A Walnut is an edible seed that you can get from a walnut tree. It comes under the Juglandaceae family and Juglans genus. You may be confused between drupes and English walnuts or Persian walnuts ( uglans Regia ) because of their similar appearance.
But walnuts are like the fruit – drupes, but they are known as drupe-like nuts. Generally, a Walnut is not considered a proper botanical nut. You have to wait for the Walnut to ripen fully, and then you can eat the kernel of the Walnut through its hard outer shell.
From the article below, you can get all kinds of information about walnuts, like – walnut in Kannada, their cost, nutritional value, health benefits of walnuts, types, availability, and popularity in the local area, and many more.
| English name | Walnut or royal nut |
| Kannada name | Akrodu or Arkodu or Acrota |
| Scientific name | Juglans regia |
| Family | Juglandaceae |
| Subfamily | Juglandaceae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Genus | Juglans |
| Tribe | Juglandeae |
| Order | Fagales |
Walnut in Kannada
Akrodu, Arkodu, or Acrota are some Kannada names for walnut, the most utilized terms among Kannada people walnuts. Walnut is a widespread and well-known name among all the Indian people. But people of the rural Kannad area may not understand the typical English expression. You have to use Akrodu or Arkodu, or Acrota for better communication.
Suppose you are in a restaurant in a city or town in a Kannada -telling area ( Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, etc. ) exploring local dishes; they can recognize the name walnut. You can find various delicious walnut recipes on the menus of those restaurants.
Health benefits of Walnut
There are so many health benefits you can get from Walnut. Some of the essential health benefits by walnuts are –
1. Walnuts work as anti-cancer agents
They can fight against cancer and reduce its high risks. Some antioxidants and omega – 3 fatty acids are high in walnuts. So they help to prevent dangerous diseases like cancer. Walnuts are beneficial for breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.
2. Walnuts help keep the heart healthy
The content of linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are examples of monounsaturated fatty acids present in walnuts in an eye-catching amount. A good supply of healthy lipids is encouraged by the monounsaturated fatty acid. This process helps to increase the level of good cholesterol and decrease the bad cholesterol. It also helps to control the level of high blood pressure.
3. Walnuts help for better body composition
As you know, walnuts are high in fiber content. So you can feel much fuller after consuming a handful of walnuts. They help you in weight loss in a healthy manner because walnuts are very high in protein content also.
4. Walnuts are beneficial for diabetic patients
The risk of type – 2 diabetes can be reduced by consuming walnuts regularly. The fantastic protein, fiber, and fat served by Walnut are excellent. Walnut in your diet doesn’t provide you with kilos. So any diabetic patient can intake walnuts but with the permission of their doctor or dietician.
5. Walnut works as a metabolism booster
To boost the sluggish metabolism, you must consume a handful of walnuts regularly. Because they are filled with vital fatty acids, walnuts can help with growth, digestion, metabolic process, and development.
6. Walnuts are very important for bones
Walnuts help the metabolic process and decrease the excess calcium in the human body. By the help of reducing excretion calcium absorption, walnuts keep the bones healthy.
7. Walnuts may work as an anti-inflammatory agent
Anti-inflammatory properties are present in walnuts. Due to inflammation, you can be suffered from so many harmful diseases like – arthritis, diabetes, and rheumatism. By consuming walnuts regularly, your body can decrease the risks easily.
8. Walnuts help in digestion
Fiber content in walnuts is high. Fiber helps to detox the human body by cleaning the gut. It helps to fight against constipation. Health-promoting microbes and bacterias help in an improved gut which is present in walnuts. Inflammation due to unhealthy microbiota is the leading cause of chronic diseases, cancer, and obesity. Walnuts help to reduce them.
9. Walnuts help improve brain functioning
As you know, walnuts look like human brains. According to many studies, they help in brain functioning. Inflammation and oxidative damage inside the brain may be avoided by the nutrients present in walnuts. Walnuts help to sharpen memory power, improve mental flexibility, and fast brain processing.
10. Walnuts bring improvement in fertility
Males can improve their quality of sperm and sperm count by adding walnuts to their diet. Walnuts can add to their mobility and vitality.
11. Walnuts help improve hair and skin quality
Environmental free radicals can damage the body badly. Free radicals are the leading cause of skin wrinkles and dryness. Walnuts fight against free radicals. If you want to reduce the undereye dark circle problem, then you should consume Walnut regularly.
12. Walnuts help pregnant women
According to the suggestion of doctors and dieticians, pregnant women should add the right amount of walnuts to their regular diet. Vitamin B complex and folate present in walnuts promote healthy fetus growth.
Types of Walnut
The popularity of walnuts is based on their flavorful kernel, native to America and Southern Asia. Although walnuts are used in various Indian delicacies, it is best to eat them raw.
