In addition to a valuable source of nutrients including omega-3 fats, copper, manganese and many others, walnuts have incredible health benefits including prevention of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and even diabetes.
Researchers are convinced–more than ever before–about the nutritional benefits of walnuts when consumed in whole form, including the skin. We now know that approximately 90% of the phenols in walnuts are found in the skin, including key phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonoids. Some websites will encourage you to remove the walnut skin–that whitish, sometimes waxy, sometimes flaky, outermost part of shelled walnuts. There can be slight bitterness to this skin, and that’s often the reason that websites give for removing it.