WCN Dec e

A WORD FROM THE BOARD: THE CALIFORNIA WALNUT BOARD
Health Research Helps
Drive Consumer
Demand for Walnuts
By CALIFORNIA WALNUT BOARD AND COMMISSION |
Contributing Writer
VENICE HILL
WALNUT NURSERY
Serving South Valley Growers since 1980
Jerry Moore
(559)730-5859
Variet ies:
• Chandler • Tulare • Ivanhoe
Through investment in health research, the California
Walnut Commission (CWC) drives consumer demand
by keeping walnuts and their health benefits top of mind
with consumers and health professionals. This is accomplished
in three important ways: Gives more science-based
reasons for consumers to eat walnuts, especially in top topics
of nutrition interest; builds on the credibility of walnuts as a
nutrient-rich food among health professionals who strongly
influence consumer dietary choices; and appeals to top-tier
media read by consumers.
“The first 15 years of research in heart health led to
walnuts’ qualified health claim* with the FDA and being
the first nut certified with the American Heart Association’s
Heart-Check mark, which we’re proud of, but we
couldn’t stop there. Our mission to further the science on
the health benefits of eating walnuts continues to lead us in
our research,” said Jennifer Olmstead, senior director of U.S.
marketing and communication with the California Walnut
Commission.
With each new study, consumers have more reasons to
add walnuts to their grocery cart, and reporters have a timely
reason to include walnuts in a news story. Two long-term
studies published in 2021 linked walnuts with life longevity
and cardiovascular health. Investing in the research and
sharing the findings also allows the CWC to build and
nurture relationships with registered dietitians and health
reporters.
“Positive results to the health research brings additional
media attention to walnuts and builds awareness to the proven
health benefits,” said Olmstead.
A study led by Yanping Li, Senior Research Scientist at
the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health, found that higher walnut consumption, both
in terms of the amount and frequency, may be associated
with a lower risk of death and an increase in life expectancy
among older adults in the U.S. compared to those who do
not consume walnuts.
This study, supported by the California Walnut Commission,
found eating five or more servings of walnuts per week
(one serving = one ounce) may provide the greatest benefit
for mortality risk and life expectancy. Eating five or more
servings per week was associated with a 14% lower risk of
death (from any cause), 25% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular
diseases and a gain in about 1.3 years of life expectancy,
compared to those who didn’t consume walnuts.
Popular consumer sites and food trade publications
shared headlines like Verywell Health’s “Eating More Walnuts
Could Help You Live Longer,” Martha Stewart’s “Eating
Walnuts Could Lead to a Longer Life, a New Study Says” and
Food Navigators’ “Walnut consumption linked to improved
life expectancy.” Ultimately, news of the studies’ findings
garnered more than two billion impressions, with more than
300 international articles covering the study, generating a
total of 702,843,291 impressions.
Another study that published in August 2021 found an
association between regular daily walnut consumption and
sustained lower levels of cholesterol among 708 healthy
older adults who included walnuts as part of their diet for
74 West Coast Nut December 2021