There are so many varieties of walnuts you can see worldwide. But some very famous Indian walnut varieties are –
1. Kashmir Budded walnuts
The color of Kashmiri walnut kernels is slightly tan, and it is trendy for their mildly nutty flavor and good quality. The prominent state of Kashmiri’s walnut production is Himachal Pradesh.
2. Wilson Walnuts
This walnut variety can be self-fertile. It is an early-bearing variety that produces high-quality and delicious walnuts. Among all regions of India, Wilson walnuts are widely cultivated in Himachal Pradesh.
3. Eureka walnuts
It is an early to mid-season bearing walnut variety. Generally, Himachal Pradesh is the primary growing state of Eureka walnuts. This variety of walnuts has come with a fantastic nut seal, and the shape of these nuts is elongated. The kernels of Eureka walnuts are easy to break and plumpy. The color of the kernels is light.
4. Placentia walnuts
This variety of walnuts come in medium size, and their texture is very smooth. However, these nuts have well-sealed and hard shells, relatively thin also. The color of the kernels is tan but smooth with a very mild flavor.
5. Lake English walnuts
The trees of this walnut variety generally can grow up to 50 to 60 feet. Lake English Walnuts have kernels with a mild flavor and nuts with thin shells. The shape and color of these nuts are oval and brown, respectively. They have a slightly rough texture and a sweet taste.
6. Franquetfe walnuts
Generally, Jammu and Kashmir are the cultivated regions of this walnut variety. Late leafing is a characteristic of this French variety of walnuts. However, it produces small walnuts of high quality. Franquetfe walnuts have firm, thin outer shells, and the nuts are well-sealed.
7. Chakrata selections walnuts
This variety of walnut trees has medium-sized nuts with plumpy kernels. The Indian state Uttarakhand is proud of Chakrata walnuts. As per the name – chakra selection – 1, its only cultivated region is Chakrata which belongs to the Dehradun district.
8. Opex Caulchry walnuts
The yield of this walnut variety is very high with high-quality nuts. Opex Caulchry walnuts are a commercially cultivated varieties produced in Jammu and Kashmir primarily.
9. Gobind walnuts
The primary cultivation state of Gobind walnuts, an exotic cultivar, is Himachal Pradesh. Its kernels are flavorful and come with excellent quality. These nuts have soft shells and are thus easy to break.
10. CITH walnuts – 1
This walnut variety’s kernels are light-hued and plumpy. The size of these nuts is considerable. The outer shell of CITH walnut-1 is soft and smooth. The blooming period of this high-yield walnut variety is mid-season.
11. CITH Walnut – 2
The shape of this walnut variety is ovate; its kernels are flavorful and have thin shells. It is effortless to break and remove its shell.
12. CITH Walnut – 3
In 2009, this walnut variety was introduced by the IVRC ( institute variety release Committee). The texture of its outer shell is rough, and the taste of its kernels is very mild.
13. CITH Walnut – 4
It is a late-season walnut variety, and its kernel recovery rate is high. The nuts of CITH -4 are large. They have fragile shells and flavorful kernels.
14. CITH Walnut – 5
This variety is well known for its bigger kernels and high yield rate. It is a late-season bearing variety. The color of its shells is light, and the texture is smooth. The color of its kernels is tan shade and flavorful and plumpy.
Three different walnut varieties are very famous worldwide. Those are – Black Walnut, Butternut, and English Walnut.
Nutritional value of Walnut
The nutrition you can get from a serving of 100-gram Walnuts without shell is –
| Energy | 654 kcal |
| Protein | 15.23 grams |
| Water | 4.07 grams |
| Fat Monounsaturated fat Saturated fat Polyunsaturated fat Omega – 3 fatty acids Omega – 6 fatty acids | 65.21 grams 8.933 grams 6.126 grams 47.174 grams 9 grams 39 grams |
| Carbohydrates Starch dietary fibers Sugars | 13.71 grams 0.06 grams 6.7 grams 2.61 grams |
| Minerals | Quantity | % of the daily value |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 2 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 441 mg | 9% |
| Zinc | 3.08 mg | 33% |
| Calcium | 98 mg | 10% |
| Phosphorus | 346 mg | 49% |
| Magnesium | 158 mg | 45% |
| Iron | 2.91 mg | 22% |
| Maganese | 3.414 mg | 163% |
| Vitamins | Quantity | % of the daily value |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A equivalent | 1 microgram | 0% |
| Lutein zeaxanthin | 9 microgram | – |
| Beta-carotene | 12 microgram | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 20 IU | – |
| Vitamin B1 ( thiamine ) | 0.341 mg | 30% |
| Vitamin B2 ( riboflavin ) | 0.15 mg | 13% |
| Vitamin B3 ( niacin ) | 1.125 mg | 8% |
| Vitamin B5 ( pantothenic acid) | 0.570 mg | 11% |
| Vitamin B9 ( folate ) | 98 microgram | 25% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.537 mg | 41% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0 microgram | – |
| Vitamin C | 1.3 mg | 2% |
| Vitamin E | 0.7 mg | 5% |
| Vitamin K | 2.7 microgram | 3% |
Walnut has 15% protein and 65% fat. It has a very low carb content.
