuts. The immortal titan Prometheus gave his brother a walnut shell to create a whole civilization, as this shell was supposed to contain all the secrets of human life.
There has also been evidence found about walnuts being used as contraceptives by the Romans and Egyptians. They believed that if you consumed a walnut before having sex, you could prevent pregnancy. However, any such measure is not scientifically proven; it is just a cultural belief or folk medicine.
In an interview with the Icy Whiz team, Robbie Puddick RNutr, Content and SEO Lead – Registered Nutritionist at Second Nature Health, debunks food-body parts myths. Here is what he had to say:
“To be honest, this is complete and utter nonsense. There’s no scientific basis for the proposition that foods that look like our specific body parts are explicitly beneficial for that body part.
Yes, walnuts may contain nutrients that benefit our brains, but this hasn’t been ‘designed’ by nature. It’s a complete coincidence, and walnuts contain many other beneficial compounds for other parts of our body and overall health.
This is the kind of myth that food and diet influencers thrive on as it promotes simple solutions to complex problems. ‘Struggling with focus and attention? Add three walnuts to your day and thrive!’
No. No. No. No. Our health is a multi-faceted endeavor, and different foods complement each other to promote health through our diet.
We will always want a quick fix. Our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance.
So, when we see a post by a charlatan influencer promoting the benefits of kangaroo testicles as a way to promote a higher sperm count, we’ll take it before we commit to the effort of a healthy overall lifestyle that takes time, effort, and discipline to maintain over the long term.”
I’ll Tell You Some Other Benefits of Consuming Walnuts
There are a lot of other benefits of eating walnuts that are not just for your brain.
- Walnuts have cardiovascular benefits, as they are high in fiber, which binds to cholesterol and prevents its accumulation on the walls of the arteries.
- Walnuts can also lower the levels of bad cholesterol, also known as LDL or low-density lipoprotein. They contain ellagic acid, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Walnuts also reduce insulin resistance, so that the blood sugar level lowers after eating food and it is helpful for people who have type two diabetes or problems like obesity or high blood pressure.
- Research has also shown that walnuts help benefit sperm morphology and motility, thus increasing the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
- Studies have also been done to understand walnuts’ anti-cancer benefits. Regular consumption can reduce the chance of cancer by 35%, increasing the antioxidant level of blood, which helps with colon cancer.
We interviewed Gabrielle Yap, Senior Editor at Carnivore Style, on food mimicking body parts concept. Here is what she said:
“As a Senior Editor at Carnivore Style, I believe the concept of “food mimicking body parts” can be intriguing, but it’s essential to approach it with caution, especially regarding its health implications.
While it’s fascinating how certain foods bear resemblances to specific body parts, such as walnuts resembling brains, it’s crucial not to overstate the nutritional significance solely based on appearance.
Nutritional value is determined by various factors, including macronutrient composition, micronutrient content, and bioavailability.
For instance, while walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants beneficial for brain health, their resemblance to brains doesn’t directly correlate with their nutritional impact on brain function.
Similarly, foods like carrots, often associated with improving eyesight due to their resemblance to eyes, provide essential nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamin A, but their consumption alone won’t guarantee optimal vision.
Balancing cultural beliefs with scientific evidence is imperative in navigating such associations. While cultural beliefs may attribute certain foods to specific health benefits based on symbolism or tradition, it’s essential to critically evaluate these claims through scientific research.
For example, while traditional Chinese medicine associates foods like ginseng with vitality and energy, scientific studies have explored its potential health benefits, such as its antioxidant properties and its role in improving cognitive function.
Human associations of certain foods with body parts and health benefits stem from cultural, historical, and symbolic contexts. Across different cultures, food symbolism often reflects beliefs about health, vitality, and overall well-being.
For instance, in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, certain spices like turmeric are believed to promote digestive health and reduce inflammation, reflecting cultural perceptions of food as medicine.”
Other Food Resemblances to the Human Body- I’m Sure You Want to Know About This
Just like walnuts resemble the brain in appearance and are very useful for its proper functioning, there are a few other fruits or vegetables that resemble body parts. Let’s learn about a few more.
Carrots
If you dice carrots in circular pieces and look at them from the top, they will resemble the pupils of your eyes. So, according to the rule, they must be good for your eyes. And so it is: carrots are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that prevent quick macular degradation, which can lead to poor vision in people. Isn’t this surprising?
Citrus Fruits
Looking at a half-sliced lemon or grapefruit, you will find it closely resembling human breasts. They contain limonoids, which are substances that inhibit the development of cancer. So this prevents breast cancer in humans.
Tomatoes
If you slice a tomato into two halves, you will see it has different chambers, like a heart. So, tomatoes are very good for the heart and beneficial for cardiac health if you consume them regularly. Also, they contain lycopene, which is essential for the good working of your heart.
Gingers
The shape of ginger resembles that of the stomach, and you must have seen a lot of people consuming ginger ale to calm their stomachs. So, the main ingredient of ginger is known as gingerol. Gingerol is what makes it so pungent, but it has the characteristic of actually preventing nausea and vomiting.
