India, Nov. 25 -- Walnuts did not become a wellness staple by accident. They have been around forever, long before snack aisles tried to make them trendy. Ancient Persia treated them as food for royalty. California later turned them into a cash crop, placing them among the state's top agricultural products. They have stuck around because the nutrition backs it up, not because of hype.

They are higher in calories than some nuts, sure, but they come with enough fiber, protein, and healthy fat to make those calories count. Here is what they actually do for your body, as per UCDavis Health.

The biggest advantage walnuts have over other nuts is that they contain a plant-based omega-3. They are basically the only nut that brings a meaningful ...