Fat content
As per their weight, walnuts have 65% fat. You can get most of the calorie content of Walnuts from the fat present in them. This factor makes walnut a high-calorie and energy-dense food like most nuts. According to some studies, although walnuts are high in calories and fat, they don’t promote obesity. So you can easily replace other high-calorie foods with walnuts.
Compared to other nuts, walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats, known as omega – 6 fatty acids or linolenic acid, and omega – 3 fatty acids or ALA (alpha-linolenic acid ).
Mineral and vitamin content
Various minerals and vitamins are present in walnuts. Some of them are – copper, folic acid, phosphorus, manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and many more.
Plant compounds
Bioactive plant compounds’ complex mixture is an important content of walnuts. The brown skin of walnuts has antioxidant content which is in concentrated form. Some plant compounds in walnuts are Ellagic acid, Catechin, Melatonin, and Phytic acid.
Some photos of walnut
Cost of walnut in Kannada areas
You can purchase 1 kg walnut without a shell by spending approximately Rs 1000 to Rs 1800 in India. But the cost of walnut with shells is around Rs 500 to Rs 1100 per kg. You can also prefer online stores to buy walnuts. They offer some discounts always. Because the walnut tree produces nuts once a year and yields low, the walnut cost is a little higher.
Popularity and availability of Walnut in Kannada areas ( Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, etc. )
You can identify no deficiencies in walnuts in India because Indian states produce huge amounts of walnuts. The states of India where walnuts are produced in immense quantity are – Arunachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The most significant regions where Walnut produces in large amount in India is Jammu and Kashmir. There is no lack of walnuts in Indian states, including the Kannada-telling states. They import walnuts from the walnut producer states and also from other countries. Due to walnuts’ nutty flavor, delicious taste, and super health-beneficial habitats, they are so popular among Indian people.
Recipes of Walnut in Kannada areas
Banana-walnut granola, Walnut – cranberry – feta salad, Walnut burfi, walnut bread, celeriac and Walnut tacos, walnut spice cake, walnut pasta sauce, candied walnuts, chocolate walnut fudge, Persian pomegranate and walnut chicken, walnut bars, chocolate chip walnut pumpkin bread, honey and Walnut tart, carrot – walnut cake are some famous recipes you can prepare by using Walnut. Also, you can see these in the menu of many restaurants.
Conclusion
Because of Walnut’s appearance and health benefits (improve brain functioning ), they are known as brain food. Walnuts are high in nutritional content, protein, and fiber and are easy to add to your diet. According to some studies, walnuts are better than other nuts in terms of containing vitamins (vitamins A, B, C, E, K ), minerals( sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, etc ) and antioxidants and providing health benefits.
I hope you got all the data about walnuts from the above article, like walnut in Kannada, their cost, health benefits, the nutritional value of walnuts, recipes, popularity, availability, and many more.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the ways to have walnuts?
You can enjoy a handful of raw walnuts as a healthy snack. You can roast them slightly to enhance their aroma and then add the stir-fried recipe to them. If you have crushed walnuts, you can use them to coat chicken or fish. You can also roast walnuts, add the homemade trail mix, and enjoy it. Crushed walnuts are also used as a dressing on salads. You can dice walnuts in an acceptable form and add sauces and dips.
2. Which are the walnut-producer states of India?
Worldwide, India gets the seventh rank for walnut production. Some of the significant Walnut cultivated Indian states are – Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
3. What are the popular varieties of walnuts you can find worldwide?
There are mainly three types of walnut varieties that are so popular worldwide. Those are – english Walnut, butternut, and black walnuts, and their scientific names are Juglans Regia, Juglans Cinerea, and Juglans Nigra respectively.
English Walnuts – the bark of these trees are smooth, and the color is olive-brown. When they grow, wide fissures are developed gradually. Dislike other walnut species, English walnut trees have small leaves. The edible English walnuts are flavorful and healthy.
Butternuts – these are also known as white walnuts. Compared to black walnut trees, the bark of butternut trees has a smooth texture, and the color is light grey. The leaves of this species have pinnate and maximum 17 leaflets. The shape of the nuts is oval but not round.
Black walnuts – the barks of black walnut trees have deep furrows. That’s why the barks feel rough. The color of the barks is dark. The foliage of the black walnut tree occurs by pinnate leaves. The shape and husk color of the nuts is round and green, respectively.