Beetroots
The shape of a beetroot closely resembles our pancreas. As science may help to see, these have beta carotenes, which help protect the body’s different tissues, including the pancreas and others. They also assist in delaying the process of aging and preventing cancer.
Avocados
Although avocado has recently become another superfood, when you slice it open, you will observe that it actually looks like a uterus. It contains folic acid, which helps with the body’s reproductive health and again proves the logic of shape resemblance.
Lisa Richards, Nutritionist at The Candida Diet, talked to the Icy Whiz team about the nutritional value of foods mimicking body parts and their impact on health. Here is what she said:
“Foods that resemble specific body parts are often cited in traditional medicine and folklore as having curative properties for those parts of the body.
While scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited, some of these foods do offer nutritional benefits that can support overall health. Here are a few examples:
- Carrots for eyes: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which is essential for eye health. Adequate vitamin A intake can help maintain good vision and prevent conditions like night blindness.
- Walnuts for the brain: Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols, which have been associated with improved cognitive function and brain health. Regular consumption of walnuts may support memory, concentration, and overall brain function.
- Tomatoes for heart: Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, vitamin C, and potassium, which have been linked to cardiovascular health benefits. Lycopene, in particular, has antioxidant properties that may help reduce the risk of heart disease by protecting against oxidative damage.
- Celery for bones: Celery is a good source of vitamin K, which plays a vital role in bone health by assisting in calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Adequate vitamin K intake can help maintain strong and healthy bones.”
In summary, the visual resemblances between certain foods and human body parts are interesting. They don’t directly dictate the health benefits those foods provide. While walnuts may resemble brains and benefit brain health, their nutritional value goes beyond appearance.
Similarly, other foods like carrots, citrus fruits, tomatoes, gingers, beetroots, and avocados offer unique health benefits unrelated to their resemblance to specific body parts.
Ultimately, focusing on foods’ nutritional content and health benefits rather than their appearance is key to making informed dietary choices for overall well-being.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on May 17, 2024 by Pragya
Authors
I felt really enthusiastic while reading this, the history of the walnuts captured my special attention and was maintained by the other fruits’ and vegetables” resemblances to our body parts.
Fascinating read! The intriguing parallels between a walnut and the human brain invite contemplation on nature’s intricate design.
I found this article on the fascinating connection between walnuts and brain health really intriguing. It’s impressive how walnuts, often referred to as ‘brain nuts,’ pack omega-3 fatty acids crucial for brain and nervous system functions. The explanation about how omega-3 enhances the brain’s electrical signals and the benefits of regular walnut consumption, including maintaining grey cells and improving mood, was enlightening. The article also touched on additional perks like aiding in insomnia and supporting blood flow to the brain.
Very intriguing. I didn’t know there are other foods other than walnuts that resemble our body parts. The History of Walnuts and Brain Health is very interesting to read.
It’s remarkable how God created nuts like our brains, and the best thing is that it’s really good for our brains. Your article created a kind of realization in me that nature is extremely intelligent and provides us with so many hints about the utilization of its created things, such as how green vegetables are good for our hearts because the color of the heart chakra is green.
If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees.
Nature is impressive as well mysterious. I did not pay any attention in those facts before. Really edifying article.
Compelling exploration! Walnuts, dubbed “brain nuts,” offer numerous benefits, especially for cognitive health. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, they enhance brain function and help combat depression. The historical roots of walnuts, dating back to dinosaur times, add intrigue. Besides brain health, walnuts contribute to cardiovascular well-being, reduce bad cholesterol, aid diabetes management, and potentially have anti-cancer properties. The walnut’s uncanny resemblance to the brain underscores nature’s intriguing connections between food and bodily benefits.
This article navigates the intriguing relationship between the shape of walnuts and their impact on brain health, emphasizing the importance of nutritional benefits over mere resemblances while shedding light on similar symbolic connections between various foods and different body parts
Dive into the intriguing world of walnuts with Anushree Khandelwal’s exploration of why they resemble the brain. Unravel the secrets behind walnuts being hailed as superfoods, earning them the nickname “brain nuts.”
The article delves into the rich benefits of consuming walnuts, emphasizing their abundance in omega-3 fatty acids. Unveiling the connection between omega-3 and improved brain function, Khandelwal makes a compelling case for walnuts as guardians of grey cells.
From tackling depression to enhancing cognitive health, the piece unfolds the myriad advantages of including walnuts in your diet. A thought-provoking read that connects the dots between walnut shapes and brain benefits, making you reconsider the saying “you are what you eat.”
By exploring the rich history of walnuts and their association with brain health, the author provides a compelling narrative that combines ancient beliefs with modern scientific understanding. The article elucidates the numerous advantages of consuming walnuts, emphasizing their superfood status and their impact on brain function. The correlation between omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts and enhanced brain cell activity is particularly well-explained, offering readers a clear understanding of the science behind the claim.
This article beautifully connects the unique shape of walnuts to their profound impact on brain health. The discussion on the historical significance of walnuts, dating back to ancient times, adds depth to the understanding of their superfood status. The exploration of other fruits and vegetables resembling body parts and their specific health benefits is a fascinating addition. The article not only answers the intriguing question of why walnuts look like brains but also emphasizes the broader spectrum of health benefits associated with their consumption.